More Bad News, and Some Good, About Migraines

Migraine sufferers know that when an aura occurs, they are in for a miserable time. Some medications help to fight the effects such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, but no cure has been found for the disease. The latest news about them contains a mix of good and bad.

As if migraine sufferers do not have enough misery, males who have the disease have more to worry about than females. A survey lead by Dr. Tobias Kurth, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, found that the risk for heart attacks among men who have migraines is 42 percent greater than for those who do not have them. The research stopped short of concluding that the disease causes heart attacks, though. It did point out that migraine patients tend to have more occurrences of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

Women received better news about their migraines this week. Amanda Kalaydjian, PhD, MS, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, announced the results of her study. She found that women with migraines are more likely to retain their memory over time compared to women who do not experience the condition. The study was conducted over a period of 12 years and found that older women who had migraines scored higher on cognitive tests than their peers. She suspects that part of the reason for the results could be the use of medications, modifications in diet, and other lifestyle changes.

The cause of migraines has yet to be determined, but researchers attribute them to constricting and dilating blood vessels in the brain and, in some cases, heredity. Migraines are debilitating for those who get them and can last for hours, days, or even weeks. In the U.S., they affect an estimated 28 million people.

Certain "triggers" are believed to induce migraines. The most common is stress. Certain foods, including those containing nitrate and MSG, also are suspects. For some patients, caffeine, weather, hunger, and fatigue play major roles in migraine occurrences.

The 1980s kicked off a new generation of research resulting in new types of medications. Current trends focus on prevention. The problem with many of the drugs effective against migraines is side effects. Curiously, botox, best known for fighting wrinkles, is used for some patients who experience frequent occurrences. The treatment is not always covered by insurance, though. Non-medical treatments, such as ice, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques, also can help sufferers.

New therapies continue to be studied, but none is anticipated to be a "miracle" cure. That is not good news for any of the patients affected with the condition.