The Great Escape: Migraines

Migraines remain a medical mystery, and after much research and speculation, migraines are still leaving its victims feeling cursed. Six hundred million people around the globe, including twenty eight million Americans suffer from them, which is a big number. An astounding one hundred and fifty seven million work days are lost each year from them, so this begs the question, what is going on inside that head of yours?

It is believed that migraines may be caused by functional changes in the trigeminal nervous system (a major pain pathway on your nervous system) and possible imbalances in brain chemicals such as serotonin, which regulates pain messages that travel through its pathway.

Researchers have found that when a person is having a "migraine" their serotonin levels have dropped, and believe that this is what causes the trigeminal nerve to release substances called neuropeptides (endorphins), which travel to the brain's outer covering which causing blood vessels to be dilated and disrupted, making your head throb.

Blood flow changes is another widely accepted culprit. The Nervous System responds to triggers causing spasms at the nerve rich arteries at the base of the brain. The spasms constrict these arteries and as a result the flow of the blood to the brain is reduced. At the same time blood clotting platelets are formed and it is believed that it is these platelets that are making the brain release serotonin. Reduced blood supply means reduced oxygen to the brain which causes symptoms such as distorted vision or speech. When the brain recognizes that oxygen has been reduced certain arteries within the brain open wider to allow for the brain's energy needs. The widening of these arteries is what causes pain-producing substances such as prostaglandins from many different tissues and blood cells.

Some investigators believe that migraines are inherited abnormalities in genes which control the activities of certain cell populations in the brain; others say a heart defect may be linked to migraines. Bottom line is no one knows.

My question is this, what do you do when Excedrin Migraine, or your Acetaminophen, Caffeine, and Codeine Phosphate tablets have the same affect as popping M&M's? What do you do when you are laying in the emergency room and morphine dulls the pain but dose not completely take it away? It is really scary to know that the beast inside your head cannot yet be tamed.

Below, is a list of organizations that are currently seeking patients for further research.

American Council for Headache Education
19 Mantua Road
Mt. Royal, NJ 08061
http://www.achenet.org
Tel: 856-423-0258 800-255-ACHE

National Headache Foundation
820 N. Orleans
Suite 217
Chicago, IL 60610-3132
http://www.headaches.org
Tel: 312-274-2650 888-NHF-5552

We have to push the envelope to find out what is causing this sordid pain and why. There is hope for a cure we just have to be able to survive the pain until there is one.