New Hope for Migraine Headache Sufferers

New advances in medicine offer hope in the effective treatment of migraine headaches to the millions who suffer from them.

If you're a migraine sufferer or live with someone who is, you know about the grinding, relentless pain it brings. For centuries migraines have plagued mankind with little relief. Any number of home remedies, prescription drugs, and homeopathic treatments have been tried, but they have all had only limited success in treating this dread malady.

About 10% of Americans suffer from these disabling headaches, more than 30 million of us, and they strike three times as many women as men each year. They can range in duration from several hours to two or three days.

The latest research leads doctors to believe migraines result from certain chemical changes in the brain which regulate blood vessels and inflammation.

The new drugs under study by the Food and Drug Administration combine triptan and with nonsteroidal anti-inflammitory medications which work together to short circuit the four steps which lead to a migraine headache.

Step 1 is the trigger. It can be physical, chemical or psychological. This trigger prompts a physical change in the brain, which releases its own chemicals, seratonin and norepinephrine, in response.

Step 2 results from the release of these chemicals. the body reacts by dilating the blood vessels leading to the brain. Seratonin also stimulates the vomiting reflex, the reason many sufferers become sick to their stomachs along with the headache.

Step 3 is activated when the dilated blood vessels trigger the trigeminal system, which further dilates the blood vessels and releases more seratonin. This also activates the hypothalamus, causing cravings and sensitivity to light and sounds. Signals are sent up the spinal column, causing muscle tightness and spasms in the back of the neck and head.

Step 4 follows with a full blown migraine headache.