Migraine sufferers are more prone to hangovers

While a headache after a night of drinking for the general public can be quite general, new studies show that hangovers may be more frequently in migraine sufferers. Researchers at the Jefferson headache Center developed a model to study the effects of alcohol on rats who suffer recurrent migraines, compared to rats that do not get headaches. The results, which were presented at Neuroscience 2009, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, in Chicago, are quite fascinating.

Migraine headaches are associated with hypersensitivity to light, sound and light touch on the head and face. The researchers measured rats sensitivity to touch around the eye in four different test groups: two groups received repeated dural simulation to cause headache, followed by an oral ingestion of saline or alcohol (the equivalent of one to two shots of liquor). Two control groups received no inflammatory stimulation, but the same each received oral intake of salt or alcohol.

The rats that received the stimulation followed with alcohol increased pain sensitivity after 4-6 hours, while the control groups had no change in pain sensitivity. The researchers made sure that dehydration and alcohol impurities were excluded as causes of increased sensitivity by hydrating the rats and ensuring the alcohol was free of contaminants.

According to the study leader Dr. Michael Oshinsky, Ph.d., Assistant professor of Neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, "the alcohol itself or a metabolite must be causing the hangover-like headache." Dr. Oshinsky ultimately concluded that "these data confirm the clinical observation that people with migraine are more sensitive to alcohol-induced headaches."

For more information about the causes and treatments for Hangover headache symptoms, visit www.headaches.org.

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Migraine Sufferers Find Relief From Handheld Magnetic Device

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Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Also Included In: Pain / Anesthetics;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 24 Sep 2012 - 5:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Migraine Sufferers Find Relief From Handheld Magnetic Device

A handheld magnetic device may be a way for migraine sufferers to take treatment into their own hands. At a congress last week, researchers revealed how three months of treatment with the device relieved or reduced headache pain in 73% of patients treated.

Headache specialists at several clinics around the UK, including in Aberdeen, Bath, Exeter, Hull, Liverpool and London, are prescribing the non-invasive single pulse Spring Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) device, made by eNeura Technology in California.

The new data, from a trial involving 60 migraine sufferers treated with TMS at UK clinics, was presented at the 3rd European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress in London on Friday.

The news comes in the wake of a warning by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England and Wales, that painkiller overuse can cause headaches.

The TMS device costs about £500 and is about the size and weight of a portable radio. As soon as he or she senses a migraine coming on, the user holds it to the back of the head and pushes a button. This sends a brief magnetic pulse into the brain.

Scientists suggest that magnetic pulses could halt migraines before they get the chance to build. Scientists believe the magnetic pulse somehow short-circuits the electrical storm that builds up at the start of migraine headaches.

The congress also heard how the TMS improved other symptoms of migraine in 63% of the trial participants: symptoms such as vertigo, nausea, memory problems, and hyper-sensitivity to light and noise.

And over half (53%) reported a reduction in the number of headache days.

Andy Bloor took part in the UK trials. He suffers from chronic migraines and says the TMS device worked for him:

"The key for me was using the device quickly - as soon as the migraine started."

He says when he did that, the migraine stopped.

"The plus of the device is it reduces my reliance on strong drugs like cocodamol," he adds, in a report on the congress by the UK Press Association.

Findings from a trial of the efficacy of the TMS device were published in The Lancet Neurology in 2010. They say the device offers efficient pain relief for up to 48 hours after treatment in some patients with migraine with aura, and does not cause any serious side-effects.

Professor and neurologist Peter Goadsby, one of the world's leading headache experts and researchers, was joint chair of the London congress. He told the press:

"For the many migraine sufferers whose medicines just do not do the job, it is exciting to see such an innovative, novel approach to treatment that provides new optimism."

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
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posted by Steve H on 24 Sep 2012 at 10:06 am

Magnetic fields applied to water will cause the positive and negative ions to line up making the water more conductive. I assume as the human body is made up of a large proportion of water the same principle applies which will cause the electrical eddy currents causing the migraine to quickly dissipate through the increased conductivity of body fluids

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'Migraine Sufferers Find Relief From Handheld Magnetic Device'

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Chronic Migraine Headache Sufferers Benefit Only Modestly From Botox Injections

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Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Article Date: 24 Apr 2012 - 13:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Chronic Migraine Headache Sufferers Benefit Only Modestly From Botox Injections

A study published in the April 25 issue of JAMA reveals that individuals suffering from chronic migraine headaches and chronic daily headaches may receive a small to modest benefit using botulinum toxin A ("Botox") injections. However, the researchers found botox did not provide greater benefit than placebo for preventing episodic migraine or chronic tension-type headaches.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved botox for preventive treatment for chronic migraines.

The researchers explained:

"Migraine and tension-type headaches are common. Although up to 42 percent of adults experience tension-type headaches sometime in their life, most do not seek medical advice.

Migraines are less common, with a worldwide prevalence between 8 to 19%, but as associated with greater disability. Migraine headaches are responsible for $1 billion in medical costs and $16 billion in lost productivity per year in the United States alone."

Clinicians first observed that patients with chronic headaches experienced an improvement after receiving cosmetic botulinum toxin A injections. This resulted in various studies suggesting that botox injections were beneficial for patients with headaches. However, medical literature on botulinum efficacy for headaches has been mixed.

In order to determine whether botox is effective as preventative treatment of migraine, tension, or chronic daily headaches in adults, Jeffrey L. Jackson, M.D., M.P.H., of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and his team examined 27 randomized placebo-controlled trials that included 5,313 individuals, as well as 4 randomized comparisons with other medications.

The researchers categorized headaches as: Episodic - less than 15 headaches per month
Chronic- (15+ headaches per month) migraine and episodic or chronic daily or tension headachesThe researchers found that individuals with chronic daily headaches who received botox had less headaches per month (1,115 patients, -2.06 headaches per month), as did those with chronic migraine headaches (1,508 patients, -2.30 headaches per month).

However, they found no considerable association between the use of botox and reduction in the number of chronic tension-type headaches (675, -1.43 headaches per month) or episodic migraine (1,838 patients, 0.05 headaches per month).

Compared with placebo, the researchers found that botox was linked to: Skin tightnessNeck stiffnessNeck painMuscle weaknessParesthesias (a prickly, tingling sensation)Greater frequency of blepharoptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid)In addition, the team discovered that botox did not lower the frequency of headache compared with topiramate (1.4 headaches per mont) or amitriptyline (2.1 headaches per month) for prophylaxis against chronic migraine headaches.

The researchers explained:

"Botulinum toxin A was not associated with a reduction in headache frequency vs. valproate in a study of patients with chronic and episodic migraines (0.84 headaches per month) or in a study of patients with episodic migraines (0.3 headaches per month).

Botulinum toxin A was associated with a greater reduction in average headache severity than methylprednisolone in a single trial among patients experiencing chronic tension-type headaches (-2.5 headaches per month)."

They conclude:

"Our analyses suggest that botulinum toxin A may be associated with improvement in the frequency of chronic migraine and chronic daily headaches, but not with improvement in the frequency of episodic migraine, chronic tension-type headaches, or episodic tension-type headaches.

However, the association of botulinum toxin A with clinical benefit was small. Botulinum toxin A was associated with a reduction in the number of headaches per month from 19.5 to 17.2 for chronic migraine and from 17.5 to 15.4 for chronic daily headaches."

Written By Grace Rattue

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'Chronic Migraine Headache Sufferers Benefit Only Modestly From Botox Injections'

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Identification Of Female Gene Link Offers New Hope For Migraine Sufferers

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 05 Jun 2012 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Identification Of Female Gene Link Offers New Hope For Migraine Sufferers

New hope has arrived for migraine sufferers following a Griffith University study with the people of Norfolk Island.

Led by Professor Lyn Griffiths from the University's Griffith Health Institute, the team has identified a new region on the X chromosome as playing a role in migraine.

The research provides compelling evidence for a new migraine susceptibility gene involved in migraine. The study also indicated that there may be more than one X chromosomal gene involved and implicated a gene involved in iron regulation in the brain.

All females have two X chromosomes whilst males have an X and a Y chromosome.

"These results provide more support for the role of the X chromosome in migraine and may explain why so many more females suffer from the disorder," said Professor Griffiths.

Tracking down and identifying the various genes that cause migraine is very important as it provides insights to allow us to develop better means of diagnosis and more targeted treatments.

"Currently, 12 per cent of the population suffers from migraine. Even though we have some very good treatments for this very debilitating disease, they certainly don't work for everyone and can have some adverse side effects. Hence there is a real need to develop new migraine treatments."

This National Health and Medical Research Council funded work involved a unique population study of the remote Norfolk Island where 80 per cent of inhabitants are able to trace their ancestry back to the famous historical event, The Mutiny on the Bounty.

"This population was used due to its unusual pedigree structure in which genetic relationships can be traced through genealogical data to the island's original founders, and also the high incidence of migraine sufferers in this population. It's very useful for gene mapping purposes because of the reduced genetic and environmental diversity," said Professor Griffiths.

A comprehensive chromosome analysis of around 300 Norfolk participants from a large multigenerational Norfolk family, including many who are affected by migraine, was conducted using DNA samples obtained from the islanders.

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'Identification Of Female Gene Link Offers New Hope For Migraine Sufferers'

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