Many people suffer from migraines each year. They can quickly put an end to your day as every sound, sight, and touch can cause nauseating pain. Many people have to take time off from work for migraines and it can drastically reduce one’s daily activities. They can even become dangerous when a sudden attack occurs while driving. What makes them so intense though? Why are they so much more than just your regular headache, and why does it seem like some people will get them twice a week, while others may never have a migraine their entire life?
In order to understand why migraines are so much worse than a regular headache, we must first know what it happening during a migraine. Like many brain disorders, scientists have not yet located the source that triggers a migraine. This is because many migraines are slightly different and the trigger that initiates them can be different for each individual. They do have a good understanding of what occurs during a migraine though and that has helped them treat the symptoms of a migraine.
During a migraine neuropeptides are released into the blood vessels that surround the brain. Since the actual brain doesn’t have pain receptors, the headache pain you feel during a migraine is due to the pain receptors connected to these surrounding blood vessels. One of the neuropeptides released is CGRP. CGRP is responsible for dilation of these vessels and also causes inflammation to occur. When inflammation occurs it over sensitizes the nerve that relays pain from the vessels to the brain called the Trigeminal Nerve. When this nerve is over sensitized it will send intense pain signals when only mildly stimulated. This is what causes most of the migraine symptoms such as pain when sneezing, coughing, bending over, and anything else that may increase pressure in the head and set off this sensitized nerve.
Ways that they have begun treating migraines is by using medications that reduce the dilation and inflammation of CGRP. Two drugs that hinder the effects of CGRP are Triptans and Gepants. Another method is to block the signal sent by the Trigeminal Nerve. This can be done by using Botulin, the chemical used in Botox, which paralyzes the nerve temporarily.
Hopefully scientists will continue to advance in their knowledge of migraines in order to reduce the suffering of those affected by them. Migraines can keep an individual from their daily responsibilities such as work, school, or taking care of their children. Hopefully discoveries in the future will help these people live a life free of this painful ailment.
More Than Just a Headache
