Migraine Headaches – 1st of a Series:

“Five M’s: Modern Mainstream Medication Management of Migraine Headaches – And Why It Fails”

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Prior to the introduction of a new class of medications in the 1990’s, medical management of migraines was limited to either narcotics (which are addictive) or just not very effective. With the introduction of a class of medications called triptans, migraine headache management was revolutionized.

The more technical name for this class of medications is selective serotonin receptor agonists. Triptans are not pain medications as we traditionally think of them. Traditional pain medications don't end the pain. They simply increase our tolerance to it -- temporarily. Unless the migraine attack has run its course while a pain medication is working, the symptoms will return when the pain medication wears off.Triptans are termed abortive migraine medications. They cannot prevent migraines. They are used to abort a migraine attack in an effort to stop the attack itself and the associated symptoms.

The effect on the blood vessels is considerable in that they seem to tighten up or vasoconstrict arteries. This is consistent with observed vasodilatation or opening up of the arteries during a migraine headache attack.

The potential danger of this class of medications is that someone who has borderline blood flow to the heart or brain, for example in ischemic heart disease, is at risk for a full blown heart attack or stroke if these medications are taken. Most migraine sufferers are younger so this is generally not that great a concern for the vast majority of people with migraine headaches.

With the first medication called Imitrex®, made by Glaxo-Smith-Kline, the triptan revolution swept across migraine headache management. The initial product was an injectible medication and had a quick onset of action. Many people were relieved relatively quickly and thought it was a godsend, despite the steep price.

Imitrex® was also sold under the name Imigran®. It also became available in a tablet and nasal spray forms. Soon after Imitrex came to the market, other drug companies began rolling out their own triptan medications. Imitrex® had been followed by Maxalt®, Zomig®, Amerge®, Avert®, Frova® and Relpax®. All of the other manufacturers made their triptans into a pill form, with Maxalt® and Zomig® having a dissolvable pill.

The various routes of administration are important. For example, the injectible Imitrex® has the fastest onset of action and to this day still provides the greatest amount of relief once the headache strikes. The dissolvable forms are for those people whose nausea is so significant that they are unable to keep down a swallowed pill. The nasal spray is also an option to bypass the stomach.

Side effects to watch for include chest pain, throat pain or abdominal pain. The reason why these pains are important to look for is that they may indicate a reduction in blood supply to the heart or major organs of the body. People with angina pectoris or ischemic heart disease are advised to not take these medications.

Secondary side effects include shortness of breath, wheezing, heart palpitations, facial or eyelid swelling, skin rashes, tingling and flushing, drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, muscle pain, feeling tired and sick. The tingling is a particularly common observation.

The good news is that the secondary side effects are not going to kill you. Most people are willing to trade a reduction in the migraine headache attack for a little discomfort.

Another medication that is still commonly used, even though it is not part of the triptan class of medication is called ergotamine, or more precisely, dihydroergotamine (brand names Migranal®, DHE-45®). This medication works to constrict blood vessels, similar in action to the triptans. Side effects are similar with the same warnings to those people with bad hearts.

Preventive or Prophylactic Approach to Migraines

Waiting for the headache to start and subsequent rushing to take a triptan or ergotamine medication is the most common method of migraine headache management in those people who do not experience a high frequency of headaches.

For those who are plagued with frequent headaches, another major approach involving medication is through an attempt of preventive or prophylactic measure to stop the headaches from coming in the first place.

This method has shown to be very disappointing. It barely exceeds results found in placebo methods.

The most common attempt at migraine prevention is the use of beta-blockers. Propranolol (Inderal®) is the most commonly prescribed beta blocker for this purpose.

Anti-depressant medications are also extremely commonly used. The thinking here is that there is some relationship with serotonin levels, which anti-depressants do have some type of effect on. I have never seen anyone with migraine headaches benefit from anti-depressants.

The medical profession, as a rule, is generally pretty quick to prescribe anti-depressants for virtually any condition which they don’t understand. Doctors particularly like to prescribe anti-depressants for women.

Calcium channel blockers like verapimil are occasionally prescribed as a preventative. Verapimil is used primarily to treat high blood pressure and is also used to treat irregular heart rhythms.

If a migraine sufferer also has high blood pressure or an irregular heart rhythm, many doctors will prescribe verapimil to treat all of these conditions at the same time. One drug treats multiple conditions. Otherwise, calcium channels do not tend to be used for migraine treatment.

Rarely, the drug methysergide will be prescribed. There are some pretty scary side effects associated with this drug, and it is nowhere near the top of the list in being prescribed any more.

Finally, in the traditional prevention class, a whole new set of medications that had been used to treat seizure disorders has been tried. Depakote®, Neurontin® and Topamax® are the top three anti-seizure medications now being used for migraine headache prophylaxis.

All three of those medications have potentially significant side effects and are frequently not tolerated by people long-term. Some people do benefit significantly, however.

General Pain Management

Finally, there is the general pain management approach to migraine headaches. This approach is not specific to migraines, but to pain in general.

There are basically two types of pain medications: Non-narcotic and narcotic pain medication.

Non-narcotic pain medications consist of anti-inflammatory medications called NSAIDS. These are the aspirin-like compounds found in prescription strength and over the counter at a local pharmacy. The public is well versed with the brand names like Motrin®, Nuprin® and Aleve®. I will not go into any further detail here. Another major non-narcotic medication, but is technically not an NSAID, is Tylenol®. Again, the public is knowledgeable about this drug.

The narcotic pain medications are the other pain management method to migraine headaches. Vicodin® and Lorcet® are perhaps the most familiar first-line narcotic pain medications. There are tighter prescription controls on doctors for other narcotics like Percodan®, Darvon®, Equigesic®, and Oxycontin®, just to name a few. There are many, many narcotic medications available.

Narcotics are almost never advisable unless there is an emergency room situation whereby this is the initial presentation of a migraine headache or a dramatic worsening compared to past headaches. Some unfortunate sufferers of cluster headaches require narcotics. Many have committed suicide.

Once you go down the road of requiring narcotic pain medications for a medical condition that does not resolve, addiction and tolerance is a near certainly. There are numerous political and legal implications for both the doctor and the patient when this occurs.

Virtually all 50 state boards of medicine that regulate doctors and grant their licenses to practice medicine are taking a strong look at narcotic-prescribing habits of doctors. This is why doctors are extremely reluctant to prescribe narcotics almost under any situation. As a result, many people who require these medications cannot obtain them.

Conclusion

In summary, traditional medical management of migraine headaches is frankly ineffective and burdensome. Only with the advent of triptan medication class just 15 years ago have there been some strides made in this regard.

Unfortunately, the triptans, which are indeed helpful, are only taken AFTER a migraine headache has started. Frequently they don’t help to completely eliminate migraine attack symptoms. It is not unusual for these medications to get “tolerated” and lose their effectiveness in the same person over time.

Switching brands of triptans in order to find the brand that proves to be the most effective one is the rule. Even though they do help, this is still a fairly miserable lifestyle. The waiting for the next migraine headache is always lurking, particularly when noone knows if this next migraine headache is going to respond to the latest triptan drug.

None of the other “traditional” approaches to migraine headache management are effective. Unfortunately, there is essentially no good mainstream preventative drug out there that works. Traditional pain medications with narcotics or NSAIDS are simply ineffective and just not the right way to treat this condition.

Something is clearly missing in this picture. What is needed is a CURE, not a band-aid. If someone can nail down the actual reason why migraine headaches are contracted in the first place and find something to eliminate that condition, then we won’t have to worry about all the other techniques that are aimed at combating the outbreaks.

Sure enough, if we found something that simply eliminates the cause of migraine headaches to begin with then we should definitely apply that knowledge. Almost quite by accident, I have discovered in my practice an association between migraine headaches and the relative deficiencies of certain sex hormones.

Replacing the deficient hormones and satisfying the deficit has led to a complete resolution and cure of the migraine headaches in patient after patient. Admittedly, we don’t necessarily understand the exact biochemical mechanism as to why and how exactly do migraines result from a hormone deficiency.

But achieving complete cure in 80% of the times, my patients don’t seem to mind the fact that we don’t have all of the answers. They are pain-free and completely cured and are quite happy in that knowledge. What this information offers is a path to complete cure to your migraine headaches and even cluster headaches. It is simple, natural, safe and very inexpensive with zero side effects.

The information contained is known to all doctors, because they learned it in their first year of medical school – and most have since forgotten it. Doctors (and I was part of that mindset for many years) are trained to prescribe drugs. That is what they do and all they know. Thanks to the US patent laws, these drugs are never natural or bio-identical. They are all chemical compounds, foreign to the body and fraught with side effects.

A Better Method

There is another option – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and put your expensive and dangerous prescriptions away and get on the road to the new life – free of pain and suffering! Read the articles or just order my e-book today and get a new lease on life – free of migraines! You will be glad you did.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine auras altogether - and concern over the ensuing migraine headache may no longer be necessary – at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

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View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 2

Migraine Headaches – 2nd of a Series:

“The Migraine Aura – Tricks From The Brain”

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Migraine headaches generally come in two forms: With and without auras. The headaches themselves can be equally painful – whether or not an aura is present.

Statistics indicate that only about 20% of migraine sufferers actually experience these auras. However, I’ve actually observed that the prevalence of aura type migraines is substantially less than that.

What Is A Migraine Aura?

The aura is a distortion in perception. Most often a migraine aura is a visual alteration or other sensory phenomena occurring just before the pain phase of a migraine headache starts. The aura also typically ends before the headache itself begins.

Symptoms associated with auras may include flashing lights, geometric patterns, or distorted vision.

However, some people may have non-visual auras involving hearing sounds (usually buzzing), olfactory auras involving smelling odors, or tactile auras that manifest like a physical touching sensation.

Characteristics Associated With Auras Include:

• Flashing lights
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• Wavy or zigzagging lines
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• Visual spots or other shapes
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• Blind spots or partial loss of sight
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• Blurry vision
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• Olfactory hallucinations, or the smelling of aromas that aren’t really there
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• Tingling feeling or numbness about the face or extremities
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• Difficulty speaking or forming words
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• Confusion
•  
• Vertigo (dizziness)
•  
• Partial and temporary paralysis
•  
• Hearing loss
•  
• Reduced sensation to touch
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• Hypersensitivity to feel and touch

Migraine auras normally lasts from 20 minutes to an hour; however some sufferers have been known to experience aura symptoms lasting up to two days. Migraine aura symptoms can and do vary tremendously from one migraine sufferer to the next.

“Negative” and “Positive” Symptoms

The most commonly reported aura consists of flashing lights or zigzagging lines, known as the so-called “positive” symptoms.

Partial or total visual field loss or vision blackouts are called “negative symptoms”.

A combination of so-called “negative symptoms” (such as vision loss) with the “positive symptoms” (like zigzagging lines) make up the typically distinctive features of a migraine aura.

Vision blackouts - the “negative symptoms” - are caused by a depression of nerve activity. On the other hand, zigzagging lines are caused by hyperactivity in the nerve cells.

Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD)

Special imaging and magnetic brainwave studies strongly suggest that Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD) forms the biological basis for the “negative symptoms” of a migraine aura.

From studying a particular type of migraine - Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) - recent findings have shown two genes are responsible for causing this symptom. These genes - which control the ion flow of calcium, sodium and potassium to the nerve cells - are damaged in people inclined to this type of migraine. It’s believed this genetic mutation makes a person’s neurons susceptible to CSD.

In essence, the nerve cells (or neurons) don’t get properly “recharged” – resulting in diminished or depressed neural activity. Whatever the reason, this reduced activity slows down normal body functioning. If the affected neuron complex happens to control the sight centers (visual cortex) then visual disturbances or losses may occur.

However, as these neurons begin to react to or recover from the CSD, they may become hyper excitable, resulting in visual phenomena such as flashing lights and zig zag lines. (It’s sort of like the neuron’s compensate by rebounding and going into overdrive!)

This hyper excitability then activates the major nerve complex behind the eye (trigeminal nerve). This initiates migraine headaches by activating the highly pain-sensitive “dura mater” - the membrane sheet wrapping around the brain.

Calcium Channel Blocker Drugs

Researchers speculated that blocking the ion channels flowing through the neuron cell membranes would help reduce migraine pain. Some suggested using drugs to slow down and block these channels – for example “calcium channel blocker” medications.

Calcium channel blockers (such as verapamil) are widely used to treat heart disease and high blood pressure. They’re also now extensively used to prevent migraine headaches. Unfortunately, their effectiveness in migraine prevention is minimal at best.

A Better Method

There is another option – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and put your expensive and dangerous prescriptions away and get on the road to the new life – free of pain and suffering! Read the articles or just order my e-book today and get a new lease on life – free of migraines! You will be glad you did.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine auras altogether - and concern over the ensuing migraine headache may no longer be necessary – at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

APPLIES TO:

• migraine
• migraines
• migraine headaches
• headaches
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• migraine headache relief
• migraine relief
• headache treatment cure
• women's health
• birth control pills
• oral contraceptives
• Dr. Andrew Jones
• Andrew Jones M.D.
• Andrew Jones
• Women's Health Institute of Texas
• Women's Health Institute

View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 3

Migraine Headaches – 3rd of a Series:

“Classical Migraines: Fact or Fiction?”

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Almost every article you read about migraine headaches mentions something called the “classical migraine.” But how many people really have this “classical” condition?

Migraines are typically divided into two major categories: Classical and common.

Classical migraine headaches typically start with an “aura” lasting 10 minutes to an hour before the headache itself begins.

The aura frequently is a sensation of flashing lights, blind spots, visual zig zag lines, tingling or even numbness. Other classic symptoms may include confusion, slurred speech or weakness in an arm or leg. (Please see our previous article: “The Migraine Aura – Tricks From The Brain” for more information.)

Common migraine headaches are not preceded by an aura. These headaches generally just arrive without warning. They may start off with just a mild pain, but then quickly intensify over a matter of minutes. But the headache in a common migraine can be just as painful as the classical variety - regardless of whether the sufferer had an aura or not.

How Common Are Migraines?

Depending on whose statistics you use, migraine headaches are found in about 10% of the population. Since women officially have three times more incidences of headaches than men, the number of females experiencing migraines approaches 18%. As women approach the age of 35, the peak incidence of migraines increases to nearly 35% - nearly one in three!

These figures are consistent worldwide – and not just limited to the United States.

Earlier studies raised the issue that Asians experience far few migraines than Westerners. However, recent surveys seem to refute this finding. This is interesting – because it would seem to indicate that migraines are a universal human condition and not cultural or developmental phenomena.

It’s also estimated another 5% of the worldwide population have migraine headaches but don’t know it! These people have either incorrectly self-diagnosed their condition - or had their pain misdiagnosed as tension or sinus headaches.

Of all the people who experience migraine headaches, properly diagnosed or not, about 20% are supposed to have the “classical” aura type of migraine.

Migraines Much More Common Than Realized

In real practice however, my observations have shown migraine headaches are much more common in the general population than formerly reported. Twice as many women as previously thought, about 1 in 5, will experience at least one migraine in their life. But of those women, very few of them experience an aura.

Furthermore, official statistics indicate that 60-70% of women experience “hormonal” headaches - headaches based on their monthly cycle.

Again, my actual experience is that far more women experience migraine headaches to menstrual cycle changes than officially recognized. In all likelihood, this is due to external stimuli affecting the body – such as birth control pills and certain prescription medications.

Migraine Headaches Swelling Worldwide

What’s even worse, migraine headaches seem to be increasing worldwide, especially over the last 50 years, and particularly in women. Preliminary observations indicate that virtually every family in America has at least one female member experiencing migraine headaches.

The Centers for Disease Control reported a 60-percent increase in the incidence of migraine headaches from 1980 to 1989. A Mayo Clinic study released in 1999 showed similar findings where migraine headaches in women increased 56 percent during the 1980s while the incidence of migraine headaches in men increased 34 percent during the same period.

The clinic’s author speculated the reasons were four-fold:

• “Stress“
• A rise in the number of single-parent households
• An increase in the number of women in the workforce
• An increase in women who are dieting for weight loss

With all due respects to the Mayo Clinic, the Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes in alternate explanations for the increasing incidence of migraines:

• Increased use of birth control pills since 1960
• Progressive exposure to “xenoestrogens” over the last 50 years
• Worsening dietary habits over the last 25 years

All three reasons certainly account for the disturbing uptrend in women’s migraines. The last two reasons apply to men just as well as to women. The entire population is being exposed to high levels of xenoestrogens, and the dietary habits of both men and women have progressively declined - as evidenced by the ever-rising numbers in obesity.

What are Xenoestrogens?

Xenoestrogens are chemicals exhibiting estrogen-like activity. “Xeno” means foreign, so xenoestrogen simply means “a foreign estrogen.” There are tens of thousands of chemicals that exert hormonal effects, with xenoestrogens exerting estrogenic effects.

Examples of xenoestrogens include pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables, hormone additives to grain fed beef and “gas off” from plastic water bottles.

Too much exposure to estrogen can cause numerous medical difficulties, manifesting as a myriad of “female” problems in women. These range from PMS to uterine fibroids to breast cancer. In men, these can range from gynecomastia (development of breast tissue) to prostate cancer.

Incidentally, this problem doesn’t just involve humans. A recent article in “The Week” magazine cites estrogen-like contaminants being responsible for male fish in Maryland’s Potomac River actually carrying eggs! What used to be a one in a million abnormality now affects 80% of the smallmouth bass population.

Migraine Cure is a Reality

Whether classical migraines are under or over-reported, the Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes there’s a better way to combat migraine headaches – by eliminating them altogether.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eradicated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their methods and even made them available to the public.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

APPLIES TO:

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• migraines
• migraine headaches
• headaches
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• migraine headache relief
• migraine relief
• headache treatment cure
• women's health
• birth control pills
• oral contraceptives
• Dr. Andrew Jones
• Andrew Jones M.D.
• Andrew Jones
• Women's Health Institute of Texas
• Women's Health Institute

View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 4

Migraine Headaches – 4th of a Series:

“Sick Migraines – When Nausea Is Almost as Bad as the Headache Pain”

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For some people, the worst thing about a migraine is not the pain - it's migraine nausea.

Nausea and vomiting are two very distressing symptoms accompanying migraines in some people. About 80% of migraine sufferers get nauseous, but only 30% actually throw up. In rare occasions, a person may vomit so many times they actually become dehydrated.

Most of the time, simply treating the migraine relieves the nausea. However, the nausea and vomiting may be so bad that it actually prevents a person from taking their migraine relief medications. When this happens the nausea only serves to prolong the agony.

There are two types of migraine nausea:

• Nausea that’s caused by extreme pain from any source – whether it be from a headache, neck or back pain, or abdominal pain.
• Nausea produced by the brain sending signals down the vagus nerve into the stomach causing acute queasiness.

In the first instance, standard anti-nausea medications may be used to relieve symptoms. These medications may be taken orally as pills - or in severe cases where someone just cannot hold down anything - as rectal suppositories.

Examples of standard anti-nausea medications include:

• Phenergan (promethazine hydrochloride)
•  
• Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
•  
• Compazine (prochlorperazine)
•  
• Tigan (Trimetho-benzamide hydrochloride)
•  
• Reglan (metoclopramide hydrochloride)
•  
• Gravol (dimenhydrinate)

All of the above are available in suppository form except for Reglan.

One natural method that delivers real benefits is ginger. Taking ginger in the form of tablets or even a tea has been shown to alleviate some of the nausea accompanying a migraine, as well being effective for other conditions, including motion sickness, pregnancy and vomiting after surgery.

For the type of nausea primarily caused by the brain itself, the activity that causes the migraine also causes the nausea. This is where the “triptan” drugs are used.

Effects of Triptans on Migraine Nausea

Triptan drugs have become the primary migraine prescription medication used since the 1990’s. Examples of triptans include:

• Imitrex (sumatriptan)
•  
• Maxalt (rizatriptan)
•  
• Amerge (naratriptan)
•  
• Zomig (zolmitriptan)
•  
• Axert (almotriptan)
•  
• Frova (frovatriptan)
•  
• Relpax (eletriptan)

A 2001 study comparing four of the triptans concluded that Maxalt and Zomig were more effective at relieving nausea associated with migraines than Imitrex or Amerge. Of course about a third to a half of the patients in the study got better in two hours based simply on the placebo effect.

This isn’t to say that triptan medications should be used to combat nausea in non-migraine situations. Triptan medications don’t directly affect the nausea itself – they work in alleviating the migraine – which in turn eases the nausea.

As with any oral medication, unless you can keep it in your stomach - it’s not going to do you much good. Of the above triptans, all come in oral forms, but some can be taken in ways other than swallowing a pill.

There are five possible triptan formulations available:

• Standard oral tablet (all triptans)
•  
• Subcutaneous (under the skin) injection (Imitrex)
•  
• Quick dissolving oral tablet (sub-lingual) (Maxalt, Zomig)
•  
• Nasal spray (Imitrex, Zomig)
•  
• Rectal suppository (Imitrex)

For example, Imitrex comes as an injection, which is fast acting and relatively effective, but has a host of unpleasant side effects and is extremely expensive. Imitrex has recently become available as a nasal spray and also comes as a rectal suppository.

Zomig and Imitrex are the only two triptans that are available as nasal sprays. Sprays have the advantage of being rapidly absorbed and being quick acting – with relief coming as early as 15 minutes after use.

Zomig and Maxalt are also available as quick dissolving sub-lingual (under the tongue) tablets, doing away with any problems associate with swallowing.

The triptan formulations offering an alternative to swallowing a pill allows patients the opportunity to possibly abort a migraine attack at its onset. This is very reassuring to those migraine sufferers who frequently encounter nausea - especially vomiting.

Early administration of treatment, particularly the triptans, during a migraine attack is vitally important. The preferred method of taking conventional pills and tablets is perfectly reasonable - so long as the patient is able to swallow and keep the medication down long enough for absorption to take place.

However, in situations where nausea with or without vomiting is frequent or likely, alternate forms of the triptan medications should be carefully considered.

A Better Method

There is another option – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and put your expensive and dangerous prescriptions away and get on the road to the new life – free of pain and suffering! Read the articles or just order my e-book today and get a new lease on life – free of migraines! You will be glad you did.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine auras altogether - and concern over the ensuing migraine headache may no longer be necessary – at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

APPLIES TO:

• migraine
• migraines
• migraine headaches
• headaches
• migraine headache
• migraine headache relief
• migraine relief
• headache treatment cure
• women's health
• birth control pills
• oral contraceptives
• Dr. Andrew Jones
• Andrew Jones M.D.
• Andrew Jones
• Women's Health Institute of Texas
• Women's Health Institute

View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 5

Migraine Headaches – 5th of a Series:

“Migraines and Photophobia – Please Don’t Show Me the Light!”

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Photophobia (sensitivity to light) sends people with migraine headaches scurrying for shelter.

Aversion to light is an extremely common, if not universal, characteristic of migraine headaches. Photophobia literally means “a fear or aversion to light.”

It’s almost always accompanied by phonophobia - an aversion to sound. So people suffering from migraine headaches almost always end up scurrying to the safe confines of a dark and quiet room, not to be disturbed until the headache has ended.

The most common symptoms of migraines (outside of the headache itself) include:

• Nausea (80-90%)
• Photophobia (80%)
• Phonophobia (75-80%)
• Lightheadedness (70%)
• Vomiting (40-60%)

What Causes Photophobia?

In the strictest definition, the main cause of photophobia is glare. People with lighter-colored eyes, cataracts and those who suffer from migraine headaches are more likely to be light and glare sensitive.

Photophobia classically develops when the eye muscles around the iris (the colored portion of the eye) fail to properly constrict and reduce the amount of light entering through the eye's central area, the pupil. When this occurs, exposure to light may be painful. Eye pain results from the undesirable effects of too much scattered stray light on the retina.

When a migraine strikes, the pupil muscles may be suppressed, thereby allowing this flood of light into the retina. The suppressed functioning of the iris muscles is similar to the suppressed or depressed functioning of the brain’s visual pathways noted in migraine auras - resulting in visual field losses or dark spots. (See our previous article: “The Migraine Aura – Tricks From The Brain.”)

The Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD) Concept

These findings stem from the Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD) concept advanced in the last few years. The CSD theory suggests there is an initial shut down of nerve cells which suppresses normal body functioning - followed by a burst of recharging activity. It’s thought the headache pain comes from the “rebound effect” of nerve cells recharging themselves.

As a consequence, sensitivity to glare could cause a general neural hyper-excitability. This would contribute to the pain by triggering a particular nerve complex behind the eye, called the trigeminal ganglion.

Here’s an interesting observation: Recent migraine photophobia studies demonstrated that in 19 of 25 patients, light-induced pain was greater on the same side that the headache was felt.

Another study investigated whether migraine sufferers are inherently more sensitive to light and sound - even if they are not experiencing any headache at all. The results were positive: As compared to the normal population, those who suffer from migraines were significantly more sensitive to light and sound even when they were headache-free.

Migraine Symptoms Evolve Over Time

A recent study of 260 patients has put to rest any debate whether or not migraine symptoms such as photophobia actually diminish with increasing age.

Earlier reports noted a statistical increase in symptoms over time, such as photophobia, phonophobia, dizziness, throbbing, pressure, stabbing, and being forced to sleep or rest when the headache pain arrived.

However, recent analysis broke these symptoms down into more detail. The good news was that migraines in women peaked in the 30 – 49 year old age group, and then declined as they grew older. Additionally, headache intensity declined as well for both sexes over 50.

Finally, it was noted that symptoms of vomiting, phonophobia and photophobia also improved slightly simply by reaching 50 years of age.

Red Lenses Relieve Migraines

Since there is some evidence indicating the presence of light can actually trigger or make an existing migraine headache even worse, eye doctors have performed their own studies involving light wavelengths.

The eye’s back wall consists of the retina with special light sensing nerve cells. Retina cells that sense black and white are called rods, while color sensing cells are called cones.

There are three types of color-sensing cones in the retina – reacting to long, medium, and short wavelengths of light, respectively. An eye study performed on thirty-three patients with photophobia during a migraine showed some interesting results.

Specially made red-tinted contact lenses, which blocked 90% of the light spectrum, were placed on patients during acute migraine attacks. Contact lenses were chosen over eyeglasses, because eyeglasses allow glare to reach the eye through the top and sides. (Contrary to what you may think – red lenses don’t block red light. The reason they appear red is because they absorb everything else but red – allow only that wavelength to pass through.)

Thirty-one patients experienced rapid pain relief, of whom 26 had a complete remission. Improvement occurred for most patients within 5 minutes, with 90 minutes being the longest time before relief was felt. In 5 cases, pain completely subsided within 10 seconds of inserting the lenses!

Selectively blocking specific wavelengths with these special contact lenses appears to be even more effective than huddling in total darkness.

An Interesting Aside

Wearing red tinted eyepieces is not a totally new concept. During World War II, a problem was discovered concerning soldiers on guard duty. When night fell, there was a period of about a half hour before their eyes could fully adjust to the reduced light. Of course – this proved to be a significant hazard. It was found that if the soldier going on duty wore red tinted goggles during the transition from day into night – this “night blindness” problem was vastly reduced.

Better Method For Migraine Relief

There is another option to relieve migraine pain – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and never worry about photophobia or bright lights again.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine nausea altogether - and concern over the ensuing migraine headache may no longer be necessary – at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

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View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 6

Migraine Headaches – 6th of a Series:

“Migraine-Associated Vertigo”

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Vertigo, which is an illusion of movement in relation to the environment, is commonly experienced as part of a migraine headache.

Migraine is a disease characterized by periodic headaches, but patients often experience other symptoms, including dizziness. In some patients, dizziness can be the only symptom. The dizziness associated with migraines is called vertigo.

Vertigo is basically a sensation of a room spinning around you, while at rest. Nausea and sometimes vomiting is always associated with vertigo.

Motion sickness is a common migraine accompaniment as well. Most studies report about 50% of patients with migraines have motion sickness. Patients with migraine-associated vertigo often provide a long history of motion intolerance during car, boat, or air travel or all three. People with migraines are, in general, more sensitive to motion of the environment and to busy environments.

The symptoms of migraine-associated vertigo are variable and may feel like a room spinning at rest (true vertigo), a constant feeling of imbalance, and/or dizziness associated primarily when moving and not at rest. Symptoms directly associated with a migraine headache can occur prior to the onset of headache or during a headache.

Vertigo Without Headaches

It is also quite common to experience vertigo during a headache-free interval. As such, many patients who experience migraine-associated vertigo will experience dizziness as the main symptom even in the absence of a headache! In fact, most patients with migraine-associated vertigo have dizziness that occurs independently of the headache.

This last condition of someone experiencing vertigo without any headache confuses doctors and patients alike. It is far more common than thought and most of the time is a missed diagnosis and thereby a missed opportunity for treatment.

Prevalence of Migraine-Associated Vertigo

Reports indicate that 27-42% of all migraine patients report episodic vertigo. What is interesting is that about a third (about 36%) of these patients experienced vertigo during headache-free periods. The remainder experienced vertigo either just before or during the headache. The incidence of vertigo during the headache period was higher in patients with aura as opposed to those without aura.

Duration:

The vertigo symptoms may last for a few minutes or may be continuous for several weeks or even for months! In women, there is a strong association of dizziness occurring within the menstrual cycle.

The duration of the vertigo can also be quite variable. The frequencies of different durations of vertigo spells in migraine-associated vertigo are as follows:

• 7% experience vertigo for a duration of seconds.
•  
• 31% experience vertigo for minutes to up to 2 hours.
•  
• 5% have vertigo for 2-6 hours.
•  
• 8% have vertigo for 6-24 hours.
•  
• 49% experience vertigo for longer than 24 hours.

What Causes the Vertigo Associated with Migraines?

The most commonly accepted theory regarding the pathophysiology of migraine-associated vertigo is the Cortical Spreading Depression theory (CSD). Multiple authors propose that episodes of dizziness are similar to that of a migraine aura or are actually part of the aura.

But since only about 20% of migraine sufferers actually experience an aura, researches attribute the vertigo as part of a fluctuation of nerve cell ion channels. Recent understandings in a particular type of migraine – Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) have shown two genes responsible for controlling ion flow across nerve cell membranes.

These two genes affect changes in calcium, sodium and potassium channels. This alters the electrical conduction potentials of nerve cells. The result is a transient wave front that suppresses central neuronal activity. This depression spreads in all directions from its site of origin. These changes result in a reduction in cerebral blood flow in the areas of spreading depression.

Two authors have suggested that when dizziness is unrelated to headache, the dizziness occurs from the release of neuropeptides, including substance P, neurokinin A, calcitonin and gene–related peptide [CGRP].

No single hypothesis explains the headache or dizziness process in migraine at this time. Thus, the causes of the symptoms of migraine remain controversial.

Meniere’s Disease

There is another relatively common form of vertigo called Meniere’s Disease. Meniere’s Disease is not related to migraines at all. It has a classic triad of vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the ears). The vertigo of Meniere’s Disease is frequently confused with migraine-associated vertigo.

Fortunately, the vertigo associated with the more common forms of migraines rarely have any hearing loss and also does not have much in the way of tinnitus.

Basilar Migraines

The is one ominous variant of migraine headaches called Basilar Migraines (or also known as Bickerstaff ‘s syndrome) which is a cross between a migraine and occasionally ends up in a stroke. Some features of Basilar Migraines include vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. Up to 80% of patients with Basilar Migraine have been reported to have sensorineural hearing loss.

So in the case of the Basilar Migraines, the vertigo might be indistinguishable from Meniere’s Disease during the headache-free intervals. Otherwise the presence of the headache would lend it toward the migraine component and should be treated as a migraine.

Clearly, Basilar Migraines are a more pernicious variety of migraine headache. Even though Basilar Migraines are classified as a sub-group of migraines, some believe that the stroke-like damage that is frequently associated with this group of headaches places it in a different category and should be treated very differently from the typical migraine.

Treatment

Unfortunately, the vertigo component of migraines is extremely resistant to standard treatment. The triptan class of drugs is relatively ineffective. Also, the standard anti-vertigo drugs like meclizine and phenergan also do not work well.

Better Method For Migraine Relief

There is another option to relieve migraine pain – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and never worry about photophobia or bright lights again.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine nausea altogether - and concern over the ensuing migraine headache may no longer be necessary – at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

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View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 7

"Migraine Headaches – 7th of a Series:

“Do I Really Have Migraine Headaches?”

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Over 40% of people with severe headache pain aren't even aware their condition is technically and medically a migraine.

Additionally, many migraine headaches have been actually misdiagnosed as tension headaches, sinus headaches or even TMJ - headaches associated with jaw problems.

Most people who are researching the internet for information on migraines clearly understand that they have migraine headaches. But for the remainder it may not be so clear.

Many of you have written us with detailed descriptions of your headaches and asking, “Do I have migraine headaches”? Nearly half of the messages our clinic receives on a daily basis can be summed up in a single question:

“What kind of headache do I really have?”

And the answer is usually very simple:

Your TENSION (or SINUS) (or CLUSTER) headache might actually be a MIGRAINE headache!

Here are the facts - approximately 1 out of every 10 Americans experiences migraines. For women, it is much higher number – as much as 1 out of every 3 around the age of 35.

Yet many people suffer needlessly because neither they nor their doctors recognize the symptoms that can accompany migraines. They also underestimate the impact that their headaches are having on their lives and on their families.

The bottom line is if you don't get the relief you need for your frequent bad headaches, you may have migraines. In fact, in the United States alone over 14 million people who suffer from migraines have not been diagnosed with migraines yet. Could you be one of them?

Cluster Headaches are often misdiagnosed as well.

Cluster headache, which is an incredibly severe headache, is frequently just another form of a migraine headache. Cluster headaches are usually found in men. There is a great deal of controversy whether cluster headaches are a subset of migraine headaches since many of the symptoms overlap.

Here is how you can determine whether what you're experiencing is actually a migraine:

If you experience any 3 or more of the following symptoms, you are highly likely to have migraines:

• Your headache feels like someone has stabbed an ice pick inside your brain
•  
• Pain is usually one-sided (but can be both-sided, especially if around the eyes)
•  
• Your headache does not respond to regular over-the-counter painkillers
•  
• Pain is pulsating, pounding, or throbbing
•  
• Light and sound bother you a lot
•  
• Pain worsens when you move or bend over
•  
• Pain becomes so intense that you throw up or become nauseated
•  
• You get dizzy just by turning your head (lying in bed)
•  
• You feel that you have to lie down, go to bed, or withdraw to a quiet dark room
•  
• Vision may be blurred, like a curtain comes down over your visual field in one or both eyes
•  
• The headache can last from several hours to several days (or even weeks)

People with tension headaches or sinus headaches do not and never will have a disabling headache. Cluster headaches are frequently a subset of a migraine headache.

The key word here is “DISABLING”. If your “tension” or “sinus” headache is disabling, then you do not have a tension or sinus headache. You have a migraine. Only migraine headaches are disabling.

If you are reading this article because of severe, debilitating headaches that are poisoning your life, do not respond to painkillers, and keep coming back over and over again, you are very likely to have migraines. People with standard tension or sinus headaches do not bother to look them up on the Internet.

You are here because YOUR bad headaches are interfering with your life and you are looking for a way to fix that. If you keep suffering through tremendous pain along with other symptoms mentioned above, then you have migraine headaches.

For those of you who have been told by numerous doctors over the last decade that your disabling headaches are not migraines – the good news is that migraine headaches are now a treatable and curable condition.

A Better Method

There is another option as opposed to suffering and just treating the “outbreaks” – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and never worry about headache pain again.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a woman’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine headaches altogether - at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

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• Andrew Jones
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View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 8

Migraine Headaches – 8th of a Series:

“Migraine Headaches – Show Me the Proof!”

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Medical literature is full of examples of how natural hormones effect migraine headaches. As early as 1953, the British Medical Journal published Dr. Kathleen Dalton’s first hand account of how her own menstrual migraines were relieved by injections of natural hormones. This same doctor started using this therapy on her own patients, claiming an 83% success rate.

In July of 1983, Dr. Penny Budoff, writing in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, cited successful trials of natural hormone therapy dating back to 1964, showing alleviation of multiple symptoms, including migraine headaches. She later went on to describe a Boston clinic that offered natural hormone treatments, saying they “provided effective therapy.”

There was some controversy about her findings, probably related to disagreement over how the actual hormones were introduced into the body - intramuscular, intravenous, orally or also by vaginal suppositories. There was even controversy over the dosages required. Apparently, how the treatment is given affects the overall outcomes and results.

In 2000, The Mayo Clinic announced the usage of a new type of natural hormone by one of their leading endocrinologists - Lorraine Fitzpatrick, M.D. The conclusions were natural hormones can improve the quality of life for post-menopausal women, such as decreasing the risk of endometrial cancers, sleep disorders, hot flashes, anxiety and symptoms of depression. This same study was also published in the Journal of Women’s Health.

Neuroprotective Effects

Dr. Donald Stein, with Emory University School of Medicine noted in the June, 2005, Annals of New York Academy of Sciences, that natural hormones:

“may be a potent neuroprotective agent especially in the treatment of traumatic brain injury, stroke, and certain neurodegenerative disorders.”

He continued:

“The literature surrounding [natural hormones] influence on mood, cognition, and memory in healthy subjects is not very large,”

but in general he found natural hormones do indeed offer helpful treatments in humans.

Citing animal model studies, natural hormones consistently demonstrated “beneficial effects.” Among these benefits are substantially reducing edema (swelling) in the brain as well as effectively reducing free radical damage. They also decrease brain damaged areas following a loss of blood supply and reduce nerve cell injury after a nerve contusions.

Natural hormones have anti-seizure properties and are the subject of two NIH funded clinical trials for natural hormone treatment of epilepsy in women. Finally, Dr. Stein notes natural hormones “have the potential to enhance neuronal (nerve cell) repair.”

The Annals of the New York Academy of Science in 2005 published a study by Dr. M. Singh stating that ovarian (sex) hormones:

“…can no longer be considered strictly within the confines of reproductive function, and the brain is just as important a target for hormone function.”

He goes on to write: “Indeed, recent evidence supports the neuroprotective potential of [sex hormones] itself.”

Migraines and Seizures

Dr. Andrew Herzog of the Harvard Medical School’s Neuroendocrine Unit published two articles in the journal Neurology, describing how natural hormones influence nerve cells in the brain by demonstrating a dramatic reduction (68%) in a condition called Catamenial Seizures.

These seizures paralleled the time course of migraine headaches during the menstrual cycle so closely, that the seizures are now labeled as “menstrual seizures”.

Dr. Vincent T. Martin, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, is the WORLD’S FOREMOST AUTHORITY on the relationship of migraine headaches with sex hormones. In October of 2005 he wrote that “…migraine headache and epilepsy may show a similar pattern of response to changes in ovarian hormone encountered during the menstrual cycle. …”

Describing hormonal interventions in women during their menstrual cycle, Dr. martin wrote:

”If ovarian hormones played no role in the headaches of these women, then hormonal manipulations would be expected to have no effect.”

But when hormones were added back – headaches did improve - even when measured and compared against a placebo.

Dr. Martin further wrote, “Our study also suggests that [ovarian hormones] modulate migraine headaches.” Additionally, the doctor indicated: “…the presence of [natural hormones] provided a preventative benefit for migraine headaches.”

He theorizes that natural hormones produced this benefit by enhancing a brain neurotransmitter called GABA. An increase in the GABA receptors helps suppress electrical stimulation in the trigeminal ganglion in the brain - thought to play a major role in activation of pain sensation in migraine headaches.

New Research

More recently, in special issues of this year’s journal Headache, Dr. Martin published two more review articles on ovarian hormones and migraine headaches. He opened the review with:

“Ovarian hormones have a profound influence on the central nervous system of women.” This is followed by “Migraine headache in particular appears to be strongly affected by ovarian hormones.”

His team noted that in the brain ovarian hormones are converted into metabolites, enhancing their effects. Some of the metabolites found in the brain have 100 times the concentration than found in the rest of the body.

Dr. Martin observed: “Therefore, substantial clinical evidence suggests that changes in ovarian hormones affect migraine headaches.”

The Serotonin System

In Part 2 of the review, Dr. Martin writes: “Migraine headaches are likely influenced by the different “hormonal milieus (situations)” encountered during reproductive life events that begin during menarche (first periods) and continue through menopause.”

Once inside the brain, ovarian hormones “have a prominent effect” on various neurotransmitter systems, including the serotonin and GABA systems. Again from Dr. Martin:

“Substantial evidence exists to suggest that the serotonergic system is important in the pathogenesis of migraine headache.”

Triptan medications (Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, etc.) enhance the action of the hormone serotonin, and are, according to Dr. Martin:

“efficacious abortive treatments for migraine headache.” “Because ovarian [hormones] play a critical role in serotonin synthesis, reuptake, and degradation they could theoretically affect migraine through their action on the serotonergic system.”

The GABA System

As Dr. Martin describes, this is a complex issue.

“GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system. GABAergic neurons are strongly modulated by ovarian [hormones].”

“The effect of ovarian hormones on neurotransmitter systems may be dependent on a number of variables.”

“The pathophysiology of migraine headache is a complex, but probably involves activation of a number of different “pain processing networks” within the central nervous system…” “Ovarian hormones … modulate these structures/pathways to increase or decrease the frequency, severity or duration of migraine headache.”

He cites an animal model study of migraine headaches where the brain’s main pain firing network (the trigeminal nucleus) is electrically activated. Observable symptoms decreased by 42% when pretreated with a natural hormone metabolite.

Leakage of neurotransmitter stimulators, known to cause headaches, were also suppressed as well. This was thought to be caused by the natural hormone’s ability to regulate the nerves GABA receptors.

Autonomic Nervous System

“There is evidence that the sympathetic nervous system is involved in the pathophysiology of migraine headache.” Dr. Martin

Ten to fifteen percent of patients with migraine headaches have a condition called Horner Syndrome during their headache-free periods.

Horner Syndrome is a weakness in the sympathetic nervous system. Abnormally weak eyelid muscles and the pupil causes these people to respond to light differently than those non-afflicted with this disease.

Changing the mix of ovarian hormones has actually been shown to improve this condition.

Vascular Effects

One of the most observed properties of migraine headaches has been the abnormally increased blood flow through brain arteries (vasodilation). Certain ovarian hormones counteract this effect - thereby relieving the condition.

Estrogen Withdrawal Theory

Dr. Martin stated in all of his articles:

“The most plausible theory to explain the pathophysiology of menstrual migraine is that of “excess withdrawal” of estrogen.”

When high circulating levels of estrogen are suddenly withdrawn or dropped – a migraine can occur. This has been supported by other studies as well. Migraines were induced by adding excessive estrogen early on in the menstrual cycle – then suddenly stopping it.

However, when estrogen was added later in the cycle, migraines were not suppressed. Only the onset of the next headache was delayed. As Dr. Martin noted:

“Estrogen in particular appears to modulate the frequency, severity, and disability of migraine headache.”

Other systems also had to be involved, including prostaglandins, magnesium, alterations of neurotransmitters (serotonin, GABA, opiates), sympathetic nervous system, and of course, birth control pills.

What We Can Conclude

Through Dr. Martin’s groundbreaking research, it’s obvious the right mix of ovarian hormones is crucial in maintaining a migraine free life. Too little ovarian hormones in the body – and the risk of getting a migraine greatly increases. Returning the body’s balance often reverses the situation – meaning no more migraine headaches – and no more pain.

Supplementing the body’s deficiencies with bio-identical hormones and returning the natural balance is a critical part in effectively treating and curing migraine headaches.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine nausea altogether - and concern over the ensuing migraine headache may no longer be necessary – at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

APPLIES TO:

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• headaches
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• migraine headache relief
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• Dr. Andrew Jones
• Andrew Jones M.D.
• Andrew Jones
• Women's Health Institute of Texas
• Women's Health Institute

View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article Site-map

Migraine Headaches – Bonus Report:

“10 Things You Can Do In The Next 10 Minutes to Help Relieve Your Migraine Headache”

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If you are suffering from a migraine headache right now – here are 10 things you can do to help relieve the pain.

When a migraine headache strikes – it’s almost always at the worst time possible. This isn’t just Murphy’s Law at play - typically when stress levels are high and responsibilities are great is when a migraine rears its ugly head. However - first you have to determine if this one is a true migraine headache. Unless you have the type of migraine that is preceded by an aura (most don’t), then migraines frequently start out as a low intensity buzz that eventually turns into a devastating wallop when it reaches full fury. After that you have no choice but to stop your activities and deal with the migraine – simply because at that point you’re essentially out of commission.

Once a migraine does strike these are the conditions that frequently accompany it:

• Severe headache pain (usually on one side of the head)
• Photophobia (aversion to lights)
• Photophonia (aversion to sound)
• Vertigo (dizziness)
• Nausea (from dizziness and from intense pain)
• Stressed out, listless feeling
• Frequently dehydrated (can’t hold liquids, don’t want to get up)

Beginning with treating the pain, here’s the list of things you can do for a migraine right now:

1. Take the Triptans – and Take it Early

So what is a triptan? These are a class of medications that are the latest and most effective prescription medicines that are used to abort a migraine headache. Brand names include: Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Amerge, Frova, Relpax and Axert. If you’ve been diagnosed with migraines, you have almost certainly been prescribed one or more of these medications to take after a migraine headache begins. But, you must decide quickly to take them - because the earlier you do the more effective they are. (Like within the first 10 minutes!). Generally, the later you take them, the less effective they are.

Other problems with these medications include rather unpleasant side effects. Plus - they are very expensive - running from $20 to $70 per dose. Even if you have health insurance with prescription drug coverage, the co-pays really add up quickly. More often than not, you’ll end up taking a second triptan medication a few hours after the first one. One dose usually doesn’t suffice. Frequently two doses won’t work that great, either. Unfortunately, once a migraine headache starts, you have few other choices.

It’s really not advisable to take more than two doses of triptans per 24 hours. More than that is simply ineffective and a just waste of money.

2. Turn Off the Lights

Photophobia is a frequent feature of migraine headaches. This next recommendation is simple: Just turn off the lights and hide out in dark places. Almost every one who has experienced migraines already knows this. There is an excellent article available to our newsletter subscribers called, “Migraines and Photophobia – Please Don’t Show Me the Light” that describes this in much more detail.

3. Turn Down the Sound

Phonophobia is also very common with migraines. Again, most migraine sufferers know intuitively to turn off the radio and the TV. Family members figured out a long time ago to speak in quiet voices and avoid talking to mommy altogether. This one is particularly tough on the family as communication grinds to a sudden halt.

4. Lie Down and Stay Still

Vertigo – that sickening kind of dizziness making you feel the room spinning around. Known as motion sickness in a car, sea sickness on a ship or the “whirlies” after too much alcohol, it’s difficult (or downright impossible) to maintain your balance. Nausea and vomiting are an ever present threat.

This is essentially an inner ear phenomenon. Our newsletter subscribers can read an in-depth article called “Migraine Associated Vertigo” for more information.

5. Take Anti-Nausea Pills

Nausea can come with or without dizziness (vertigo). Frequently the agony can be so intense that nausea results just from the pain. Or, as we just mentioned, there is the rather severe vertigo nausea associated with migraines.

Either way, taking a prescription anti-nausea pill like Meclizine (Antivert) would be helpful. Non-prescription pills like Benadryl or Claritin are probably just as good. These are all anti-histamine medications and are all relatively equal in effectiveness. Unfortunately none of them totally wipe out the nausea. But they are better than nothing at all.

Phenergan suppositories are also relatively effective in controlling nausea. But they’re a hassle to insert and rather inconvenient.

There’s also a skin patch, Trans Derm Scopolamine, commonly used in the cruise ship industry, which is more convenient method of bypassing oral anti-histamines. But it’s a slow acting delivery patch designed to give off medicine over a three day period, which results in poor short term delivery.

Sometimes the nausea is so bad that migraine sufferers start throwing up. In this situation, you can’t hold down any pills at all. So alternate routes need to be considered. This is particularly crucial for the triptan medications.

Fortunately, some of the triptans can be taken in ways other than by swallowing a pill. For example, Imitrex comes as an injection, which is fast acting and relatively effective, but has a host of unpleasant side effects and is extremely expensive. Imitrex has recently become available as a nasal spray and also comes as a rectal suppository.

Zomig and Imitrex are the only two triptans that are available as nasal sprays. Sprays have the advantage of being rapidly absorbed and quick acting – with relief coming as early as 15 minutes after use.

Zomig and Maxalt are also available as quick dissolving sub-lingual (under the tongue) tablets, doing away with any problems associated with swallowing.

6. Stay Hydrated

It’s important to drink lots of water during any stressful situation. Your body needs water to maintain itself, and when under stress requires even more. A migraine headache certainly qualifies as stressful!

The problem in drinking water during a migraine attack is that usually you are so dizzy you don’t want to move and secondly, you may be so nauseated that you couldn’t keep the water down anyway.

So hydration remains a problem. This is why taking the anti-nausea medications above become even more important. The better hydrated you are, the quicker the migraine will subside.

7. Stop the Trigger

There is some controversy over whether specific “triggers” can cause a migraine. These triggers can involve certain foods or wine that seem to be associated with a migraine just before it hits.

So if you happen to be drinking some wine, coffee, caffeinated beverages or eating cheeses or chocolates, and feel the initial stages of a migraine - just stop and put these foods away. Frankly, they may have nothing to do with the migraine. But if they are the least bit associated, it does no harm to stop them for the moment.

8. Take a Muscle Relaxer

We have noticed an overlap of muscle tension headaches that end up turning into a migraine. There can be a great deal of confusion whether that was a tension headache to begin with or just a pre-migrainous condition that ultimately turned into a full blown migraine.

In either event, if you suspect that there’s a muscle tension type of headache running underneath the migraine, then you should investigate taking a muscle relaxer prescription medication.

One advantage to taking a muscle relaxer is it helps alleviate the tension headache. Secondly, it can make you sleepy - and that’s fine too. Sometimes just sleeping off the headache is the better route to take.

Unfortunately, on many occasions with migraine headaches, managing to fall asleep doesn’t necessarily solve the problem. Many people will wake up only to find the migraine hasn’t gone anywhere.

9. Take Magnesium

Forty percent of the population of the Western world is magnesium deficient. Women with menstrual migraines are three times more likely to be deficient in magnesium than the rest of the population.

If you are not currently taking magnesium supplements on a regular basis, I recommend taking 100 mg right when the migraine begins, and then 300 – 400 mg of magnesium every day.

Magnesium supplementation comes in numerous forms. The most common form is magnesium oxide. This delivers a high dose, but is gone from the bloodstream in a couple of hours. I don’t recommend taking this form of magnesium.

Instead I recommend any of the chelated (pronounced kee-lated) versions of magnesium. All of these end in an “ate”. Examples are magnesium citrate, stearate, aspartate, gluconate, and glycinate.

10. (Optional): Narcotic Pain Medications

Normally, most pain doctors recommend taking non-narcotic pain medications like Tylenol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like aspirin, Aleve (naproxen or Naprosyn) or Motrin (Ibuprofen) prior to jumping into narcotic pain medications. However, migraine sufferers already know that these non-narcotic pain medications just don’t do the job. So we won’t waste time discussing them. Narcotic pain medications should be reserved for those very extraordinary occasions when the pain is just absolutely intolerable. Unfortunately, in migraine headaches the pain is usually so severe that every headache is an exceptional occasion. The good feature about narcotic pain medications like Vicodin (hydrocodone) is that they work relatively well, at least for a few hours.

The problem with narcotics is they are both tolerating and addictive. Tolerating means that some people have to take more and more of the medication to get the same amount of relief. Addiction means that it’s difficult to stop using the drug – with or without pain.

Many “normal” people end up getting unintentionally addicted to narcotic pain medications. This has become a significant public health problem. My observation is that most migraine sufferers generally refuse to take narcotic pain medications because of the justifiable fear of addiction.

A Better Method

There is another option – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and put your expensive and dangerous prescriptions away and get on the road to the new life – free of pain and suffering! Read the articles or just order my e-book today and get a new lease on life – free of migraines! You will be glad you did.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine auras altogether - and concern over the ensuing migraine headache may no longer be necessary – at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

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View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 1

Migraine Headaches – Progesterone:

“Progesterone: The Battle Between Capsules and Cream”

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“Dietary Supplement Progesterone Now Makes Creams Obsolete”

The verdict is in: Oral progesterone beats topical creams hands-down

Until now, if you needed to supplement your natural levels of progesterone, you had only one choice: Messy, hard to apply creams. Oral progesterone just wasn’t available at any price.

All that’s been changed. Bio-identical progesterone has recently become available as an inexpensive dietary supplement in capsule form – finally giving women another option to choose. Creams no longer have a monopoly.

Since progesterone cream first exploded on the scene 40 years ago – millions of women have used this method to treat a variety of conditions, primarily PMS.

However – these women soon learned they had to apply huge amounts in order to achieve the desired response. Not only that, but progesterone creams were a sticky mess – difficult to apply and often staining the user’s clothes.

But women were stuck – it was either creams or nothing.

Fresh developments have changed that once and for all.

Why Creams Are Ineffective

But first - what exactly are the scientific problems with progesterone creams?

• Low Dosage: The FDA limits cream manufacturers to a 3% concentration of hormone in their preparations. This tiny quantity forces users to slather on huge amounts to get any noticeable effect at all.
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• Wildly Erratic Absorption: Hormone absorption is exceedingly unpredictable, even on the same spot of skin! The culprit? Skin temperature and sweat glands - causing wide variations in how much progesterone gets into the body.
•  
• Measurement Inconsistency: Most creams indicate that you place a “dollop” on your skin. But what’s a dollop? Even with pre-measured applicators, a dollop of cream is difficult to measure. It’s like toothpaste - do you squeeze out the exact same amount every time you use the tube?
•  
• Inconsistent Hormone Mixture: Due to mixture settlement (a normal occurrence with creams) actual strength can vary within the tube itself. You never know exactly how much progesterone you’re actually applying.
•  
• Manufacturing Variations: Few batches of progesterone cream are exactly alike. From a manufacturing perspective, it’s extremely difficult to get the same cream mixture and consistency each and every time. A batch made last month may be as much as 20% off from one made today.
•  
• Frequent Skin Irritation And Inflammation: Creams are known for causing unpleasant skin conditions – forcing users to rotate where they apply them on the body. Unfortunately, rotating to a different spot insures a different absorption.
•  
• Hidden Expenses: Once women figure out that they have to use several times more cream than the instructions indicated, their expenses go through the roof. They end up paying $40 - $60/month.
•  
• Inconvenience: Creams are simply messy, sticky and inconvenient to use.

In a nutshell, progesterone creams are wildly inconsistent, are FDA dose limited and most importantly – simply ineffective at the recommended amounts.

Advantages of Capsules vs. Creams

So what are the advantages of taking dietary progesterone in a capsule form?

• Precise Capsule Dosages: Each clinically tested capsule contains precisely 50 mg– the optimal dosage recommended by leading physicians.
•  
• There’s No Guesswork: Unlike cream preparations, users always know exactly how much bio-identical progesterone they’re getting.
•  
• No More Skin Concerns: No worries about skin irritation, inflammation, sweat glands or temperature. You just swallow the capsule(s).
•  
• Absorption is Complete: There’s no guessing how much progesterone was actually absorbed. Gastro-intestinal assimilation is virtually always 100% - even if there is food or alcohol in the stomach during, before or after the capsule is swallowed.
•  
• Convenience: Swallowing capsules is far more convenient than applying a cream. Plus you don’t stain your clothes or walk around waiting for the cream to dry first.
•  
• Inexpensive: Oral progesterone can be purchased for less than $20/month.

It’s clear: Progesterone creams are now rendered completely obsolete. There’s no scientific, therapeutic, or rational reason for anyone to continue using a progesterone cream preparation. In every aspect - oral progesterone is simply superior.

A Better Method

There is another option – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and put your expensive and dangerous prescriptions away and get on the road to the new life – free of pain and suffering! Read the articles or just order my e-book today and get a new lease on life – free of migraines! You will be glad you did.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine auras altogether - and concern over the ensuing migraine headache may no longer be necessary – at least in women.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy.

His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com

APPLIES TO:

• migraine
• migraines
• migraine headaches
• headaches
• migraine headache
• migraine headache relief
• migraine relief
• headache treatment cure
• women's health
• birth control pills
• oral contraceptives
• Dr. Andrew Jones
• Andrew Jones M.D.
• Andrew Jones
• Women's Health Institute of Texas
• Women's Health Institute

View migraine headache articles to understand more... Article No. 1