Headaches And Botox Injections

Headaches And Botox Injections
Headaches And Botox Injections

Most people are unaware that the use of Botox for the prevention of migraine headaches came about purely by accident. It all happened through the use of Botox by plastic surgeons. Patients undergoing plastic surgery, who were also experiencing headaches, noticed that their injections of Botox helped with their migraine headaches.

Botox, also known as botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin (a toxin that attacks nerve cells). It was originally approved by the FDA for use in conditions where hyperactivity of muscles was an underlying problem of related health and medical conditions. The theory is that Botox weakens or paralyzes muscles by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is an ester of choline that is thought to play an important role in the transmission of nerve impulses at synapses and myoneural (muscle-nerve) junctions. By inhibiting the release of acetylcholine the nerves cannot cause a muscle contraction, thus relaxing the muscle. Botox is administered by being directly injected into the affected muscles.

There are differing theories as to how Botox works to eliminate migraine headaches, but the exact reasoning remains unclear. One theory is that muscle tension and spasms are a cause of migraines and by eliminating the muscle tension with an injection of Botox it will also eliminate the cause of the headaches. If given Botox before the headache begins it is possible to eliminate the headache before it even starts.

When muscles spasm it can irritate nerves that innervate them. When these nerves send signals to the brain in an increased amount it causes pain and possibly headaches. Botox may affect these nerve cells, inhibiting their transmission, causing a lessening of the perception of pain. Many researches think that migraine headaches are a result of inflammation of blood vessels. However, muscle tension may also play an important role in the cause of headaches.

When researchers test a medication’s effectiveness they usually test it through a double-blind study. This means that some patients are given the medication being tested while others are given a placebo. A placebo is an inactive substance, such as sugar, that is given in place of the medication that is being evaluated. Some tests have been performed that did not involve double-blind studies, but showed that Botox could prevent migraine headaches. One double-blind study involving Botox and headaches showed only a small positive effect.

Initial studies may not have shown the full effectiveness of Botox for the prevention of headaches. The injections were not placed in the typical locations of the headache pain, but in areas normally injected during plastic surgery. In subsequent studies, using larger doses and injecting into more specific localities for the headache pain, the results were improved. These tests were concerning migraine headaches. However, with tension headaches, or muscle tension headaches, the studies have shown improved results. This is to be expected due to the weakening or paralyzing nature of Botox on the muscles that are experiencing tension.

When being injected with Botox for the prevention of headaches it may take several weeks before the injection takes effect. For this reason it is usually necessary to have it injected no more often than once every 3 months or so. People that have Botox administered for the treatment of headaches typically need it injected every few months. If there is too long of an interval between injections the headaches may be experienced by the patient.

However, the question arises about the safety of these regular injections of a neurotoxin. Since 1989, when it was first used as a headache treatment, it has appeared to be fairly safe. Most migraine headache medications are taken orally and eventually end up in the blood stream. Because of this common symptoms of migraine headache medication will be dizziness and drowsiness among other symptoms. Since Botox is injected directly into the muscle tissue and does not get absorbed into the blood system as does the typical headache medicine there are fewer side effects. Most commonly, the only side effects of injecting this neurotoxin is pain in the area of injection for a couple of days or drooping of the eyelids for a few days.

Studies are still being performed on this medication and as yet the FDA has not approved it for the treatment of headaches. However, physicians do prescribe it to their patients and if you think you are a candidate to use it you should discuss it with your doctor. If you do not respond to other headache medications it may be something to talk with your physician about. As the studies continue the effects and safety issues involving this medication should become more clear.

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Your Prescription For Sinus Headache Reflief

Your Prescription For Sinus Headache Reflief
Your Prescription For Sinus Headache Reflief

“Prevention is better than cure.” Well said and well understood! But there are certain types of headaches, which are part and parcel of you; gifted to you by birth! Sinus headache is one of them, unfortunately.

Many say about sinus, “that which can not be cured, must be endured!’ You can control it, reduce its impact. Can it be ever eradicated? The answer is in the negative, as far as the present day medical research can take you!

In sinus, invariably you have the headache, but every headache is not sinus! Sinus and nasal passage problems are the cause of headache, mostly! It is not that you have pain in the sinus area and you need to conclude that you have a sinus disorder. When the nasal passage and sinus are inflamed, it can result in a severe headache. In acute chronic sinus, the intensity of headache varies with the severity of the sinus. Sinus patients complain about many other problems. The sinus patient is more likely to experience:

1. Chills and fevers

2. Swelling of face

3. Nasal stiffness

4. Tension in the upper teeth, which will give lots of pain

5. Or, yellow or green discharge.

If you are suffering from sinus, you must live a controlled life, and must remain highly disciplined, with regard to the diet. There are strict laws as far as do’s and don’ts are concerned! Singers will have to take special care about maintaining the vocal chords of their throats! Sinus remains ever ready to sabotage their plans.

Pranaayama and Yoga asanas go a long way in controlling and curing the sinus headache! Regular light exercise must be done and tough and heavy exercises need to be avoided. The use of steam vaporizer must become the part of your life, if you detect the sinus! Develop the habit of morning walk. Do not walk too briskly or too slowly, and avoid too chilly or too hot days. Breathe moist air.

Sinus and headache are two different problems. When they club together and make a joint attack on you, your only defense is to find out the root cause of their arrival and then check them. So far, it has not been possible for the medical science and research, to defeat the sinus headache. But to erect barricades in its onward march is certainly possible!

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How To Combat A Bout Of Chronic Headache

How To Combat A Bout Of Chronic Headache
How To Combat A Bout Of Chronic Headache

The special thing about headaches is that by outward appearance, you may not appear to suffer from any disease. Only the possessor of this disease knows what it is like to have it! He feels like banging his head somewhere, but to that extent he possesses awareness that he should not damage his skull or your skull when you profusely tender a basket full of advice as to how he should face this calamity, narrating how you yourself faced similar situations in the not-too-distant past!

But if you have a chronic headache, your patience will be tested on a long-term basis! Because this type of headache comes with lots of other irritants, each one of them capable of subduing the cheerfulness that is part of your personality just before its arrival!

Chronic headache arrives with intense pain, some may call it a burning sensation! Changes in skin temperature, color and texture will confuse you! Joint stiffness and swelling also do their job of damaging your personality and cheerful disposition. If you are a man with a “don’t care” attitude who thinks self-help is the best for your headache relief, do this at your peril! If people like you are in majority, majority of the medical practitioners will be unemployed! Do seek professional advice and get yourself examined by an expert!

Chronic headache is a tension-type headache. You know it, and you are suffering from it for the last several months and you are also not much hopeful about the future, when you will be free from it. You are in a state of total confusion; you have tried various types of over the counter medicines, listened to various opinions, without any tangible result! The intensity of the headache is but persisting and increasing!

You have listened to various friends and well-wishers, your file containing investigation reports and prescription papers by the various medical practitioners and specialists is becoming bulky and disgusting to look at, and your own expertise has failed you, but is it fair to still ignore your grandma?

She has saved many “heads” in the past, and will she not do it for you? Note down, what she has to say, even though she had never been to Kashmir (the apple growing State of India): Apples are highly beneficial in the treatment of all types of headache. A ripe apple, after removing the upper rind and the inner hard portion should be taken with a little salt every morning on empty stomach in such cases. This should be continued for about a week. It will yield good results even in cases of disgusting chronic headache.

If not after a week, after a fortnight, do meet this grandma and cheer her, oh, chronic headache-less man!

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