The weather is ghastly here, too. We're expected to hit 100 again today. I've lived here for 30 years and I don't remember having as many 100 degree days in total as we've had in just this one summer. Fortunately I have a very frisky air conditioner.
Here's the Botox article.
Tucson, Arizona Saturday, 10 August 2002
Wrinkle-reducer Botox being used to block onset of migraines
By Christina Minor
COX NEWS SERVICE
WACO, Texas - New treatments, drugs and substances like Botox promise to help more than 25 million Americans who suffer debilitating headaches.
"Every six months or so, a new medication comes out," said William Ondo, assistant professor of neurology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "A lot of them can be effective for abortive or preventative therapy. They can either get rid of the migraine after it starts, or prevent it altogether."
Migraines usually occur on one side of the head and produce a throbbing sensation. Symptoms include nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Most of the sufferers are women.
"Some people think if they have a bad headache then they have a migraine," said John Shelton, a physician. " 'Migraine' is an overused word. They're disabling. For some people, it's a matter of missing work while the migraine is active."
Migraines don't just cause problems for those who suffer from the headaches. There's a larger economic impact: Nationwide, more than $13 billion in productivity is lost every year from people taking sick time off of work.
Migraines are usually accompanied by an aura, which involves changes in vision and tingling and numbness in the face and hands.
The cause of migraines is unknown, but they typically involve the dilation and contraction of blood vessels in the head, Ondo said. Stress, certain foods, red wine, depression, lack of sleep and exercise can be triggers. Hormonal changes in women, especially during menstrual cycles, also can trigger a migraine.
New products and medications can help fight these debilitating headaches before they get started, according to doctors.
Botox - a purified protein derived from bacteria - is used to prevent migraines. The substance is widely known today as a wrinkle reducer. Ten to 25 injections are usually given in the muscles in the head, neck and shoulders. Patients receive the series of shots about every four months.
No one is sure why the injections work. Some think they block the sensory nerves that carry pain messages to the brain and cause muscles to relax so there is less sensitivity to pain.
It takes about three months before the injections work. They seem to be more helpful in people who have 15 migraines or more a month.
Triptans, a common group of medications for migraines, can prevent headaches and can help alleviate an active migraine.
Experts at the annual American Headache Society meeting, held in Seattle in June, suggested triptans, such as Imitrex, be taken before skin hypersensitivity - a symptom of migraines - starts. Patients who suffer from this symptom find the lightest touch to be extremely painful.
Over-the-counter medications, such as Excedrin Migraine, work for some people. Shelton said taking the recommended dosage of Tylenol or Bayer combined with a caffeinated drink works the same as specialized medications.
Lifestyle changes, such as exercising, eating healthy and getting the proper amount of sleep, also can help slow the onset of migraines, he added. If all else fails, consult a physician.
Headache triggers
The American Council for Headache Education lists the following as migraine headache triggers:
* Stress
* Certain foods or odors
* Menstrual periods
* Weather changes
* Emotional factors, such as depression, anxiety, frustration and pleasant excitement
Time to see your doctor
The American Council for Headache Education suggests visiting the doctor if these symptoms occur:
* You have three or more migraines a week.
* You must take a pain reliever every day or almost every day.
* Your headache is accompanied by shortness of breath, fever or unexpected symptoms that affect your eyes, ears, nose and throat.
* Your headache keeps getting worse and won't go away.
* Persistent or severe vomiting accompanies the headache. |
