| Almost everyone gets
a headache once in a while, and for most people an aspirin or two
is usually enough to make it go away.
But for 45 million Americans, the
headaches keep coming back—monthly,
weekly, and
even daily. By the numbers, the problem of recurrent headaches is
quite serious. Every year, headache-driven absenteeism and medical
expenses cost the US some $50 billion. Americans spend more than
$4 billion a year just on over-the-counter headache pain relievers.1
Of the different types of headache,
perhaps the most dreaded and disabling is migraine headaches. In
this article, we will focus on migraines—their symptoms,
several theories that have been advanced to explain what causes
migraines, and research that suggests magnesium, riboflavin, and
other natural agents may be effective aids in preventing and treating
migraine headaches.
A Headache “Sampler”
Migraines are just one of several
different kinds of headache, each having its own causes, symptoms,
and treatments.
Tension headaches account for about three-quarters or more of all
headaches. “Tension-type” headaches produce mild-to-moderate
pain on both sides of the head. The pain is steady and comes gradually
rather than all at once, and later fades away. Tension headaches
are commonly associated with stress, but also may be linked to emotional
problems such as depression. Most tension headaches respond to standard
over-the-counter painkillers.
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Migraine headaches afflict approximately 28 million Americans and
produce excruciating pain that can leave victims nearly crippled
for hours or days at a time. Some people experience symptoms besides
pain. The migraine may be heralded by an aura, a strange feeling
marked by flashing lights or other visual disturbances. Dizziness
and nausea, chills or sweat, and double vision or slurred speech
may accompany migraines. Noise or light may make everything feel
worse. Women are more than twice as likely as men to suffer from
migraines. “Migraineurs” (those with migraines) continue
to suffer despite the numerous medications prescribed by their physicians.
Cluster headaches arrive in groups. For days, weeks, or even months
on end, they strike one or more times a day. Each headache may be
relatively brief, lasting perhaps 30 to 90 minutes. The pain begins
mildly, but quickly becomes unbearable. One side of the face at a
time is typically affected, with the pain centering around the eye
on the affected side. Some 1 million Americans suffer from cluster
headaches, which typically attack men; 90% of victims are male, with
most in their twenties, thirties, and forties.
Exertion headaches are linked to physical activities such as exercise,
sex, laughing, and coughing. They often strike during or just after
strenuous activity. While not considered dangerous per se, exertion
headaches may indicate a stroke or other problem and therefore should
be brought to the attention of a physician immediately.
Organic headaches are messengers telling you that something is amiss,
and that could be anything from elevated blood pressure to a brain
tumor. The headache pain may be accompanied by fever, neck stiffness,
confusion, difficulty in speaking or moving, or other symptoms. The
pain tends to grow worse, either increasing with each headache or
striking more frequently. Organic headaches account for fewer than
1% of all headaches.
Other kinds of headaches, such as those associated with hangovers,
constipation, and low blood sugar, often can be cured by attacking
their underlying causes.
Because headaches can signal a serious underlying illness, it is
best not to self-diagnose them. If you experience unexplained,
unusual, or particularly severe headaches, if they strike more
often or in different ways than in the past, or if your headaches
are associated with any other symptoms, you should consult your
physician immediately. Focus on Migraines
Migraine symptoms range in severity from miserable
to crippling; migraines can ruin an afternoon or immobilize their
sufferers for days on end.
Migraines come in several varieties. The classical migraine strikes a small
percentage of sufferers, and is heralded by the visual disturbances known as
the aura. Most migraines, however, are common migraines, and lack the aura.
Other types include: basilar migraines, which can trigger fainting, poor coordination,
and double vision; hemiplegic migraines, which make it difficult to move one
side of the body; ophthalmoplegic migraines, which interfere with vision; retinal
migraines, which darken or completely obliterate vision during an attack; and
menstrual migraines, which are tied to a woman’s monthly cycle.
Although researchers have not yet determined the cause of migraines,
they have offered several theories:
Vascular theory. Blood vessels in the brain and head are supposed
to contract and expand on command, thereby reducing or increasing
blood flow to the brain at the appropriate times. The vascular theory
argues that for migraine sufferers, the contraction-expansion mechanism
in the blood vessels goes awry, interfering with blood flow in the
brain and head. Eventually, these vessels become too relaxed and
their walls too permeable, allowing fluid from the blood to leak
into surrounding tissues, triggering pain and inflammation.
Serotonin theory. A neurotransmitter called serotonin helps control
pain sensations, sleep, mood, and other bodily actions and feelings.
A deficiency of this neurotransmitter can trigger migraines by encouraging
inappropriate contraction and relaxation of the arteries. A lack
of serotonin may also lower the pain threshold, making everything
hurt more.
Neural theory. Migraines begin when certain regions of the brain
become irritated. The body responds to the irritation by releasing
chemicals that, among other things, cause the blood vessels to become
inflamed and irritate the nerves.
Still other theories have been advanced to explain the genesis
of migraines. Deficiencies in brain energy metabolism, both between
and during migraine attacks, may be to blame.2 Some studies point
to platelets, the tiny substances that help blood clot; platelets
may be structured differently in migraineurs, making them more
likely to aggregate.3 Nutritional imbalances and deficiencies
also have been suggested as a cause of migraines. Indeed, a mounting
body of research suggests that magnesium and other natural agents
can play an important role in the prevention of migraines.
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Magnesium
for Migraines
Magnesium helps muscles, including those surrounding arteries,
to relax, and this may be why a deficiency of this mineral is
linked to migraines. Researchers have learned that some of the same things
that deplete the body’s supply of magnesium—including
stress, alcohol, and pregnancy—can trigger migraines in susceptible
people. They also have discovered that certain medicines that successfully
treat migraines mimic magnesium’s actions by:
- Keeping
open blood vessels in the brain
- Preventing sudden spasms
that “clamp down” on arteries
- Keeping the blood thin
and flowing by preventing platelets from sticking together inappropriately
- Helping
to maintain the
stability of cell membranes
- Interfering with the
inflammation-producing
substances released at the
onset of a migraine.
While magnesium may help ease migraines, not just any kind of magnesium
will do. The two forms of magnesium that circulate in the blood
are “bound” and “free.” The
bound form is “tied” to other substances and is relatively inactive.
The free form is not bound to other substances and remains active, a characteristic
that researchers believe enables it to counteract the effects of migraines. |