Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Breakthrough News on Migraines

Recent research reported by Alan Carver, M.D. (Director of headache & pain management) at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, N.Y. reveals disturbing news on migraines.

Brain imaging now shows that women who suffer migraines with the accompanying aura (premonition) have a 50% to 70% greater risk for stroke over other women. This severe headache marker of aura accompanies about 30% of migraine sufferers.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported in 2004 on a study done in the Netherlands. This study found a significantly higher risk for brain lesions in those people with migraine headache auras.

These auras typically are temporary visual disturbances. The subject has these kind of symptons: blurred vision, flashing lights, zig zag lines, color disturbances...general visual disturbances.

These symptoms occur as a precursor to the imminent migraine attack. The aura typically lasts from 5 minutes to 1 hour in duration.

Neurologist Alan Carver says that the traditional migraine management is shifting from pain and symptom management to PREVENTION! In other words do not let them occur and then treat the symptoms with drugs...rather prevent them before they start.

For more information on migraine prevention, go to my website @
http://www.migraineheadache-relief.com ...Denis Van Loan BS, DDS.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Food Intolerance, Allergies and Migraines

I’ve written about chemical imbalances in other reports before. Migraine headaches can be categorized as upset biochemistry that is most frequently precipitated by what is eaten. (exception: hormone cycles)


The disturbance of these undigested “foods” often triggers a chemical and/or hormone imbalance.

Allow me to explain. Typically about one third of the population has food imbalances. What this means is that certain foods are not well tolerated by the individual and they upset the body chemistry. The problem is that neither the individual nor the doctor realizes the problem.

The linings of the GI (gastro-intestinal) tract normally prevent large molecules from entry into the blood stream. If they manage to enter through because of irritating inflammation in the GI tract (“leaky gut”), then the blood handles these large molecules as invaders. The response of the immune system is that of an allergic reaction.

“Fireworks” in the blood can now occur. In the case of migraines,
IgE immuoglobins (antibodies) interact with mast cells which release histamine and heparin. The end result is inflammation in the vascular system.

In a migraine sensitive individual, inflammation in the form of cytokines and other irritants can produce spasm and pain in the cerebral blood vessels. This can trigger headaches and an avalanche of migraine symptoms.

Hormone disruption can occur which compounds and exacerbates the problem. The bottom line is that the body chemistry is disrupted and pain and migraine symptoms prevail.

Migraineurs know about some of the triggers but sometimes they are unaware of other culprits that set off migraine headaches for them.
A careful record or mental note of exactly what is eaten, including such things salad dressings, seasonings and such things as MSG often prove to be the culprits.

More information can be obtained by going to my website @ http://www.migraineheadache-relief.com …Denis Van Loan DDS