Migraine and TheraSpecs on “The Doctors” (video)
Recently “The Doctors” discussed migraine – and even mentioned TheraSpecs, the migraine-fighting lenses that we’ve discussed here before.
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Another Genetic Link to Migraine?
Researchers at the University of California have discovered a new genetic link to migraine – and a rare sleep disorder – that may get us closer to the cause of migraine than ever before.
First, a note. Last week on Facebook, Damien Higgins posted the following: There was Migraine News today that made many of the international news channels and you havnt even mentioned it!!! this page is not exactly on the ball, is it!!!http://news.sky.com/story/1085914/hope-for-migraine-sufferers-after-genes-find
Well, I have no particular excuse for not mentioning this story sooner, other than to say that this website has not yet reached the level of perfection that I or Damien may want!
That being said, many stories hit “international news” and are really hardly worth mentioning, in my opinion. Honestly, a lot of migraine news is old news, poorly reported, blown out of proportion, or in reality not useful. And sometimes it’s worth taking the extra time to research the news a little more before repeating the same thing here.
Regarding genetics and migraine, we’ve discussed a lot of discoveries here. In fact, back in 2010 we talked about a similar news story – Found: Genetic Link to “Basic” Migraine
We’ve also talked about something critical to understand – Migraine: Why Genetic Studies haven’t Solved all our Problems.
In Damien’s defence, however, this news story is worth mentioning. And I won’t claim that the Sky news report is overblown, although most migraineurs are probably tired of seeing the same old headline – “Hope for Migraine Sufferers…”! 🙂
Study Overview
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First, we need to be cautious about claiming that we’ve “finally found the genetic cause of common migraine”. This is not the first time genetic mutations have been linked with common forms of migraine. There are some unique things about this study which we’ll discuss in a moment, but it’s a tricky thing to prove that a genetic mutation is the cause or even related to “most” migraine attacks.
Researchers were actually looking at two conditions: Migraine and Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome. This sleep syndrome causes you to go to sleep earlier (ie in the evening) and get up earlier (ie between 1 and 5 am).
Researchers found two families in which many members had both conditions (in this case, the sleep disorder would be called familial advanced sleep phase syndrome).
To make a long story short, it was discovered that two related gene mutations were highly associated with both conditions.
Now mice who had one of these mutations (CKIδ-T44A) were also researched. These mice had a lower threshold for cortical spreading depression (CSD), a storm that sweeps across the brain that is considered a key part of the migraine chain reaction. In other words, they were more likely to get CSD.
These mice were more sensitive to pain, and astrocytes (certain neurological cells) showed increased calcium signalling, which may relate to parts of the migraine reaction as well.
Now the research on CKIδ-T44A and the mice and migraine is not new. Neither is the link between these two mutations and advanced sleep phase syndrome. However, the link with the two mutations and the two conditions – migraine and advanced sleep phase syndrome is.
You might be a little underwhelmed that we’re just talking about two families, and a rare sleep disorder, and just another two mutations after we’ve already linked others with migraine.
However, this is how a lot of good research starts.
These mutations are linked. And the most important finding may not be the mutations themselves, but what they point to.
For one thing, they both influence a special protein known a connexin 43 (Cx43). Even if these particular genetic mutations don’t turn out to be common in migraineurs, there could be other factors that are impacting Cx43, and so that might be the direction that future research takes.
I’ve intentionally avoided getting into all the specific mechanisms of these mutations in order to focus on the practical implications. But if you’re interested in the more technical aspects, you can read the study abstract: Casein Kinase Iδ Mutations in Familial Migraine and Advanced Sleep Phase and a discussion of the findings at Gene Mutations Tied to Migraine, Sleep Disorder.
What is Migraine Associated Vertigo?
MAV is a possible symptom of migraine disease (not a type of migraine).
Vertigo: the world is moving or spinning around you
About 25%-35% of migraineurs experience vertigo.
It’s usually accompanied by other migraine symptoms.
Patients need a proper diagnosis. Is it migraine? if so, what type?
MAV is often a symptom of:
- Basilar-type Migraine
- Familial Hemiplegic Migraine
- Migraine with Aura
For more information:
Why some people don’t recognize post-concussion syndrome symptoms
Sometimes it can be challenging to diagnose post-concussion syndrome symptoms. And without a proper diagnosis, proper treatment can be hard to find.
As we’ve mentioned before, a concussion is actually a form of brain injury. To say “It’s just a mild concussion” as if it won’t have any lasting consequences is a misleading.
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Symptoms of post-concussion syndrome (PCS) can vary. The common ones include headache, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, and anxiety. There are also rarer symptoms such as hearing loss, impaired judgment, and trouble speaking. Here’s more on post concussion syndrome symptoms.
But here’s the problem. First, it’s not easy to just do a test and find out if you have PCS. Yes, your doctor may call for a CT scan, and that may help with he diagnosis. But it may not confirm that you have PCS.
Second, as you may have noticed, many of these symptoms are common in other types of headache. PCS can look very much like migraine, or like tension-type headache.
So how can you help your doctor properly diagnose your symptoms?
First, your doctor will want to know how things have changed and when they changed. Symptoms like these will probably appear within a few days to up to four weeks after your injury. Thankfully, the symptoms usually do go away fairly soon, especially if you can get to a doctor and get them diagnosed early on.
Your doctor will also need to know your medical history. Other conditions and diseases may be impacting your symptoms – things like migraine, depression, insomnia, and so on.
So do pay attention to symptoms and timing as much as you can while you’re preparing for your visit to the doctor. Your doctor will ask you some questions and may call for some tests. Treatment can involve several different things depending on your symptoms.
Help! I have a Headache!
It’s probably one of the most common questions I hear (or see). Basically, someone has a headache – maybe it’s getting worse and worse – and they don’t know what to do.
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A lot of different people fit into this category. Maybe they’ve had something similar a few times, and they’re getting fed up. Maybe it feels like it’s the worst headache they’ve ever had. Maybe they get headaches all the time, but have never really taken the time to stop and look for answers.
So you have a headache – a bad headache. What should you do?
What to do when you get a headache…
- Recognize that this is not “normal”. You should not “just live with it”. It’s not “just your imagination”. It’s not something “everyone just has to deal with”.
- See a doctor. If this is something that has happened many times, you could schedule an appointment for next week and discuss your symptoms with your doctor. If it’s the worst headache you’ve ever had, or the symptoms have changed, or it’s the first headache of its kind that you’ve ever had, get to a doctor now. Pay attention to your symptoms and tell the doctor anything you can. Yes, a headache can be a sign of something very serious.
- Do NOT take someone else’s prescription medication. Medications and even dosages can vary drastically based on your weight, your age, your medical history, your symptoms, and other factors. Medication that is considered “safe” for one person can be dangerous for someone else. Resist the temptation.
- Be very cautious with “over the counter” medications, and supplements. It’s usually not a bad thing, in rare cases, to take an Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (paracetamol/acetaminophen) while you’re waiting to see the doctor. However, recognize that almost any medication – and many supplements – have the potential to make your symptoms worse over time. Herbal supplements and vitamin treatments can be dangerous because they’re not regulated in the same way as drugs usually are. Taking a couple of painkillers before going to the doctor isn’t usually a problem. Avoiding the doctor and taking painkillers every week is.
- Cautiously consider “home remedies”. I’ve already talked about vitamins and herbs and things like that. Here I’m talking about other things you can do to soothe your headache (while you’re waiting to see a doctor). This may mean lying down in a dark room. A cold pack on the head. Breathing exercises. A warm bath. A cup of tea. There are many things you can try, depending on the type of headache you have. There’s no magic formula for everyone, but there are a number of things that can help you feel better. There may come a time to get a friend to watch the kids, to take the day off work, and deal with the pain. Sometimes you have to keep going, but many of us keep going to the detriment of our future health. (PS – don’t spend two hours scouring the internet for home remedies. Just do something now that will help you feel a little better.)
- Make a note of your symptoms. The more you can do this, the better your doctor can help you. How bad is the pain on a scale of 1 to 10? When did it start? Does light bother you? Is the pain pounding, or sharp, or a constant pressure? What makes it worse? What helps you feel better? All these details can help you get the treatment you need.
- Don’t be overwhelmed with information. There’s a lot of information on this site and elsewhere that can be a lot of help as time goes by. But be careful about printing off too much information before you’ve even talked to your doctor. A headache can be caused be a lot of different things, and there are countless treatments. Take things one step at a time.
Yes, but my Doctor isn’t helping Me!
Sadly, there are times when this initial visit to the doctor is less than helpful. I’ll write more about that situation later. But in the mean time, here are a couple of things to keep in mind…
- If your doctor says it’s not “serious” – she may actually be telling you that she’s fairly certain that your condition is not life-threatening. And that’s not a bad thing. Ok, maybe she doesn’t realize the pain you’re going through, or maybe she’s taking it too lightly. But she does have a lot of training, and she has seen a lot of patients, and it’s possible that she’s not just trying to get you out of her office. Don’t assume immediately that your doctor doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
- At the same time – don’t be afraid to find another doctor. If you really feel that your doctor isn’t listening, or simply that you need another opinion – take the time to go to someone else. I know it’s frustrating, and that you shouldn’t have to go through all this trouble when you already feel terrible. But your health is important. And this is something to take seriously.
Conclusion
I know you’re in pain, and I know it was a pain to read all of this, and I know you want to relieve the pain NOW. Trust me, I’ve been there. And I’m trying to save you a lot of pain down the road.
This post doesn’t answer all of your questions. That’s because I want you to focus on what you need to focus on first – noting your symptoms, and getting to a doctor. It’s not a solution, but it’s critical to start there.