Migraines – a female problem?
The relationship between migraines and female hormones has long been recognised and the women are far more likely to suffer from migraines.
Data from the US finds that 18% of women are affected by migraine headaches compared to 6% of men and during the reproductive years, as many as 35% of women suffer. Interestingly, 85% of chronic migraine sufferers are women, which means they could be an ideal candidate for Botox for migraine.
If you are treating a mainly female patient base, then embarking on Botox training courses for the alleviation of migraines is a way to offer a very popular and much-needed treatment for your existing patients and prospective patients.
Menstruation and migraine
Most women will experience their first migraine in their early teens, coinciding with the start of their periods. The whole menstrual cycle, not just your period, results in significant changes in the body as levels of the sex hormones – oestrogen and progesterone – fluctuate and the body goes through its many chemical and physical processes to produce them.
It’s believed that the drop in oestrogen levels that occurs when you menstruate can trigger a migraine. The release of the fatty acid prostaglandin may also be a factor. Studies have found an increased risk of migraines in the days leading up towards menstruation and in the first few days of the period itself.
Last year, researchers at a university in Spain analysed what role sex hormones played in the higher incidence in women suffering from chronic migraines. Lead researcher, Professor Antonio Ferrer-Montiel believes that “modulation of the trigeminovascular system by sex hormones plays an important role that has not been properly addressed.”
The trigeminovascular system is made up of neurons that are found in a cranial nerve known as the trigeminovascular nerve and researchers suggest that it the trigeminovascular system that is involved in migraine mechanism. Certain sex hormones, such as testosterone, seem to play a protective role, whereas other hormones interact with the nerve cells making them more sensitive to migraine triggers.
Published in the journal Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, the research is hopefully the first step in finding a more personalised approach to migraine management.
If you are interested in learning more about the use of Botox for the treatment of migraines, Youth Doctors offers the only migraine course in the UK and Europe. Call 0790 0583 898 to find out more information about our Botox training courses.
