Botox and Headaches

Botox, as most of us know, is something that is meant for providing anti wrinkle benefits. However, not all of us know that it can even help us to get rid of headaches. Yes, you heard it right. Botox can also be used to prevent migraines. Interestingly, plastic surgeons made this sudden discovery while analyzing the effectiveness of botox in removing wrinkles and freckles. Patients who underwent artificial surgery and the ones, who were experiencing headaches, noticed that the injections of Botox brought down the migraine headaches in them. Research later proved that the botulinum toxin which is a neurotoxin in nature was responsible for this. FDA approved it to be used in conditions where the hyperactivity of the muscles was a major problem.

To understand how botox prevents migraines you need to first know that it releases considerable amounts of Acetylcholine which is an ester of choline. Acetylcholine plays an important role in the communication of each impulse of the human nerve at synapses and at the junctions of the myoneural, better known as the muscle-nerve. By inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, the human nerves are prevented from creating a particular contraction of the muscle thus in a way relax it. There are many theories about how Botox helps in preventing the migraine headaches. However, doctors are yet to arrive at any concrete conclusion. One theory states that the muscle tension and spasms cause migraines. In botox, the muscle tension is removed using the injection, which makes it easier to get rid of headaches.

When the nerves send out signals to the human brain in an increased amount it causes pain and also troubles the person with possible bouts of headaches. Botox may also relax the nerve cells by inhibiting the transmission and thus there is a gradual decrease in pain. There are many researches who actually think that the headaches caused by the migraine are directly due to a result of the inflammation of the blood vessels in our body.