How Botox Can Help Your Migraines

You know Botox as the age defying wonder drug that diminishes wrinkles and overall aging in adults. But did you know that Botox can actually provide health benefits when it comes to migraines?

In June of 2010, the USFDA approved Botox as a treatment for chronic migraines. Migraines or centralized pain of the head or neck, are considered chronic if they last more than 4 hours a day and occur 15 or more days a month for 6 consecutive months. Chronic migraines affect approximately 6 million people in the United States, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. These headaches may lead to a variety of other effects, including missed work days and frequent emergency room visits.

The most common symptoms of migraines are:

• Pulsating headaches
• Aura or a curving visual created by light
• Throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head
• Eye pain
• Neck pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Worsening pain or nausea from light, noise or smells

If you suffer from migraines, especially migraines of the chronic variety, you know how debilitating they can be and how much medication it takes just to feel an ounce of relief. The way Botox works in the body is that it blocks the release of a chemical pain messenger in the brain while it also stops the muscles from contracting and releases tension and causes the head and neck to relax. Migraines have improved with the injection of Botox around the head and neck every 12 weeks to reduce future headache symptoms.

Chronic migraines don’t have to keep running your life. If you suffer from these painful headaches, try a Botox treatment to help curb their frequency – improve your migraines and look younger? Win, Win.