An article in Scientific American (August 2008) attempts to explain the causes of migraines.
People who are prone to migraines may think that they are caused by stress, menstruation, sleep deprivation, exercise, etc. But, these same triggers don’t cause migraines in the majority of the population.
It was believed that a decrease in blood flow causes a migraine. New research, however, shows that immediately prior to the onset of a migraine, blood flow is increased by 300 percent. When the migraine occurs, surprisingly, there is a normal blood flow. Does this increased blood flow cause the migraine?
Studies of the aura condition which presents itself prior to the onset of migraines has given scientists a better understanding of migraines. Cortical spreading depression creates this aura. Cortical spreading depression is a minefield of nerve cell activity that occurs in the outer layer of the cortex, in the area of the brain that controls vision. (This would explain the aura.) This is followed by a resting phase of the neurons.
Area of cortex that controls vision:
It is possible that the increase in blood flow prior to a migraine is necessary to provide the neurons with the energy they need to fire off signals.
Nerve cell activity is maintained by the flow of sodium, potassium and calcium ions across the nerve cell membrane. The gatekeepers of these ions are pumps. Basically, the pumps make sure that a nerve cell at rest has a large amount potassium, but low amounts of sodium and calcium.
In a migraine sufferer, the pumps and channels are defective. Scientists have isolated three genetic mutations that are each capable of being responsible for causing migraines.
Even so, genetics alone do not account for migraines. There are studies of identical twins where one twin will suffer from migraines and the other will not.
We are the manufacturers of Migravent, a dietary supplement that contains magnesium. According to PubMed, studies have shown the effectiveness of magnesium in calming the hyperactive nerve cells of migraine sufferers.
