CAFFEINE AND MIGRAINESSolution and cause of all problems
MIGRAINE: A HEADACHE ON SPEED
Four phases: prodrome, aura, pain, postdrome
Not all migraine sufferers go through all phases
True origins are un-clear; theories abound
Image: http://observantbystander.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/aura.jpg
MIGRAINES: A REAL PAIN
No tests or biomarkers, diagnosis is done by observation and exclusion
Symptoms vary widely per each patient Guidelines are set by the International
Headache Society (2)
Seven subtypes exist and patients can go from one to the other (2)
Due to this, very difficult to research
Image: http://www.zazzle.com/vintage_ad_photo_card_headache_man-137322563792988907
MIGRAINES: A REAL PAIN (CONT.) Affects 36 million Americans (3)
More common in women than men (2)
Higher prevalence in low-income and low-education groups (4)
Often co-morbid with psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, stroke, lupus among others (2)
COMMON MIGRAINE TRIGGERS Hormonal changes Stress Sensory stimuli Changes In Weather Lack of sleep Food (5)
Everything
Image: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.asylum.com/media/2009/06/headache_vintage_getty_72353812.jpg
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT FOOD TRIGGERS… Tyramine a. Causes release of adrenaline, increases blood pressure
b. Found in ripened cheeses, some sausages, and beers
Chocolate a. Extremely common trigger
b. Contains an amine found in cheese and red wine
Citrus Fruits Alcohol And…caffeine! (2)
Image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2972084682_36a191baa3.jpg
TRIMETHYLXANTHINE, CODE NAME: CAFFEINE
C8H10N4O2,
Nitrogen-based alkaloid Odorless, bitter white
crystals Water soluble Extracted from plants Consumed via pills,
coffee, tea, chocolate, and soda (6)
Image: http://itech.dickinson.edu/chemistry/?p=304
Source: Center For Science In The Public Interest
THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON CAFFEINE
CNS stimulant Passes the blood-brain
barrier Nearly 100% bio-available Half-life of 3 to 7.5 hours in
healthy adults, longer in pregnant women and infants
Can act as an analgesic Can lead to physical
dependence in 30% of people(7)
Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caffeinated_spiderwebs.jpg
ADACHI, ET AL (2003) 1264 Daisen residents over the age of 20
surveyed Separated into 4 types of headaches 2.3% one-year prevalence in men, 9.1% in
women, overall 6.0% Migraineurs consumed significantly far more
fatty foods, coffee, and tea than nonheadache subjects
Migraineurs did not report food triggers
GADOTH AND HERING-HANIT (2003)
36 Children
a. 1.5 Liters of Cola drinks a day: 192.88 mg/caffeine daily, 1414.5 mg/week
Followed up 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks
Gradual withdrawal led to complete cessation of headache for 33 subjects after two weeks and through out the follow up period
Source: http://momgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/coca-cola-ad.jpg
EDELSTEIN AND MAUSKOP (2008) Review of literature on Pubmed from 1966 to
February 2008 Concluded caffeine was effective as a
treatment of headache when used infrequently
Found high doses of caffeine consumption associated with headache due to withdrawal
Recommended headache patients consume less than 200mg of caffeine a day
CONCLUSIONS Heavy use of caffeine can
cause migraine headaches due to withdrawal
One theory: migraine headaches are largely just caffeine withdrawal headaches
Caffeine’s effect as an analgesic is important to remember, so not all caffeine can be eliminated
Research is on-goingSource: http://web2.slc.qc.ca/jmc/w04/caffeine/caffeine%20junkie.jpg