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Prostaglandins and Migraines..."Things That Make Me Go Hmmmm"

5/7/2013

6 Comments

 
In my head, I am accompanying the title of this post  with the humming of C&C Music Factory's song "Things That Make You Go...Hmmm".  If you weren't a teenager in the early 90's this song may mean nothing to
you.  Otherwise, feel free to sing this post in the above mentioned melody. You could also run the
video in the background while you read.

Probably like most migrainuers, when suffering from pulsating head pain I was always trying to figure out
what was different about me that gave me these horrible headaches.  I am certain, since all the neuroscientists out there haven't quite got a grasp on it, that a little nurse in Oklahoma can get it figured out on her own (that is
sarcasm of course).

Migraines are way to complex for the answer to lie simply in prostaglandins, but in my search for my
issue I found lots of research on migraines and prostaglandins out there.  So, below are some question and answers about prostaglandins in my attempt to fill in some gaps about their relationship to
migraines.  This information might also be interesting if you take aspirin or any other anti-inflammatory product that is similar in therapeutic action.

Hmmmm, what is a Prostaglandin?
They are a group of lipid compounds derived from fatty acids. They are not endocrine hormones, but
are autocrine or paracrine which are locally acting messengers.  This means instead of being made in one gland and secreted through the blood stream to travel through the body to their destination, they are made in all
kinds of tissues and their targets are located near the area where they are secreted.

Hmmm, what is Cyclooxygenase?
Cyclooxygenase is an enzyme that starts the chemical reaction to make a prostaglandin.  There are two kinds of cyclooxygenase.  The first one produces your baseline amount of prostaglandins.  The second cyclooxygenase responds in the case of an injury to produce extra prostaglandins.

Here is my rough illustration for the chemistry involved:)
          
Picture
Hmmm...what do Prostaglandins do?
1.  They regulate the contraction and relaxation of  vascular smooth muscle (hmmmm...like tissue making up the
wall of a blood vessel, those things that are pulsating in my head and making it throb).
2.  They influence clotting ability through aggregation of platelets.
3.  They activate the inflammatory response, producing pain and fever.
4.  They cause uterine contractions (hmmmm...they increase during female cycles).
5.  They inhibit acid production and increase protective mucous in the intestines.
6.  They increase blood flow to the kidneys.
7.  They cause bronchi constriction  associated with asthma.

I have had several personal experiences along my migraine path that made me interested in prostaglandin
information:
1.  I was prescribed 350 mg of aspirin (Hmmmm...aspirin inhibits prostaglandin production) a day by one of my Dr.'s as part of my treatment. 
2.  Female cycles are linked to migraines.  When the cycle begins prostaglandins increase causing the
uterus to contract accompanied by pain. 
3.  Women also experience digestive issues associated with this increase in prostaglandins during their cycle because they also have a contractility and motility effect on the smooth muscle of the digestive tract.  (Hmmmm...wondering if this might also be an issue with abdominal migraines as I was blessed with these as well).
4.  I had many a migraine where I went to bed completely fine and woke in the middle of the night out of a dead sleep with a migraine.  This confused me because really what is so stressful about a deep sleep?  (Hmmmm...prostaglandins increase during Rem sleep and early morning).   

Hmmmm...how might Prostaglandins be causing me a headache?
1.  Triggers related to migraine: menstruation, alcohol, stress, dietary reactions, hormonal influences, and sleep alterations all have some connections with the prostaglandin system.  (
Abstract: Relevence of prostaglandins in migraine study).
 2.  A specific prostaglandin, PGE1, has been shown to simulate a migraine attack in healthy volunteers.
(
Abstract: Relevence of prostaglandins in migraine study)
3.  PGE's have been shown to be elevated in patients with migraine. (
Abstract: for PGE2 inducing migraines in patients without aura)
4.  PGE's cause vasodilation and
hyperalgesia, an increased sensitivity to pain. (Information related to neuronal pathway for hyperalgesia)
5.  Studies have shown that low concentrations of PGE1 potentiate vasoconstriction and increased PGE1
concentrations produced vasodilation.  (
Abstract: Prostaglandins and Migraine)
6.  Prostaglandin synthesis in blood vessel walls was stimulated by prolactin (levels peak during REM sleep and early morning) and serotonin (highest levels are when we are awake and active and nonexistent during REM sleep) explaining the association of migraine with sleep. (
Article on prostaglandins and sleep-wake
cycles
)

Hmmmm...how do pain and some migraine drugs effect prostaglandins?
Various migraine treatment drugs: propranolol, amitriptyline, and caffeine are prostaglandin antagonists (work against or inhibit). They believe this to be due to their membrane stabilizing properties.  Many of them (anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen) work to block cyclooxygenase (remember from above, it starts the chemical reaction to make prostaglandins).  By blocking the production of prostaglandins these products relieve the effects of pain and fever.  They also have an impact on clotting and can cause an increase in bleeding, which can be a problem for many people.

This is all so very interesting and quite frankly makes me go....hmmmm!




6 Comments
Rajagopalan Murari
6/11/2013 02:01:22 am

Greetings from India.That was a well written article.A fairly complicated piece of Biochemistry has been simplified and made understandable.Being a Migraine sufferer,I surf around for greater knowledge on this issue and was pleasantly surprised.One cureI would like to share so that it would alleviate fellow sufferers is the usage of a few pieces of raw Ginger along with ground Coriander seeds,cumin seeds mixed in lemon juice.Works wonders! To sign off I loved your hmmmms

Reply
Monica Horn
8/27/2013 11:25:04 pm

I used to take Ginger when I had a migraine until I learned that it has vasodilation properties. It appears to *prevent* migraines when taken regularly bc it inhibits the vasoconstriction/vasospasm that leads to the vasodilation response that leads to the pain.
So, my new plan is to take Ginger every day prophylactically, but NOT take it while I am in the midst of a migraine bc the last thing I need at that point is more vasodilation.

Reply
Monica Horn
8/27/2013 11:15:41 pm

I am on day 6 of a menstrual migraine and searching (once again) for the REASON why I have gotten these since adolescence. I know for sure that they are related to my cycle. During each of my 4 pregnancies I was migraine-free!
I am a nurse as well and have also been frustrated that this oh-so-common malady STILL stumps modern medicine. Oh sure, they can cover up the pain temporarily but in a few hours it comes back, and next menses the process starts over. I want to get to the ROOT of WHY I get these and nip it off there. It came to me about the prostaglandins and smooth muscle relaxation as I noted the number of trips to the bathroom I always take during my cycle. I know the reason for this is the action of prostaglandins on the smooth muscle of the intestinal tract. " Hmmmmm" (I thought to myself) blood vessels are made of smooth muscle. "Relaxation would cause dilation." Googling this, your article was the first I came upon! This makes sense to me! I feel I may be on the right track here. Thanks for your well-written piece.

Reply
Monica Horn
8/27/2013 11:26:21 pm

Rajagopalan Murari-- I used to take Ginger when I had a migraine until I learned that it has vasodilation properties. It appears to *prevent* migraines when taken regularly bc it inhibits the vasoconstriction/vasospasm that leads to the vasodilation response that leads to the pain.
So, my new plan is to take Ginger every day prophylactically, but NOT take it while I am in the midst of a migraine bc the last thing I need at that point is more vasodilation.

Reply
Kristin
5/30/2016 11:30:45 am

I too have searched for answers on migraines, breathe issues and digestive issues and have decided it's due to prostaglandins. I'm going to try aspirin therapy and see how it goes. Great article!!

Reply
marc bzduch
1/5/2017 11:14:54 am

I linked long term use of Ibuprofen to debilitating aural migraines. Or rather: intermittent STOPPING ibuprofen being linked to my migraine with aura...My migraines were increasing in intensity and decreasing in time between them (years to weeks). I kept a food diary and became paranoid about eating just about everything for fear of triggering a new migraine. Then I noticed that the migraines were coinciding with reduction in ibuprofen intake. I got in the habit years ago of popping an ibuprofen at the slightest pain. That became a daily habit. One or two 200mg a day. Eventually I figured out that I would get a migraine whenever I would NOT take an ibuprofen for 4-5 days. So, I decided to stop completely taking ANY nsaid. I toughed out my last migraine with no medication and have not had another one in months (fingers crossed). There may have been other contributing factors but I KNOW that the long term use of ibuprofen was the main cause of them for me. After reading about prostaglandin and how nsaids reduce them and they effect vascular muscle constriction in the head/brain...it just all makes sense.

Reply



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