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Migraines often cause severe headaches and are accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, numbness or sensitivity to light and sound, which are debilitating and interfere with life. live everyday. One of the treatment options is a beta-blocker, which has been shown to be remarkably effective.1. What are beta-blockers?
Beta-blockers are best known as a treatment for cardiovascular conditions, such as:High blood pressure or hypertension Angina pectoris Congestive heart failure Beta-blockers It works by blocking the stress hormone adrenaline (epinephrine) from binding to beta receptors. This condition slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. Side effects of these drugs can be fatigue and dizziness, poor circulation, and sexual dysfunction.
2. Mechanism of action of beta-blockers in migraine relief
Beta-blockers were originally used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Later, this group of drugs was also discovered by chance to help with migraines. This was discovered by accident when people prescribed beta-blockers found that the drug also reduced their migraine symptoms.To date, scientists still do not fully understand how beta-blockers help treat migraines. It has been hypothesized that they can prevent migraines and reduce symptoms in one or more of the following ways:
Restriction of blood flow in the brain. Beta-blockers increase the size of the blood vessel lumen, which is known to cause migraines. Decreased electrical activity of the nervous system. Beta-blockers help reduce the nervous system's exposure to external influences. The drug also blocks the waves of electrical current that are thought to be a trigger for migraines. Maintain serotonin levels in the brain. A drop in serotonin in the blood is also the cause of migraines. Increased activity in the hypothalamus. This site in the brain also plays a role in the pathogenesis of migraine and is subject to beta-blockers. Reduce overall stress. Psychological abnormalities are also a cause of migraine headaches. Therefore, beta blockers can help with migraines by reducing stress and anxiety. Accordingly, beta-blockers are one of the first-line treatments for migraine prevention because of the advantage that they are often effective and have relatively mild side effects.
3. Are there any side effects of using beta-blockers for migraine prevention?
The most common side effects of beta-blockers include:Fatigue and dizziness Cold or tingling hands and feet Sexual dysfunction Weight gain Rare side effects of beta-blockers include These include:
Shortness of breath Depression Insomnia In addition, beta blockers also have the potential to interact with other medications, including:
Antidepressants Cholesterol lowering drugs Insulin Furthermore, it is best to avoid drink alcohol if you are taking beta blockers. The combination of the two can cause blood pressure to drop to dangerously low levels.
4. How to choose to use beta blockers
Beta blockers are sometimes not right for everyone. Before prescribing, patients need to have a comprehensive examination, learn about their medical history and current medications to find out if beta-blockers are an appropriate choice for use.In practice, beta blockers are generally not recommended for people with:
Low blood pressure Diabetes Blood circulation problems Lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) In addition, the drug Beta-blockers may not be recommended if you are taking medication for severe heart failure or have an advanced state of congestive heart failure.
In summary, beta-blockers may help prevent migraines. This class of drugs is commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and heart disease. In fact, research has shown that some beta-blockers tend to be more effective than others at preventing migraines. However, the appointment and use of drugs should follow the instructions of the doctor, in order to achieve the best treatment effect, while avoiding side effects or interactions with other drugs.
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