Migraines Possibly Genetic

Having suffered from migraines for the better part of a decade, I've always been curious as to why I am afflicted with them. Though the exact cause of migraines has long been a mystery, over the years, I have blamed it on my job, which has required that I sit in front of a computer monitor for hours at a time, as well as my love for loud music. There are a great deal of possible triggers that have been linked to migraines, namely stress, fatigue and hunger, but something as simple as bright light or exposure to loud noises, can also set off migraine attacks. Aside from the fact that migraines can last for days, the one thing that is truly unnerving about migraines is that popping three or four Tylenol doesn't have the least bit of an impact on the pain. Add to that the fact that the slightest sound can make the intensity of these headaches increase exponentially, and even the simple act of sleeping can be agonizing.

While sitting here writing this column, my head throbbing intensely just from staring at the computer screen (which is dimmed as far as it can be so as not to further anger the beast), I came across an interesting article regarding migraines. However, a recent study has shown that genetics could play a role in this debilitating condition, which is described as a brain disorder in which neurons, or brain cells, respond abnormally to stimuli. Well, how about that. After all these years, my dad's theory that I'm not right in the head is somewhat true. Regardless, migraines, which are three to four times more common in women, only affect about 20 percent of the population.

If only I had the same luck at winning the lottery as I have with medical anomalies. This new study, which was published in Nature Genetics, found variations in three genes that appeared more frequently in migraine sufferers. One of these genes was found to only be present in females who are afflicted with migraines. To think, after all these years of dealing with migraines, I have blamed my lifestyle choices when I should have been blaming my relatives.

Now, many of you are probably wondering why this is such a big deal to me. To think that, one week ago, I knew absolutely nothing about why I was suffering from migraines, this new information provides great optimism for not only me, but for millions of migraine sufferers. Though I don't necessarily think research into migraines is as important as, say, cancer research, this discovery is a step in the right direction. My hope is that this is only the first in a series of revelations that will help scientists gain a better understanding of migraines. As much as it would be wonderful to eliminate cancer once and for all, it would also be a huge relief to never have to deal with migraines again.

Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times