NERVOUS SYSTEM and MIGRAINE DISORDERS

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                                    Our Nervous System..

In this session, we will try to understand the basic functioning of our NERVOUS SYSTEM and its tissues, also we will figure out how it gets affected when we have MIGRAINE disorders.



The nervous system is responsible for the transmission of information from the brain to the other parts of the body and vise-a-versa , this transmission happens through the electrical impulses that run inside our body through nerve pathways . We all know that our nervous system is made up of nervous tissues which are further made up of nerve cells, these nerve cells are the basic functioning unit of our nervous system. These nerve cells are also called NEURONS. 


There are basically three parts of the neuron , which are as follows :
  1. CYTON 
  2. AXON 
  3. NERVE ENDINGS 
  • Cyton or cell body  comprises of the cell's nucleus , usually at the center and  Nissl's granules which are nothing but clumps of ribosomes. The endings of the cyton branches out and forms hair like structures which are called DENDRITES , dendrites are responsible for receiving the electrical impulses from the nerve endings of other neuron.

  • A part of cyton protrudes into a long , cylindrical rod shaped structure , called AXON, the electrical impulses after entering the cell body through the dendrites move through the axon to the last part of the neuron.
  • The last part of the neuron after axon are the nerve endings , at the end of the nerve endings we will come across a swollen structure which is called SYNAPTIC BULB. 
              (The space between a neuron and the other one is called SYNAPSE).

                                                                 SYNAPSE 

                                       Migraine disorders..

Migraine is not merely a disorder but a complex neurological disease, before knowing about migraine disorders, we have to learn a little more about the nerve pathways.

  • Charged particles called ions pass through the nerves which help generate electrical current, at the end of neuron through SYNAPSE ( that we just discussed ), it moves to the next via NEUROTRANSMITTERS. 

( Neurotransmitters are nothing but the chemicals that are present in the end of a nerve cells and helps in the passage of electrical impulses from the cell body  of a neuron, through the synapse and to the other targeted cell . We should remember that the cell can be a neuron or muscle cell or any other cell of the body.)

  • Communication with brain occurs through these pathways only, usually at the bottom of the brain called Brain stem , ( The brain stem also controls our sleep, breathing, pulse rate etc. ) 

When one or more part of thus communication system does not work properly then people usually have MIGRAINE disorders. 

   How this happens ? ..

Our DNA( Deoxyribonucleic Acid )  containing  GENES have the instruction and programs about the functioning of the ion channels and neurotransmitters or any other structure that supports the nerve pathways.
In majority cases , these GENE MUTATIONS affect this communication system , to be more specific , these causes HYPERSENSTIVITY to the nerve pathways and lead to MIGRAINE DISORDERS . 


This is also the reason why there are different signs , symptoms and types of migraine because the Gene Mutation can happen in around 1000 different ways leading to different types of MIGRAINE disorders. 


More about migraine disorders .. 

Migraine can cause many other effects on our body such as :
  • Anxiety 
  • Depression
  • Hypothyroidism ( swelling of thyroid gland ) 

PHASES OF MIGRAIN ATTACK AND PROBABLE SYMPTOMS IN EACH CASE..

PRODROME ( hours - days )                                                   SYMPTOMS 
                                                                                                      Yawning       
                                                                                                       Fatigue 
                                                                                                      Moodiness  

AURA ( 5-60 MIN )                                                                      Numbness     
                                                                                                       Blind spot
                                                                                                       Vertigo                                                                                                   Flash of light

HEADACHE ( 4 - 72 HRS )                                                          Nausea    
                                                                                                       light and noise sensitivity 

POSTDROME ( 24- 48 HRS )                                                       Hangover 

                                                                  phases of migraine 


The cause of migraine  usually can be :
  • Stress
  • more or little sleep 
  • weather changes  and many other unknown reasons . 

BROAD CLASSIFICATION OF MIGRAINE DISORDERS :

  1.  If you have less than 15  migraine attacks in a month , then it is EPISODIC DISORDER.
  2. If you have more than 15 migraine attacks in a month, then it is CHRONIC DISORDER.
( every year 3 % of EPISODIC migraine change to CHRONIC migraine ) 


  • The worsening of symptoms may be due to change in hormonal level in the body or cumulative effect of years of migraine attack.
  • Prevention - Exercise daily , stay hydrated, try mindful meditation etc.
  • Treatment - ANTIPSYCHOTIC or INFLAMMATORY drugs can be taken to treat this disorder but these have several side effects of the body as well.


                                                                 THANK YOU  ..



































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