Cause of Migraine

During the past ten years, migraine researchers have discovered the genetics of migraines (migraine genes) and acknowledged the hormone connection to occurrence of migraines. We can safely say that most migraines occurring in men, women, and children are caused by how the body manages the changes in hormone production.

That is just the tip of the iceberg in understanding the process that goes on in the body to cause a migraine to occur. Although most migraines actually occur as part of a pattern, migraines can and do occur at unpredictable times and for any number of varying reasons.

After years of studying migraines, the researchers at Tuliv discovered how the factors involved in igniting and sustaining the intensity of a migraine including the chemical reactions, migraine gene, specific hormones involved, receptor proteins, and external triggers work in the body to cause migraines. Understanding the interaction of these factors enabled the development of the first migraine prevention product designed to defend against the actual cause of migraines, i.e. Tuliv Migraine Defense.

Chemical Reactions are the Keys to Migraines. Although a migraine can be triggered internally or by an outside force, the actual mechanism that causes a migraine headache is a combination of chemical reactions and synthesizing that eventually results in the production and release of a neurochemical called CGRP.

CGRP is the chemical that causes the swelling of the blood vessels that are intertwined with tiny nerve endings of the trigeminal nerve located on both sides of the head and as this occurs the result is a painful migraine headache with associated aura, nausea and vomiting.

Your DNA The reason some people get migraines can be found in the DNA makeup as an inherited gene. This gene has been identified and labeled as MTHFR and is found in the mitochondria of specific cells. These cells are the hormone producing cells for estrogen and progesterone for both men and women (yes, men produce the same hormones as women).

These cells receive their “production” orders by way of other hormones known as “messenger” hormones that are produced and secreted by the pituitary gland. The way these cells know that the messenger hormones are for them is through specialized proteins that are on the outside of the cell membrane called hormone receptors.

What Controls the Migraine Pattern?

The understanding as to where and how migraines start can be found in studying the path of a migraine from the beginning.

Migraines occur when various hormone levels of the body fluctuate and most often when the "messenger" hormones are secreted from the pituitary gland into the blood stream to be received by the aforementioned specific cells in the body that have the migraine gene. For a still unknown reason, there is an adverse reaction in these cells that causes the production of neurochemical identified as CGRP to occur.

How Do Hormones Cause Migraines?

Hormones don’t in the true sense of cause and effect; however, when we use the analogy of an automobile we can start to understand the relationship. Gasoline, for example does not make the car go; rather, gasoline makes the engine run which rotates the transmission gears, which make the wheels turn. Hormones are like the gasoline in that they start a reaction which results in the wheels turning that ends with a migraine.

To say that estrogen or progesterone is the cause of a migraine is a misunderstanding of the effect of hormones on migraines. This misunderstanding has led to the prescribing additional hormones as a treatment for migraines. We can readily see the adverse effect of hormones on migraine when we realize that birth control pills, which are hormones, generally cause migraine headaches.

Mechanics of a Migraine Migraines occur outside the brain in what is called the trigeminal nerve vascular system. Those who have had migraine headaches can easily draw the path of this system as it starts at the temples and runs forward to branch out behind the eyes and down the jaw line. This system is comprised of hair-like nerve fibers that are intertwined with tiny blood vessels.

The pain of a migraine headache occurs when these tiny blood vessels dilate and begin to swell and expand to the point where they are actually putting pressure on the nerve endings. We often feel throbbing pain as the blood fills these vessels and pinch on nerves.

It is the neurochemical CGRP that causes the blood vessels to dilate and expand. To make matters worse, when the nerve fibers become irritated, they react in a way that can cause an increase in the level of CGRP in a round-robin effect that increases the pain level and the duration of a migraine attack.

To learn more see the Tuliv Migraine Research.

Hormone Patterns Become Migraine Patterns

It is easier to see the hormonal cause of migraines in women than in men because of the monthly menstrual cycle of women, even though the principle and hormones are exactly the same for men and women.

Menstrual cycles are controlled by the pituitary gland. Remember this is the gland we have been talking about that secretes the messenger hormones that are received by the cells that contain the migraine gene that starts the production of the neurochemical involved in migraines.

There is nothing wrong with the pituitary gland or the hormones; rather, it is what occurs after these hormones, mainly LH and FSH for both men and women, are received by the specialized cells that contain the migraine gene.

Migraine Patterns Tuliv research found that migraine attacks directly correlate with the patterns of hormone secretions that occur in the body at various times of day, during the course of a month, and at various stages of life. For more information, see Migraine Patterns.

We have talked mainly about hormones from the pituitary gland. Tuliv research has also identified two other glands and hormones involved in triggering migraines, namely the pineal gland secreting melatonin and the adrenal gland secreting cortisol. We have found melatonin to be involved in migraines that occur around 4 AM and also around 4 PM, whereas, cortisol is related to stress headaches and perhaps morning migraines.

Natural Cause - Natural Solution

Understanding how hormones are involved in migraines and their effect on migraine patterns provided the insight needed for the development of the first and only migraine preventive that addresses the natural cause of migraines - Tuliv Migraine Defense.

Tuliv Migraine Defense is an all-natural formula that works on the natural cause of migraines.