Migraine Damage

Mitochondrial Damage and Migraine:

 

 

The brain is majorly energy hungry, meaning it uses large amounts of the energy production of the entire body. It is also very fragile and one of first places the effects of oxidative stress, or chronic inflammation cause symptoms. Mitochondrial damage is another factor in migraine headaches.1 Mitochondrial damage results from long-term inflammation in the body, diabetes, viral infections, autoimmune disorders or chemical

toxicity. Is can also arise from certain genetic disorders such as MTHFR, a disorder that interferes with the methylation of folate and cobalamin. These all damage the mitochondria and then there is more inflammation and less energy for brain cells. Mercury is especially toxic to mitochondria,23 as are undiagnosed chronic viral infections like Epstein-Barr virus.4 A common source of mercury exposure my be high fructose corn syrup. In a 2009 study, household sugary foods and drink sweetened with HFCS were found to contain enough mercury to cause complication in sensitive populations.5 Mitochondrial damage and inflammation accumulate for years and years slowly leading to more migraines because the energy producers for brain cells deteriorate. Mitochondria are also damaged by endocrine dysregulation and hormone dysregulation. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol6 cause oxidative damage and

inflammation just like high blood sugar.7 Mitochondria aren't the only things that are

 

1 PubMed.gov: Mitochondrial dysfunction in migraine.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24331360

 

 

2 PubMed.gov: Mercury toxicity and neurodegenerative effects.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24515807

 

 

3 PubMed.gov: The role of mercury and cadmium heavy metals in vascular disease, hypertension,coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17405690

 

 

4 PubMed.gov: Preliminary evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction associated with post-infective fatigue after acute infection with Epstein Barr virus.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16448567

 

 

5 BioMed Central: Mercury from chlor-alkali plants: measured concentrations in food product sugar https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-069X-8-2

 

 

6 Thieme: Stress and related effects on mitochondrial performance and function

https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0031-1292453

 

 

7 PubMed.gov: High glucose induces mitochondrial dysfunction independently of protein O-GlcNAcylation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25627821

very susceptible to oxidate damage (damage due to free radicles), capillaries are as well. Capillaries are where oxygen and nutrients are exchanged between blood and body tissue. When small blood vessels around your brain are damaged and inflamed,less oxygen gets to the neuron. When neurons have less oxygen they become hypersensitive because they don't have enough fuel to maintain the normal resting

membrane potential of -70 mV.

Finally, you have a whole host of autoimmune disorders8 that are associated with and contribute to migraine headaches, like Celiac disease,9 gluten sensitivity, and Lupus. All of these autoimmune disorders either attack the small capillaries around your brain,cause long-standing inflammation in your body and brain, or attack the brain itself. Each of which decreases the neurons’ ability to maintain its own energy and health.

 

8 Migraine.com: Migraine Triggers and Comorbidities: Autoimmune Disease

https://migraine.com/blog/triggers-and-comorbidities-autoimmune-disease/

 

 

9 PUbMed.gov: Migraine Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders: Review of the Literature and Clinical

Implications

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4240046/

 

 

Migraine Headaches Part One

Migraine Headaches Part Two

Migraine Headaches Part Three

Migraine Headaches Part Four