Migraines
Comprising a significant part of neurology, migraines are the third most common disease in the world, with over 14% of the population being affected by this condition. Technically speaking, migraines are headaches of varying intensity that are often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. However, the triggers of migraines are different for each person and they can be preceded by dehydration, hormonal changes, and even stress. Despite the significant number of people who are affected by this disease, research about migraines and its causes is largely underfunded. Thus, this lack of research on migraines has made it difficult for neurologists to effectively treat this disease.
Ultimately, since the main goal of healthcare professionals is to improve the quality of life for patients, it is important that the prescribed migraine medications achieve this exact purpose. No matter how beneficial a certain medication is at decreasing the intensity of a certain symptom, it must ultimately improve the patient quality of life in order to be proven effective. Thus, for my final product, I conducted a survey study to measure whether the intake of the relatively new class of medication, anti-Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-R) is correlated with a statistically significant improvement in patient quality of life.
Ultimately, since the main goal of healthcare professionals is to improve the quality of life for patients, it is important that the prescribed migraine medications achieve this exact purpose. No matter how beneficial a certain medication is at decreasing the intensity of a certain symptom, it must ultimately improve the patient quality of life in order to be proven effective. Thus, for my final product, I conducted a survey study to measure whether the intake of the relatively new class of medication, anti-Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-R) is correlated with a statistically significant improvement in patient quality of life.
Proposal |
Work Log |
Summary |
Anti-CGRP Medication
Anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-R) drugs, or CGRP blockers, inhibit the CGRP protein, which has been thought by scientists to be a significant factor in migraine development. The CGRP protein has been linked to the dilation of the cerebral blood vessels and the transmission of nociceptive (pain-related) information to the nervous system, both of which lead to inflammation of the meninges. Such facts alone are enough to verify the role of the CGRP protein in migraine development. However, additional evidence shows how during a migraine, a patient has high levels of CGRP serum concentrations and when the migraine subsides, the level of CGRP serum concentration also levels down (Durham, 2006). Thus, it becomes apparent that a direct correlation exists between the amount of CGRP protein and migraine development.