Zapping Migraines Away

Migraine headaches are painful and debilitating. To make matters even worse, no one has yet truly pinpointed what causes the headaches in the first place. Treatment options do exist, but they tend to be limited in their effectiveness. A team of researchers affiliated with Ohio State University in the U.S., however, want to change that. They are hopeful that soon people with migraines will quickly and easily be able to zap their headaches away.

They have created a pain zapper. It is a hand held device, not much different in size from a standard hair dryer, that upon activation will create a magnetic field capable of penetrating the skin and skull to impact the brain.

That's right, migraine sufferers may soon be able to point a gun-like device toward their head and use magnetic fields to reduce their pain and suffering. Although it sounds like science fiction, the migraine zapper may be coming soon.

The zapper is supposed to use the magnetic energy to disrupt certain microscopic electric processes in the brain that can lead to the onset of a painful migraine headache. One places the barrel of the zapper at base of the skull and "pulls the trigger" on the magnetic "shooter." A magnetic field is then created that has a direct impact on the brain.

Initial testing of the device has netted a positive response. Many users say that "shooting themselves" with the zapper ended their powerful and frustrating headaches within a very short period. The zapper was able to ameliorate some symptoms particularly well. For instance, over eighty percent of test subjects reported a greatly reduced sensitivity to noise during their headaches. Noise sensitivity is a very unnerving aspect of many migraine headaches.

Right now, research on the zapping device is still in a relatively early phase. Its initial promise, however, has resulted in a U.S. test program involving up to three hundred of the devices. If the migraine sufferers in the test group are able to use the tool successfully without experiencing notable side effects, we may soon have a readily available means by which to attack migraines and to minimize their often agonizing symptoms.

It remains to be seen whether the zapper will emerge from research to become a viable, commercially available tool in the fight against migraines. We don't yet know how physicians and regulatory bodies will approach and treat the device if it is offered for sale. However, the manufacturers have stated that the first models to hit the market may cost well over $1200US, which may render the zapper unaffordable for many migraine sufferers. Of course, depending upon the reaction to the device from health insurers, some cost relief may be possible.

Although the zapper's future is not yet certain, it appears as though the device may offer a great deal of help to those suffering from the debilitating effects of migraine syndromes and headaches.

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