Headache Specialists Convene in Boston For 50th Annual American Headache Socie...( BOSTON June 26 -- Headache speci...),Health

BOSTON, June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Headache specialists meet today in Boston for the 50th annual meeting of the American Headache Society. Learn more about headache and face pain developments of the last 50 years -- including the top five advances in headaches -- and what researchers envision for the future.

For additional information, contact: Gina Czark at 312.558.1770, ext. 139 or gczark@pcipr.com or visit http://www.headachenews.org.

Among the topics being presented, include:

-- WHY PAIN BECOMES CHRONIC: Research shows previously unknown role certain

brain cells play in triggering chronic headaches for 9 million Americans

Think that pain medication is helping you ease the throbbing of a

headache? Think again. Researchers discovered neurons are not the only

carrier of pain signals to the brain. Glial cells, which outnumber

neurons 20:1, have been shown to prompt chronic pain in a variety of

ways, such as by a virus, nerve damage or even medication. Morphine and

other opiates also activate glial cells, which mean those drugs

you're taking to alleviate pain might actually be making it worse.

-- FIRST RIGOROUS TEST OF MAGNETIC STIMULATION DEVICE SHOWS PROMISE FOR

SHORT-CIRCUITING MIGRAINES: Research shows 7 million Americans could

benefit from this treatment

Imagine simply zapping away the pain at the onset of a migraine, instead

of gulping medication and waiting for relief. Researchers are presenting

encouraging results showing a portable transcranial magnetic stimulation

device would help an estimated 39 percent of migraine sufferers. The

device, about the size and weight of a hairdryer, works by placing it to

the back of the
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