Nerve Stimulator Decreases Migraine Attacks

A nerve stimulator worn in the forehead may lessen the frequency of migraine attacks by as much as 30 percent.

A migraine is a severe headache felt as a throbbing pain at the front or on one side of the head.

Migraines bring about a heightened sensitivity to sound and light, speech problems, nausea, and auras. Auras are symptoms that affect the senses such as flashes of light, blind spots or a tingling sensation in the arm or leg. For those who experience auras, this usually happens before the onset of a migraine attack.

Although the pain is usually associated with a migraine, there are instances where the symptoms of a migraine are present, most specially migraine auras, but the pain is not felt. This is called a silent migraine.

The cause of a migraine is still unknown but it may involve the Central Nervous System (CNS) and how nerve signals and other stimuli trigger chemical and neurological events in the brain. It is believed that migraines have something to do with brain's vascular system which affect the blood flow in the brain and its surrounding tissues.

Doctors Should Not Prescribe ADHD Drugs To Healthy People For Neuroenhancement

Physicians are advised stop prescribing medication for ADD and ADHD patients to healthy people for the purpose of enhancing their cognitive abilities (neuroenhancement).

A growing trend for some individuals is to enhance their cognitive capabilities through prescription drugs meant for patients with ADD. These individuals use these medications despite having no diagnosed disorder.

Neuroenhancement is the artificial increase of mental performance using medication. It is also referred to as brain doping. The individual enhances his concentration, alertness, and overall behavior.

Drinking coffee or taking in caffeine may be considered as a practice of neuroenhancement. But caffeine is considered both as a drug and a food additive. It is legal and unregulated in nearly all parts of the world whereas ADD drugs require a prescription.

This practice is more similar to performance enhancing drugs in sports than for recreational use. Questions whether this practice is ethical in the light of academic and professional environments.

Although this practice is not widespread (It is estimated that 1% to 11% of university students take these drugs for cognitive enhancement), there is a danger that this practice may become prevalent.