Choosing A Healthier Life

Botox For Medical Conditions? 4 Beneficial Uses You Probably Did Not Know About

The use of botulinum toxin for cosmetic usage is increasingly common for cosmetic use. A neuromuscular blocker, Botox acts to paralyze muscles in the area where each injection is made. In cosmetic uses, it acts to smooth and tighten the surface of the skin, which can be very effective in diminishing wrinkles and making the skin look younger and firmer.

The good news is that the same neuromuscular-blocking action that offers visible benefits can also work to provide health benefits. If you have never considered the use of Botox for health reasons and are curious what conditions it has been proven effective for, here are four great examples. 

Pain management 

Some types of chronic pain, including both cervical and myofascial pain syndrome, have responded positively to treatment with botulinum toxin. Patients who participated in a 2014 study reported a reduction in pain after treatment. Reports from the study point to Botox's ability to relax muscles as a significant factor in its success. 

Additional reports show that Botox has also helped to ease migraine pain. In fact, Botox has been fully approved by the FDA for this use. When this treatment is used for migraines, it usually involves regular periodic injections to several areas on the patient's head and neck. 

Bladder problems 

Overactive bladder syndrome is another troublesome medical condition that has shown improvement when treated with injections of botulinum toxin. When used for this condition, Botox injections are placed directly into the bladder, serving to relax bladder muscles and ease the contractions that often cause leakage when the condition is untreated. 

In addition to relaxing the bladder, the application of Botox causes the bladder to increase its ability to store urine. This means patients feel much less urgency to empty their bladder and allows them to go much longer between visits to the restroom. 

Managing depression

A rather surprising usage for botulinum toxin has been in the psychiatric field of medicine. A recent study used both Botox injections and a placebo on patients who have been diagnosed with depression. The study group underwent injections of either Botox or the placebo to muscles located in the area of the forehead near and between the brows. 

Just under half, about 47 percent, of the group who received Botox injections reported a reduction in depression symptoms, compared with just 21 percent of the group who were injected with the placebo. While research is still ongoing into the use of Botox for depression, one key result from this study may be the believed correlation between the degree of frowning and depression symptoms. If this association is found to be a valid one, it may be possible to reduce the severity of depression symptoms by using Botox injections to prevent or lessen the ability to physically frown. 

Crossed eyes

Another health benefit offered by injections of botulinum toxin is childhood strabismus, commonly known as crossed eyes. In the past, this condition typically required invasive surgical intervention to correct. Beginning in the 1970s, patients began being treated with applications of botulinum toxin to the extraocular muscles that control the eye. 

Improvement is gradual, with maximum effect taking place about 14 days after treatment. Treatments are typically repeated every few months, with the time frame between each one lengthening as new receptor cells are developed. The procedure is performed under either general or ketamine anesthetic, but the incision itself is very small and safe and will heal quickly without the need for stitches. 

If you or someone you love suffers from these or some of the other medical conditions that Botox can be helpful in alleviating, your doctor or health care professional can offer you helpful information and advice about Botox treatment services


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