Migraine and the adenosine/caffeine connection

Adenosine is an important brain chemical that helps us to sleep. Caffeine blocks adenosine from its receptors and creates an adrenaline rush/stress response. Caffeine also attaches to dopamine receptors resulting in a false sense of "feeling good". We used to think that caffeine's affects were short lived, but a new brain imaging study I blogged about here shows that's not the case.

I've long been interested in the connection between stressors (physical stressors including illness, exertion etc) and my Migraine attacks. I am not one who gets a Migraine during a stressful situation, but one who gets thru the situation easily, then crashes with a Migraine when the 'all clear' is called. I also have thyroid disorder and problems with my adrenal system which complicates things, so I'm always looking for more information that will lead me to better understand the connection.

Do you drink caffeine, or use other caffeinated products on a regular basis? Have you abstained from caffeine in effort to eliminate yet another Migraine trigger? I'm curious how many Health Activists are aware of the adenosine/sleep/Migraine connection? Can you think of a better analogy to describe it than the one I used in my post?

Have you had a discussion about caffeine, adenosine, sleep and Migraine that you would like other Health Activists to be aware of? Please share your link below.