What are the 10 hidden benefits of Botox?
Botox isn't just a fantastic way to achieve younger-looking skin. Rather, its advantages go far beyond that. It's no surprise that our fascination with this wonder drug continues to grow, given that demand has increased by a whopping 797 percent since 2000.
So, in light of that, let’s dive into the many benefits of Botox.
1. Eye Conditions
Botox is used to treat a variety of eye conditions. Surprisingly, doctors frequently use Botox injections to treat conditions such as strabismus and blepharospasm.
Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes and is more commonly known as ‘crossed-eyed.’ This condition is caused by a problem with neuromuscular control, which affects the movement of our eyes. Blepharospasm is a condition in which the eyelids are forced to close. This is also known as 'rapid eye blinking.' Botox can help with both conditions!
2. Excessive Sweating
It's fascinating that the benefits of Botox extend to treating people who sweat excessively. Botox has been shown to inhibit sweat glands and thus reduce sweat production.
This medical condition is known as ‘Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis’. Doctors noticed that patients who received Botox were less sweaty, and it was approved as a sweat-reducing drug in 2004.
3. Overactive Bladder Treatment
Botox has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of overactive bladder patients. Botox can be administered to adults over the age of 18 as a form of treatment.
Botox, on the other hand, is usually used as a last resort. Before Botox is prescribed, other medications are tried and tested. This can be used if nothing else works or if the patient is unable to tolerate the various types of treatment. These conditions are characterised by a strong desire to urinate, a frequent desire to urinate, and leaking or wetting accidents.
This study is a good indicator of how effective Botox is – roughly 70% of women who had an overactive bladder and received Botox went from leaking five times a day to leaking only three!
4. Sex-Related Problems
Although the FDA has yet to approve it, Allergan claims that Botox can help with a variety of sex-related issues. This includes women who are experiencing painful sex. This is very common in people who have pelvic floor spasms or vaginal contractions.
Men, particularly those suffering from premature ejaculation, may benefit from Botox as well. This would necessitate injecting Botox directly into the penis to relax the muscle, thereby delaying ejaculation.
Furthermore, Botox is currently being tested in a clinical trial to see if it can be used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
5. Migraine Relief
Botox was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2010 as a treatment for chronic migraines.
A plastic surgeon noticed that patients who received Botox were less likely to suffer from headaches 12 years before Botox was approved. This observation prompted additional research in this area, which resulted in the medication we have today.
The treatment consists of 31 injections in various areas. The effects are expected to last three months, after which additional injections may be required.
6. Abnormal Heart Rhythm
At the moment, research into the relationship between Botox and irregular heartbeats is being conducted. They are attempting to determine whether Botox is an effective treatment for preventing abnormal heartbeat patterns following open-heart surgery.
7. Mental Illness
Early clinical trials suggest that Botox may alleviate depression-related symptoms. Botox administration is based on the 'facial feedback hypothesis.' According to this theory, our facial expressions influence our moods.
A 2014 study of 74 patients suffering from major depressive disorder found that 52 percent of those who received Botox felt their depression symptoms improved. Only 15% of those given a placebo reported a similar response.
More trials are being carried out to investigate this further. Hopefully, we'll soon have a definitive answer as to whether Botox's benefits extend to the field of mental illness.
8. Cold Hands
Doctors at the University of Chicago's Cold Hand Clinic use Botox to treat patients who have extremely cold hands. Botox must be injected directly into the hand as part of the treatment. This causes the muscles that enclose the constricted blood vessels to relax (which is the cause of the poor circulation and hence the coldness).
Blood can flow through the hands and into the fingertips when the vessels relax and expand. As a result, your hands will be warmer. This treatment has the potential to provide relief for up to three months.
9. Scarring from Cleft Lips (In Babies)
This has not yet been FDA-approved, but there is plenty of science to back up this logic. Every year, approximately 4,440 babies are born with cleft lip and palate. Most people have surgery to correct this condition.
Some doctors have attempted to inject Botox into babies' scars in order to keep the muscles still, giving them a better chance of healing, and in many cases, this has worked.
10. Neck Spasms
Botox was used to treat neck spasms before it became popular in the field of plastic surgery. A 2004 study found that Botox significantly reduced the pain of people suffering from chronic neck pain caused by cervical dystonia (CD). Botox was injected into the required muscles, blocking the signals that caused painful muscle tightening.
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