Botox® is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. In this way, Botox® is related to botulism.
Botulism is a form of food poisoning that occurs when someone eats something
containing a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Botulinum toxin A is one of the neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum.
The
most serious symptom of botulism is paralysis, which in some cases
has proven to be fatal. The botulinum toxins (there are seven -- types are
A through G) attach themselves to nerve endings. Once this happens, acetylcholine,
the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, cannot
be released. A series of proteins, VAMP, syntaxin and SNAP-25, are essential for
the release of acetylcholine. Certain botulinum toxins attack these proteins.
Botulinum toxin A (Botox) affects the SNAP-25.
Basically, the botulinum
toxins block the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract.
Say, for example, it attacks the muscles in your chest -- this could have a
profound impact on your breathing. When people die from botulism, this is often
the cause -- the respiratory muscles are paralyzed so it’s impossible to breathe.
Within
a few hours to a couple of days after the botulinum toxin
is injected into the affected muscle(s), the spasms or contractions are reduced
or eliminated altogether. The effects of the treatment are not permanent, reportedly
lasting anywhere from three to eight months. By injecting the toxin directly
into a certain muscle or muscle group, the risk of it spreading to other
areas of the body is greatly diminished.
Botox® Cosmetic has been successfully
used to treat severe glabellar (frown) lines and is approved for use
in adult patients up to 65 years of age. Also a form of botulinum toxin type A,
when Botox® Cosmetic is injected into the muscles surrounding the brow area for
instance, those muscles can not "scrunch up" for a period of time. They are
paralyzed. So the wrinkles in that area, often referred to as furrows or frown
lines, temporarily go away. |
