Ageing is inevitable. But some people would go to great lengths to prolong the stage of youth. Instead of ageing gracefully, they view wrinkles as hideous and will seek treatments to lessen the formation of wrinkles. That’s why Botox injections are crowding up advertising space. Promises like ‘Botox remove unsightly wrinkles and banish ugly neck bands’ remain nudged in the consumer’s mind. So, more people are making a beeline for this. Although it’s available, proper administration of Botox can be costly. Yet, how much do we actually know about Botox?

Botox is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. there’re many types of food poisoning of which botulism is one of them. It occurs when someone eats something containing a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There’re symptoms of botulism but the most serious one is paralysis, which in some cases can be deadly.

When botulinum toxins attach themselves to nerve endings, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, can’t be released. For example, when botulinum toxins attack the chest muscles-this could create breathing problems. The respiratory muscles are paralyzed so it becomes impossible to breathe.

Recipients of Botox injections have complained of migraines, unnatural tightness and involuntary facial muscle twitches. So, why do people still want to undergo this risky technique? Why would anyone want to have a botulinum toxin injected into his or her body? If an area of the body can’t move, it can’t wrinkle. That seems to be the primary reason.

(Adapted from How Stuff Works at http://howstuffworks.com/botox1.htm)

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