Migraines

The Greeks called it hemicrania, which means half of skull, which is what a migraine is: a headache concentrated on just one side of the head. And it isn’t just pain that most people feel, they also experience a host of other symptoms, such as nausea, tiredness, and a sudden sensitivity to noise, light, and even particular scents.

With a 3:1 ratio, women get more migraines than men. Studies also show that migraines are hereditary. So if you suffer from a lot of migraines, then chances are someone in your family had them too. What makes a migraines different from a normal headache is the intensity: they last longer, and hurt a lot more. In fact, the pain can be so dibilitating that most people have to lie down and rest, hoping for this latest spell to be over.

Another point is that migraines often present themselves without much warning, there are little signs that you can look out for before it comes. Things such as sudden lethargy, mood swings, difficulty remembering, excessive yawning, and suddenly being picky with your food, somehow disliking them for no apparant reason.

In other extreme cases, some people even report hallucinating during a particularly nasty migraine, and momentarily losing their capacity to speak.

Once the migraine has passed it’s painful period, a lot of people experience a sudden sense of relief, or report feeling incredibly drained from the experience, and take a few days of just to recover.

Foods are known to be able to trigger a migraine attack, so those prone to them should avoid the following: MSG, vinegar, certain meat products such as hotdogs and corn beef, along with selected dairy products. Also, fruits such as avocados, banana or beans may increase the chances of triggering a migraine. Still, you should consult with your doctor to find out the specific cause for your migraine headaches.

Many soldiers who experienced mild head trauma or a blast exposure while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan are returning to the United States with headaches, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 25 to May 2, 2009. The study, conducted at Fort Lewis, WA, involved 978 U.S. Army soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan in 2008.

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Reducing the frequency and severity of disabling migraines is crucial for quality of life. A new study, published in the February 2009 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, finds significant improvement of migraine following catheter-based closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) - a slight opening in the wall between the right and left atria.

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New research looks at whether a gene variant may affect the link between migraine and stroke or heart attacks. The study is published in the February 17, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study involved 25,000 women who answered a questionnaire about their history of migraines and migraines with aura. Aura is usually described as visual disturbances, such as flashing lights or geometric patterns.

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MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAPP) announced that it has completed patient enrollment in the efficacy portion of its initial Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating MAP0004, the company’s novel, orally inhaled product candidate for the acute treatment of migraine.

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Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a protein that may help give Lyme disease its bite. The findings suggest that the bacterial protein, which aids in transporting the metal manganese, is essential for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease to become virulent. “We believe our findings provide a foundation for further defining metal homeostasis in this human pathogen and may lead to new strategies for thwarting Lyme disease,” said Dr.

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Using sleep or napping to cope with chronic pain caused by tension-type headaches could lead to chronic insomnia according to a new study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center. The study, published in the February 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, found that napping to relieve headache pain could serve as a behavioral link between headache and sleep disturbance.

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Overweight people who are between the ages of 20 and 55 may have a higher risk of experiencing migraine headaches, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 25 to May 2, 2009. For the study, abdominal obesity was measured by waist circumference or the total size around the waist. Total body obesity was also measured.

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It’s not uncommon for students to consume energy drinks to increase their concentration as they study throughout the night. “Energy drinks are the coffee of a new generation,” says Stéphanie Côté, nutritionist with Extenso, a Université de Montréal health and nutrition think-tank. “These drinks are made up of sugar and caffeine and can have a negative impact on health.” According to a 2008 report by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1.

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