FitSugar

Got Headaches? Could Be the Weather

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

I've always wondered if weather-induced headaches are an old wives' tale, and I'm not the only one. A group of medical researchers in Boston recently conducted a study of 7,000 emergency-room patients to see if weather really could cause migraines. Turns out, it can, but differently than you might think.

According to NPR, a study published in the new issue of Neurology found that spikes in temperature often cause headaches. The researchers studied 7,000 patients suffering from both migraines and unspecified headaches, and for both groups, a big uptick in temperature correlated with a higher incidence of headaches. But what about that other common headache culprit, barometric pressure? To find out, read more.

Though the correlation between headaches and barometric pressure was weaker, the docs did notice that headaches were often preceded by low barometric pressure in the days before a hospital visit. Humidity and pollution variables, at least in this study, didn't seem to matter. Here's more:

According to the findings, on the days of the hospital visits the air temperature tended to be warmer. In fact, for every 9 degrees Fahrenheit increase in temperature, [Dr. Kenneth] Mukamal found a 7.5 percent increase in the risk of a headache severe enough to provoke a trip to emergency room. . . . It's not that the hotter it was, the more likely patients were to have a headache, Mukamal stresses. Rather, it is the temperature increase that matters.

I've definitely gotten headaches when the weather suddenly gets warmer, so I find this news pretty enlightening. How about you?
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Women's Brains and Migraines

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:00:00 -0700

It is no secret that the female brain is different than its male counter part. It seems these differences are giving us headaches, and I mean that literally. Women are 3 times more likely to suffer from migraines. A recent study proved that it isn't all in our heads (figuratively speaking).

Advances in brain imaging technology now suggest that migraines may start as a result of brain excitability. People with migraines show dramatic waves of brain activity that spread across the surface of the brain. This activity is thought to trigger not only the severe pain associated with migraines but also the visual symptoms, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating often associated with migraines. Researchers believe many factors, like genes, hormones, and environmental triggers like stress, diet, and
changes in sleep patterns, may contribute to migraines in both sexes.

For further reading on this topic, check out the article Why Women Have More Migraines than Men at the Science Daily.

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Let's Get to the Point About Acupuncture

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 03:54:27 -0800

Acupuncture may be thousands of years old, but how it works remains a mystery to Western doctors. However, they do know that it does work for some ailments. Studies indicate that it may provide a number of medical benefits - from reducing pain to helping with chemotherapy-induced nausea.

A Mayo Clinic report states:

Because of the difficulty of conducting valid scientific studies of acupuncture - numerous past studies have been proved inadequate - it's hard to create a definitive list of the conditions for which acupuncture might be helpful. However, preliminary studies indicate that acupuncture may offer symptomatic relief for a variety of diseases and conditions, including low back pain, headaches, migraines and osteoarthritis. In a 2006 Mayo Clinic study, acupuncture significantly improved symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Having grown up with Western medicine, acupuncture seemed more than a bit "woo-woo" to me. But having seen several Pilates clients and friends benefit from regular acupuncture for treating pain, dealing with PMS issues, migraines and chemo side effects, makes me a believer. Check out Acupuncture.com to find a practitioner near you.

5 Things: Migraine Headaches

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0700

If you've ever had a migraine - or even if you haven't - you know that they are to be avoided at all costs. These mindbendingly bad headaches can be debilitating, often causing nausea and sensitivity to light. Though more than 20 million people suffer from migraines, they are more common in females. As many as 17 percent of women get migraines, versus just 6 percent of men. Here are five things you need to know about migraine headaches.

Different people have different migraine triggers. Common catalysts include lack of sleep, not getting enough to eat, stress, and certain foods, such as red wine and anything containing tyramine (found in cheese, wine, beer, and sausage) or MSG.
Many women get migraines before or during their menstrual cycles, since the headaches are often caused by hormone fluctuations.

For three more things about migraines, read more.

If you frequently suffer from migraines, it's easy to know the difference between a regular headache and these more severe ones. Characteristics of migraines include throbbing pain concentrated on one side of the head or in the front or back of the head.
The onset of a migraine is often signaled by certain symptoms, including fatigue, sadness, grumpiness, euphoria, and visual auras, wherein the sufferer sees flashing lights or spots.
While waiting out migraines, many people prefer to lay down in a dark room. There are also several medications that treat the pain, including over-the-counter meds and prescription drugs called triptans or ergots.

Fit's Tip: Migraines vary widely from person to person in terms of symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. If you suffer from them or suspect you do, talk to your doctor about the best way to prevent and treat yours.

Do you suffer from migraines? If so, share your solutions in the comments section below.

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Yoga May Prevent Migraines

FitSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Gentle yoga postures, breathing techniques, and relaxation exercises are believed to have a calming effect on the nervous system, and studies have suggested that yoga can help alleviate various forms of pain such as chronic back pain or arthritis. Researchers in India discovered that yoga might even help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches.

A study was conducted with 72 migraine sufferers, and each one was assigned to one of two groups. One group received education on managing their pain by avoiding migraine triggers and making diet and lifestyle changes. The other group received yoga therapy, which included gentle yoga postures, breathing practices, relaxation and meditation. Participants practiced 5 days a week for one hour each day, except on days when they were having a migraine attack or just recovering from one.

I'm happy to report that after 3 months, the yoga group showed an overall reduction in the frequency and intensity of their migraines. The other group showed either no change at all, or symptoms that actually worsened.

See? I told you yoga was good for your body and mind. It's great to see researchers are performing studies to back up the amazing benefits so many people have already experienced from yoga.

Fit's Tips: The next time you are suffering from a horrible migraine, give these techniques a try.

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Migraine Triggers

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:15:00 -0800

So I recently told you about five surprising things that may cause a headache, so I figured we may as well take it a step further and look into what causes a migraine - headache's evil brother - too. If you suffer from migraines then you may be interested to learn these simple migraine triggers:

Not getting enough to eat.
Not getting enough sleep.
Exposure to bright lights or loud noise.
Fluctuating hormone levels, such as during your period.
Changes in the weather.
Emotional factors, such as stress or anxiety.
Chocolate, alcohol, nicotine, or foods with additives such as MSG.

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Migraine Relief Techniques

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Ever had a migraine? If you answered "no" - well then you are lucky. If you answered "yes" you don't need me to tell you that migraine headaches are both unbearable and disabling. You feel severe pain on one or both sides of your head, or behind your eyes. You develop an extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and may even become nauseous from the pain. All you want to do is crawl into a dark, soundless cave, and wrap yourself in a blanket and wait until the awful nauseating pain passes.

The thing with migraines is that they can be really inconsistent, showing up with no obvious cause. Many people's migraines may be triggered by environment, sickness, or diet. Some women experience hormonal triggers, like mestruation. Stress, too much or too little sleep, alcohol, and weather changes can also cause a migraine.

Certain foods or smells can also trigger a migraine. Eating foods with MSG (monosodium glutamate) or strong smells from perfumes or chemicals like in paint can also cause a migraine.

How can you get relief? To find out, read more

Taking a cold or hot shower directed onto your head may relieve symptoms. Or you can just use a cold or hot wet washcloth. Some people find relief by taking a warm bath, or relaxing in a quiet dark room.

Drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee daily might help to prevent headaches to begin with.
My favorite tasty remedy? The ice cream technique. Some people find relief by causing a "brain freeze." Place spoonfuls of ice cream on the soft palate at the back of the mouth until they melt or become intolerable. This directly cools the hypothalamus, which is suspected to be involved with migraines.
Exercise daily. Regular exercise can reduce tension and stress, which may be causing your migraines in the first place.
Don't smoke - it can trigger headaches or make them worse.
You can also try over-the-counter migraine medications. If these don't work or you have recurring migraines, see your doctor and they may prescribe stronger migraine pain meds.
Biofeedback can help by teaching you how to avoid the physical stress that triggers the headache.

What's the Diff: Migraines vs. Headaches

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Simply and quite unscientifically put, the difference between a migraine and a headache is that the former feels beyond agonizing and a million times worse than the latter. Unfortunately, migraines plague women more than men, due to the hormonal fluctuations that women experience monthly. In fact, many women's migraine episodes are triggered by their periods or by ovulation, like an evil door prize handed out at Aunt Ruby's homecoming.

The difference between migraines and headaches is more than just the severity of the symptoms that accompany a migraine. It's believed that migraines are a central nervous system disorder, whereas a headache is just pain you feel in your head. While migraines also involve head pain, they can also include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, pain behind the eyes, trouble seeing, muscle weakness, and abdominal pain. These symptoms are caused by a brain that is hyperexcitable, which means brain cells are easily irritated and send off unnecessary signals. A headache, on the other hand, doesn't create this type of pattern in the brain.

If you have suffered from one of these miserable episodes, tell your doctor. Once you've experienced a few rounds of migraines, you'll be able to discuss your symptoms with your physician to figure out what's triggering them. Hopefully, this helps lead to the most effective treatment for your situation.

For more information visit the migraine section in the FitSugar Health Guide.

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Another Reason to Exercise: Ease Migraine Pain

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Any migraine sufferer will tell you that exercise is the last thing on her mind during an attack, but a new study has found that exercise may help lessen the pain when it comes back the next time.

The research claims that the simple combination of aerobic exercise and muscle relaxation will not prevent migraines from occurring (bummer), but can actually help ease migraine pain if and when you get migraines in the future. If you're a migraine sufferer, you won't have to add anything too extreme to your routine, either: just 45 minutes of aerobic exercise and 15 minutes of progressive muscle relaxation is all it takes.

And in case you need a little extra motivation to hit the gym, here are many more great reasons to exercise.

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Migraines Decrease Breast Cancer Risk

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Migraine sufferers take note! In an odd twist of hormone level functions, it looks like your pain might be protecting you. A new study discovered that women who have a history of migraines also have a 30 percent lower risk for developing breast cancer. Cancer researchers know that high levels of estrogen in the blood can increase a woman's risk for breast cancer. The thing about women who suffer from migraines is that they generally have low levels of estrogen. Even though the low levels of this hormone may trigger these agonizing episodes, it may also act as protection from the disease. This new data doesn't do much to help stop migraines, but it may help point researchers in new directions when it comes to finding ways to preventing certain types of hormone-related breast cancer.

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