One of the hallmarks of a severe migraine headache is a person’s sensitivity to light. Often, when someone is suffering from one of these debilitating headaches, he/she seeks refuge in a darkened room, limiting as much light as possible, as well as avoiding any distractions. Migraine sufferers can spend hours in the room, waiting for the pain to dissipate and adjusting to their environment again. It can be so bad that some people must leave work to avoid the light and ride the migraine out. Most individuals who have migraines note that light makes the headaches worse, and sometimes, it is that very light exposure that causes a migraine to occur. But, why exactly is there a connection between light and the onset of a migraine? Two Scottish researchers set out to find out why and if this relationship really exists.
Filed under Living with Migraines, Migraine research by on Apr 22nd, 2010. Comment. 
Most people will go to any length imaginable in order to make the pain associated with a migraine headache go away. They are often relegated to taking an assortment of prescription medications to ease the pain and possibly prevent a migraine attack from occurring. Despite the relative success of these drugs, many migraine sufferers find they cannot take them because of the severe side effects associated with them. Unfortunately, most individuals must take something in order to combat the migraine because its effects often result in being absent from work, school, and other activities – which is why people with migraines often end up applying for social security disability. Two new studies published in the journal Headache, however, give some hope to those migraine sufferers who simply cannot take or do not respond well to the traditional drug therapies. Each of these studies concluded that taking naproxen (or Aleve) and acetaminophen (or Tylenol) reduced migraine pain and recurrence, as well as other migraine symptoms, such as nausea.
Read more on Aleve and/or Tylenol for Migraine Pain Management…
Filed under Migraine pain management, Migraine research, migraine treatment by on Apr 16th, 2010. Comment.
Numerous studies have shown that the majority of migraine sufferers are women. Specifically, of the thirty million migraine patients, three out of four are women. It is difficult, however, to determine whether a woman is suffering from migraines or from another health condition where migraines result as an offshoot. Although there is no definable cause for migraine occurrence, it appears that woman’s hormones often play a role in influencing a migraine attack, triggering debilitating pain, nausea, and light sensitivity. Furthermore, although no one can definitively predict when a migraine is going to attack, most medical professionals agree that estrogen plays a significant role in the frequency, intensity, and fluctuation of migraines. This may be why women experience more severe migraine symptoms around the time of their period and why birth control is sometimes used as a way to control migraine attacks. This link between estrogen and migraines may also provide an understanding as to why women who suffer from migraines also exhibit a lower risk of breast cancer.
Read more on Women who suffer from migraines exhibit a lower risk of breast cancer, studies show…
Filed under Migraine research by on Apr 1st, 2010. Comment.
It was only a matter of time before scientists and researchers developed a portable device that could help ease the symptoms of a chronic and often debilitating condition. We have become a society that thrives on having our phones, calendars, internet, and books all in the palm of our hand. It comes as no surprise, then, that a hand held device, developed at the Montefiore Headache Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, is being touted as the newest of treatment options for those suffering with migraines.
Read more on Migraine researchers develop a hand held device for treating migraines…
Filed under Migraine research, migraine treatment by on Mar 11th, 2010. Comment.
Usually when people get plastic surgery it is for aesthetic purposes, such as fixing a crooked nose or erasing wrinkles from the face and neck. A new study, published in the February issue of Archives of Dermatology, suggests that the drug botox, which is normally used to temporarily diminish wrinkles, may also be helpful in preventing certain types of migraines. The dermatologists conducting the study wanted to test whether using Botox is smaller doses had the same effect as prior studies in reducing the number of migraines that people experienced. In those prior studies it was discovered that individuals who experienced ocular and imploding headaches responded well to Botox. Individuals who experienced the exploding type of migraines did not respond to the Botox treatment. Additionally, these studies were conducted by neurologists, and in this study, the research was conducted by dermatologists in a cosmetic setting.
Filed under Migraine research by on Mar 5th, 2010. Comment.
Last week, we discussed the potential for migraine sufferers to develop heart disease in addition to their already chronic, debilitating headaches. Now, a new study presents evidence that women with a history of migraines may also be more prone to develop multiple sclerosis. The study examined the relationship between migraines and multiple sclerosis, but it did not definitively conclude that migraines were risk factors or if they were simply an early symptom of the neurological disorder. Although the overall risk for developing multiple sclerosis is relatively small among those living with migraines, this study does provide a great deal of insight regarding a possible link between the two.
Read more on Researchers explore link between migraines and Multiple Sclerosis…
Filed under Migraine research by on Feb 22nd, 2010. Comment.
Migraine sufferers now have another symptom to monitor in addition to the traditional pain and debilitating discomfort associated with the condition. In a new report from Reuters Health, researchers have found that people who suffer from migraines may have a higher risk of heart attack or stroke than those who do not have the severe headaches. Previous studies have shown a link between cardiovascular disease and migraines with auras, however, none have been conclusive regarding migraines without auras, which account for eighty percent of migraine sufferers. Auras are neurological symptoms that include visual difficulties, tingling, and ringing of the ears that may precede a migraine.
Read more on New Study Suggests Link Between Migraines and Heart Disease…
Filed under Migraine research by on Feb 17th, 2010. Comment.
If you suffer from migraines, you surely know how debilitating its effects can be on any given day. Migraines often cause people to suffer from throbbing pain in one part of the head, vomiting, nausea, and other symptoms. They effect almost thirty million people in the United States and can result in the filing of disability paperwork, due to the difficulty that people have in engaging in work and daily activities. It can be difficult to predict when a migraine is going to occur and it is even more difficult to control once one happens. One of the most exacerbating factors for a migraine is light, which makes many people retreat to a dark room when a migraine hits. Now researchers believe they know the reason that light is such a powerful contributor to the condition.
Filed under Migraine research by on Feb 2nd, 2010. Comment.
