Sock it to me!
August 1, 2005 5:27 pm
Barb from the USA sent this great little tip through the HeadWay MailRoom: I read the article about inexpensive cold packs. I use a very cheap one: it is an old sock filled with rice and tied at the end. I keep several in the freezer at a time. I also have a couple available to put in the microwave when I need a heat pack. When they get dirty I empty, wash and refill with new rice.
I think I'll stick with my flax seed silk when it comes to my face! However, this might be a great thing to try if you're looking for something cool for your neck, or other parts of your body. Hey, you have to admit, the price is right! I wonder if some kinds of rice are better than others...
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Deeper into the DNA
August 2, 2005 9:13 pm
We know now that at least some types of migraine have a genetic basis. But that's a long way from a treatment. What exactly is going on? Why do some people get migraine, and not others? Why do some drugs work on some people, while they're useless on others?
Dr. Rhoda Blostein is a medical scientist at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Quebec Canada. She knew of a number of mutations that seem to result in migraine. But what exactly are these mutations doing? Dr. Blostein and her team discovered that some of these mutations are changing the way a certain cellular mechanism works.
The mechanism is commonly called the "Sodium Pump". The pump removes sodium and pulls in potassium, and uses up a lot of energy in the process. The genetic mutations are making the pump less efficient. This is unusual, because normally a genetic problem would shut down the process, not just change it.
This change relates to the way electrical impulses are transmitted. Dr. Blostein says,"Much of what happens in your brain--from memory to basic movement--is the result of the transmission of electrical impulses along nerve cells." This change seems to be causing problems for migraineurs.
Discoveries like this are bringing us closer and closer to better, more targeted treatments for migraine and related diseases. Keep up the good work, Dr. Blostein!
» To reference this entry use this permalink
More bite solutions
August 4, 2005 8:18 am
More and more, people are realizing the important role that the jaw is playing in headaches. And so more products are coming out designed to help, taking various approaches.
One of the newer devices is known as Best-Bite. Best-Bite is placed on the teeth for short periods of time, and often relieves the muscle spasm/tension/pain almost right away. Pain from the jaw can not only cause headaches, but trigger migraine attacks and cause other problems in the body.
Read the recent HeadWay article about jaw problems, and take a look at the Best-Bite site here. Be sure to stay tuned for more developments!
» To reference this entry use this permalink
NSAIDs and ulcers
August 5, 2005 7:55 am
We've heard a lot about NSAIDs in the past few months, especially of the Cox2 variety. One of the dangers of long-term use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (eg Advil) is the problems they can cause in your stomach. This includes ulcers.
Recently, Darla Carter spoke with Dr. Ashok Kapur of Louisville, Kentucky. They discussed questions such as, does spicy food cause ulcers? (the answer, by the way, is no), and how do drugs such as ibuprofen cause problems?
Take a look at the article if you're concerned about your stomach health and wondering what can really cause problems. Always be cautious about using any drug, especially long term. There are alternatives.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
One new drug set aside, another on the way...
August 6, 2005 7:13 am
Pozen, Inc. has decided to stop developing its new migraine drug, MT 100. The Naproxen Sodium and Metoclopramide Hydrochloride drug needed more trials, the FDA concluded. There have been concerns that it may cause tardive dyskinesia, a chronic disorder of the nervous system causing jerky movements in the face, tongue, and other parts of the body.
However, yesterday Pozen announced it was going to focus on another new drug, Trexima. Trexima is a combination of sumatriptan (formulated with "RT Technology") and naproxen sodium. So far the trials are going well, and Pozen is hoping to make the drug available as soon as possible. The ingredient in MT 100 that was causing concern, metoclopramide, is not present in Trexima. Sumatriptan and naproxen sodium are familiar to migraineurs. RT technology has been used with Imitrex - it allows the drug to dissolve very quickly after swallowing, getting it into the body where it's needed much faster.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Migraine and your chromosomes
August 6, 2005 12:43 pm
Researchers are learning more about what causes specific migraine symptoms, such as headache and sensitivity to light. Yesterday researchers from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Queensland, Australia announced that they had discovered chromosomes that are responsible for specific migraine symptoms.
A chromosome is a string of DNA and related proteins. Researcher Dr Dale Nyholt hopes that the discovery will eventually help to develop diagnostic tests that will quickly differentiate migraine and other related diseases. It's also another step toward developing more specific treatment for migraine, and even various types of migraine.
This was based on a study of twins, something the QIMR has done a lot of. Read more about the projects that QIMR is working on here.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Women and pain
August 8, 2005 10:05 am
If you're looking for some new reading material, check out the National Women's Health Report: Pain & Women's Health/June 2005 from healthywomen.org. The free report can be downloaded in pdf format.
This publication discusses general issues when it comes to women and pain, migraine, chronic pain, Cox2 inhibitors, pain in the elderly, pain perception, and pain and depression. It's just 8 pages long, so it might be just the thing to print out and read while you wait in line at the grocery store (instead of reading about how they found Henry VIII's head still alive in a cave in Brazil).
It always gives me a warm feeling to see another publication saying what you've been reading here for months. Enjoy!
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Take the headache test
August 8, 2005 8:58 pm
Sometimes it's good just to sit down and think through exactly what impact headaches are having on your life. If you just go on from day to day, you sometimes come to forget or ignore what's really going on, and what can be done about it.
One tool that can be useful is the Headache Impact Test (HIT). HIT was developed by QualityMetric Incorporated, a company that specializes in developing medical testing tools. The short test not only helps you think through your symptoms and treatment, but also gives you a starting point for talking to your doctor. In fact, the test is actively used by many medical clinics.
The quiz can be done online, and will probably take you less than 5 minutes. You need to do a quick easy and free registration, so that you can keep track of your results over time. I just tried it myself. At first I found the test a little too subjective (although it was probably designed that way on purpose). But when I opted to answer the extra 10 questions it seemed to even out a bit.
So why not take it right now? Just click the link below:
Headache Impact Test
By the way, if you haven't seen a doctor recently about your headaches, or if you've never seen a doctor, all the more reason to do the quiz now and then take the results to a doctor in your area. Just do it!
By the way, in case you're curious, according to the tests headaches have a severe impact on my life. But as we always say around here, it's time to fight back...
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Triptan discussion in the UK
August 11, 2005 6:58 pm
What drugs should be available "over the counter", and what drugs should only be given under a doctor's supervision? Around here you're encouraged to always talk to your doctor before taking a new drug. But as far as regulations go, every country answers the question differently.
The question is being discussed in the UK right now when it comes to two of the most popular migraine drugs - Zomig and Imitrex. The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has decided to start a public consultation on the topic. The thought process so far is that making them more available would be a positive move, because they need to be taken as early as possible during a migraine attack.
If you live in the UK, stop by the MHRA home page and give them your opinion right now.
There is a growing amount of information on this website about various migraine treatments. There's a new article as of August 2005 on drugs such as Zomig and Imitrex - read all about the "triptans" here!
» To reference this entry use this permalink
The Daily Headache blog
August 13, 2005 8:31 am
I've been looking around the site of another "migraine blogger", and really enjoying it! I recommend you take the time to stop by The Daily Headache. This excellent patient perspective blog was started earlier this summer, but the author has a unique combination of experience. She's a great communicator, and has been dealing with migraine and chronic headache for 20 years.
Recent posts include thoughts on Pfizer's Drug Ad Plan, Why Medical Studies Contradict Each Other, and a discussion of chronic pain and hope in The Hard Days
If you are suffering from any kind of chronic pain, or if you want to better understand those who are, this is an excellent place to visit. I know I'll be visiting more often, and hopefully I'll have more to say about The Daily Headache in the future!
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Blog hungry?
August 17, 2005 3:51 pm
After my post a few days ago about The Daily Headache blog, I got thinking about what I could do to help everyone keep up with all the excellent migraine and headache blogs out there. They're actually multiplying like rabbits these days, and no doubt some are better than others.
Some of you might have noticed a little box at the bottom of the main blog page here. It shows recent headlines from some of the migraine blogs, headache blogs, clusterhead blogs and news sources. If you click on that, you'll go to a page that shows some of the most recent entries from these blogs around the internet. My idea is to keep up with some of the best blogs on the net, and collect them here. Check out the new blogs page from time to time to see new sources. If there's one you really like, I encourage you to subscribe to their blog, or bookmark it.
This is a brand new page, and there's lots more I can do with this section in the future. So keep your eyes open, and get ready to be introduced to several people that are dealing with chronic diseases. In the future, I may also provide a suggestion form - if you know of a great blogger, or you've started a blog yourself, you can recommend it.
For now, go and check out some migraine blogs and headache blogs and more...
» To reference this entry use this permalink
GelStat Migraine at the mall
August 17, 2005 8:04 pm
Did you hear that the GelStat Corporation is now opening kiosks in malls in the USA to sell its products? This includes GelStat Migraine, a feverfew and ginger combination.
The company expects to see profits go up, of course, and wants to educate the consumer about its product, and "enhance credibility". So what do you think about that? It's probably a blessing and a curse. People do need to be more aware of what's out there when it comes to migraine. And GelStat migraine has helped a lot of people.
Then again, you have to wonder a bit if selling treatments at a mall kiosk will enhance credibility, or not. And you can bet that the staff will be trained to promote the product, not give a balanced view of migraine treatment.
Nevertheless, GelStat Migraine will soon be coming to a kiosk near you.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Discrimination at work
August 19, 2005 7:20 am
Headache UK recently released this very revealing statistic: 29% of people responding to a survey have kept their headaches (or migraines, clusters) a secret at work, to avoid discrimination. That's more than 1 in 4!
3000 people were surveyed, and the story gets even worse. 9% said they had been disciplined at work in some way because of their condition, and and 4% said they had been dismissed from work!
The challenge when it comes to migraine, and really any disease to some extent, is that people simply don't understand. Migraine somehow seems to be worse than most, because of the incredible amount of misinformation floating around. Does the employee have to take it upon themselves to completely educate their employer? How many of us actually have employers who would listen?
And then there's just that vague feeling that you've been discriminated against. You can't prove it, it just seems like it. Take this quote from someone who filled out the survey: "I feel that I have been sidelined for promotion because my sickness absence causes me to be perceived as unreliable, no matter how professional I am when I am at work."
There's more and more good information out there (and right here!) to help people understand. We just have to learn how and when to use it.
Read the full press release about the headache survey.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
The rythm of migraine
August 20, 2005 8:08 pm
A new study has been done in Sweden that details the changes in a migraine attack over 72 hours. The researcher was medical specialist Mattias Linde at Sahgrenska Academy, Goteborg Sweden. His volunteers went untreated for 72 hours, and carefully documented changes in migraine symptoms on a detailed scale as the hours went by.
One thing that he has found is that symptoms seem to go up and down as the attack goes on. He believes he can see a rhythm, and has great hope that the research will lead to a new understanding of migraine. "This is a breakthrough that provides research with a new and unique picture of the great complexity and wealth of variation that characterises this enigmatic condition. The pain tends to follow a slowly undulating rhythm between medium and insufferable intensity," he says.
The other claim made by Linde is that he hasn't found a major difference in relief based on when you take your abortive medication. Of course, it's commonly felt that it's very important to take a drug early in the attack if it's to do any good. No doubt his research will be studied to see exactly what drugs were used in what type of migraine. There seems to be excellent research on the other side of the issue.
For more, read this press release.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Sick leave
August 24, 2005 4:33 pm
After this recently released study on discrimination at work, the Migraine Trust in the UK has decided to make migraine and workplace issues their focus during the coming year.
Alan Bartle, chief executive of The Migraine Trust, believes that part of the problem is the way work places have set up their sick leave policies. Many work places are set up to deal with sicknesses lasting a week or two. But the migraineur often has a day or two here or a day or two there. Under many policies, a day or two is treated as seriously as a week or two.
Have you ever taken sick leave? How would you like to see the policies of your work place improved? Leave a comment with your ideas!
Read the press release from the Migraine Trust here.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
New study on PFO and migraine to be started
August 24, 2005 5:07 pm
You've probably already heard about the connection between migraine and the common heart defect known as Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO). (If not, check out this article from the September 2003 issue of HeadWay) For several months the MIST Trial has been going on in the UK to formally study how repairing this defect may stop migraine attacks in some people.
Now, across the pond in the USA, the FDA has given conditional approval for a study in America. St Jude Medical, Inc, will be starting a study to learn more about this link. A simple surgery can close this hole in the heart, and may eliminate migraine attacks in some people.
Many people have this defect and don't even know it. We're looking forward to hearing the results of the studies that are being done.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Technology - helpful, usually
August 30, 2005 8:03 am
I've been reading about the E-HealthKEY from MedicAlert. The new key is basically a little flash drive that can connect to your computer, or to most computers with a USB port. The advantage of course is the multitude of things you can do with a computer, such as printing emergency cards for your wallet, track medications or fitness goals, include personal reminders and alerts, and so on.
Of course, much of this you can do anyway. Even with a traditional MedicAlert system, you can sign up to have your information stored online for your doctor to access. And all technology has its limits. The computer you're using must have a USB port (not everyone has one, trust me). If it's not running Windows XP (which, believe it or not, many computers don't have), you may need to take the time to download drivers from the internet. Just last week I had trouble doing this on a Windows 98 machine. And, of course, there has to actually be a computer handy to use.
Now of course hospitals should have access to this kind of equipment in many countries. And many people will find the programs and information storage that comes along with the E-HealthKEY to be convenient enough to be worth the extra cost.
It's important to be prepared, but make sure that you think through the benefits and limitations before making a purchase.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Sleep apnea and migraine?
August 30, 2005 3:55 pm
How are headaches related to sleep apnoea (apnea)? Recently someone asked me about the relationship between sleep apnea and migraine, something that I had never looked into in depth.
Of course, it's well known that there's a solid relationship between cluster and sleep apnoea. Some studies show that 80% of cluster patients may also suffer sleep apnoea. Those with this disorder actually stop breathing repeatedly in their sleep. The fact that it's far more common in men than women may relate to the correlation with cluster, which is also more common in men. (Read more about sleep apnea at the Mayo Clinic)
When it comes to migraine, we do know that sleeping problems in general can trigger attacks. Diane Stafford and Dr Jennifer Shoquist write in Migraines for Dummies: Too much sleep, or too little, may lead to a migraine. Any type of off-kilter sleep (insomnia, sleep apnea, and so on) can spin off into a migraine.
A number of things may cause a relation here. It could be the oxygen/carbon dioxide balance, as is suspected when it comes to cluster. It could simply be interrupted sleep. James Weintraub, neurologist and sleep disorder specialist writes: Migraine headaches occur in direct relationship to the number of REM sleep periods that one has during the night. This relationship is even more pronounced with cluster headaches.
Migraine headaches usually occur either during or after REM sleep or in delta sleep which is the deep sleep that we all require in order to feel alert and refreshed the following day. It remains unclear whether the changes in the neurotransmitter or chemical systems in the brain, hormonal influences, or a combination of several different phenomenon are the cause.
It has also been suggested that sleep problems and migraine are both symptoms of an underlying cause, such as low magnesium levels. However, this would probably be the exception to the rule. Migraine attacks are very often directly related to interrupted sleep. And that's one thing I know from experience.
Regarding cluster and sleep apnoea, check out this article recently posted at A ClusterHead's Life.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
New things at the website!
August 31, 2005 5:54 pm
You may have noticed a couple of new things here at Relieve-Migraine-Headache.com. Every once in a while people ask me if they can get a copy of the information here that they can view offline. So, I've finally got something for you!
Our new eBook includes the articles from this site, and also all the news entries! All the tips and research can be read offline, or even printed out. Not only are all the articles there that you're familiar with, there are also some bonuses. Check out this page to read more about the new eBook...
 This eBook is also a way to raise money for orphans in West Africa. How does that work, you ask? Well, check out the link above to hear all about it!
You'll also notice that there is now a way to leave comments here. I've installed this for a trial period, so give it a try! The reason I haven't done it before is because of concerns about spam.
Since time is so limited, I want to make sure that I use as much time as possible to add new information to the site, rather than monitoring for spam. But, if things go ok I hope I can leave the comment forms available! I love to hear what you think about these topics.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
|
