The Migraine Relief Center Blog

Despite its growing popularity worldwide, the National Football League (NFL) seems to be in a constant state of turmoil. One of the NFL's most complicated legal challenges is the ongoing lawsuit filed by former and current players who accuse the league of not doing enough to prevent serious concussions and the high incidence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that have become an unfortunate staple of the most popular spectator sport in the United States. 

When summer comes around and the temperatures become warmer, perfume designers and manufacturers tend to switch their marketing efforts away from fragrances that have earthy, musky, woodsy, and spicy overtones in favor of fruity and flowery scents that are lighter. There is a clinical reason behind this change from full scents such as pine to lighter ones such as citrus, and it has to do migraines.

Epidural anesthesia is applied in nearly half of all births in the United States and the United Kingdom; however, there has been a surging interest in natural, drug-free deliveries in the last few years. Many expecting mothers are now considering giving birth at home and with the assistance of midwives and doulas. Such is the case of singer Kimberley Walsh of the pop musical group Girls Aloud, who has combined singing lessons with breathing exercises to help her during labor. 

A recent case reviewed by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) involves employees from a national auto parts retailer who claim that their boss did not accommodate their requests to accommodate their health conditions; specifically, a herniated disc and chronic migraines. What makes this alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) interesting is that the health conditions of the complaining employees are often related to each other. After all,...

Monosodium glutamate, frequently abbreviated as MSG, is one of the most widely misunderstood food ingredients. It is an excellent flavor enhancer and industrial food additive that helps to augment the shelf life of processed food, but it has also been named in several studies that link MSG to cardiac issues, obesity and other health issues. MSG is also believed to trigger migraine episodes in many patients, but it is important to understand the basis for this belief.

The migraine condition is not defined or treated in a singular manner. Headache specialists recommend a range of treatments that may be preventative, symptomatic or both; the approach and treatment strategies will largely depend on the diagnosis and various other factors. There is no cure for migraines, but there is a considerable range of treatment options. Blood pressure medications are often prescribed to migraine patients, but the link between hypertension and migraines is a bit intricate.

In 2014, the use of birth control pills has become a politically-charged issue in the United States. As access to this longstanding method of contraception is the subject of heated debate even at the Congressional level, women who suffer from migraines have more pressing matters to consider. Women make up a majority of migraine patients, and many of them are bound to suffer episodes triggered by the use of birth control pills.

Viral hoaxes and pranks that play out on online social networks are among the most interesting sociological developments of 21st century Internet life. On the eve of April Fools' Day 2014, an alleged news report of teenagers in the United States smoking coffee beans rolled up into “caffeine sticks” dominated Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, but the reports could not truly be substantiated at the time.

Despite efforts to discourage smoking across all segments of society, the working-class and impoverished communities are still affected by this unhealthy habit. One of the problems seen by sociologists and medical researchers is that marketing of tobacco products seems to be more pervasive in disadvantaged neighborhoods, where cigarettes are more likely to be more affordable.

A comprehensive discussion on the merits and faults of daylights saving time in the United States was recently published on the opinion pages of New York Times. Physicians, economists and business researchers debated the pros and cons of springing forward, a ritual that many physicians feel does more harm than good for patients who suffer from migraine conditions. Narcolepsy is just one of the sleep disorders exacerbated by the change to daylight savings, which is bad news for those who also...