The Migraine Relief Center Blog

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...

In recent years, a number of professional athletes who ply their trade in American team sports have come forward with their experiences with migraines. Tennis star Serena Williams and football legend Terrell Owens come to mind, but one of the best-known professional athletes in terms of their migraine conditions is shooting guard Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat. 

Some migraines are scarier than others, but the type known as basilar migraines are truly terrifying. What is it about these migraines that make them so frightening and alarming?

The polar vortex weather phenomenon that has been wreaking havoc in many parts of the United States with frigid winter conditions may have also played a part in causing many workers to call in sick due to severe headache episodes.