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Almost every day, we learn more about the condition of migraine that plagues up to 38 million Americans every year. The problem is, much of the information passed on by people from one to another is inaccurate, and if you listen to family members and friends you can get the wrong idea entirely. Here are some of the more common myths, followed by the actual facts. Make a point of knowing the real story, and you can set someone right if you find them spreading false information.
People have suffered from migraines for as long as humanity has existed, and from the earliest times, we have searched for ways to relieve the pain. The ancient Romans made herbal teas from boiled peppermint and eucalyptus leaves, lavender and chamomile, and even tried applying raw chopped vegetables to the head. Fortunately, medical science has advanced since then, and we now have multiple methods of treatment. Migraine surgery remains something of a final resort, which is typically only used...
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 18.1% of American adults each year according to statistics from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (AADA). That’s 40 million people aged 18 or older, who all experience different symptoms and levels of intensity. For most patients, this means constant worrying and defensive behavior, including avoiding stimuli like objects and places they know will trigger their condition.
Occipital neuralgia is the name given to inflammation or injury of the nerves running from the upper end of your spinal cord to the scalp. This causes pain at the back of the head or the base of the skull, which resembles migraines and certain other types of headaches.
Changing migraine doctors can be a challenging and traumatic experience for patients, especially if you’ve been with the same practitioner for several years. You’re no doubt accustomed to his (or her) way of handling your condition, the office staff all know you, and the location is familiar. Sadly, circumstances change, and there are a number of reasons why you might be faced with looking for a new provider.
BOTOX® is a neurotoxin prepared from the bacterial compound onabotulinumtoxinA. It’s used for medical purposes to treat specific muscular disorders, and in the cosmetics industry to remove wrinkles by briefly paralyzing the facial muscles. While BOTOX® has been around since the 1970s, it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a preventive migraine option only in 2010. Since then, however, it has become frequently used as a treatment to provide relief for sufferers.
Many people believe doing exercise can cause migraines. Since every patient is different and triggers vary between people, it’s possible that activity could be one of your triggers. If this is the case, chances are good it’s because at least a few other factors are present. In some instances, however, migraineurs are known to experience “exercise headaches,” which typically present as a distinctive type of pain.
What happens in the brain most definitely does not stay only in the brain. Few medical conditions function in a vacuum, without any relationship to other parts of the body. That’s true of migraines, too, which we already know have connections to aural and visual issues.
To wine or not to wine, that is the question for many migraine sufferers who believe there is a connection between drinking wine and developing an attack. While alcohol in general is considered a common trigger by some, research from the American Migraine Foundation appears to show the risk is overrated. The most common reason for a headache associated with wine consumption is drinking too much of it. This presents itself as a hangover that causes stress, which is an undisputed trigger of...
Today’s 3D movies provide an incredible experience to viewers, allowing you to feel like you’re in the center of the action surrounded by the sights and sounds of the film. It works by using 3D glasses to deliver different images to each eye, which convinces your brain that you’re seeing depth in the scene. Now, 3D televisions are also available, which enables you to experience the same effect when you watch movies at home.
