Posts Tagged ‘Headaches’
Friday, December 23rd, 2011
Try as you might to prevent migraines from ruining your day, some migraine triggers such as perfumes are unavoidable. Fragrances found in synthetic perfumes, scented shampoos, lotions, and detergents permeate your atmosphere, triggering migraine headaches, nausea, dizziness, and even slurred speech. That’s because many leading perfumes contain actual poisons that endanger your health, chemicals proven to cause central nervous system disorders, damage to reproductive organs, and cancer.
Do perfume labels include a list of all ingredients?
No. Current federal law allows perfume companies like Calvin Klein and Christian Dior a special loophole for trade secrets- the right to list harmful headache-inducing chemicals as ”fragrances”- an undisclosed cocktail of ingredients, thus protecting their top-secret formula. Most popular perfumes contain chemicals that the EPA recognizes as carcinogens, allergens, and narcotics- some of which the FDA banned years ago, and many of which are identical to the toxins cigarette manufacturers put in their tobacco to hook consumers.
What are the side effects of perfume exposure?
Toxins from perfumes seep into your skin, permeate your lungs, cause damage to your nervous system and ailments like severe headaches, skin rashes, and respiratory illnesses. Here are some of the most common reactions:
- Headaches- Strong scents are a common migraine trigger for many patients of chronic headaches. Some other migraine triggers are bright lights, loud noises, food ingredients, sleep irregularities, hormones, and weather changes. Read Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere
- Dizziness
- Disorientation
- Confusing speech, talking “gibberish”
- Chest tightness and wheezing
- Diarrhea and vomiting, particularly in babies
- Sinus inflammation
- Reduced pulmonary function
- Worsening of asthma symptoms
- Rhinitis and airway irritation
- Sense organ irritation
- Contact dermatitis
Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky
Study clears the air about secret toxins in perfumes
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group recently conducted a study that focused on 17 leading perfume labels. Lab testing revealed 38 undisclosed ingredients, which they published in their article Not So Sexy: The Health Risk of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances. Some of the biggest offenders included American Eagle Seventy Seven, Chanel Coco, Britney Spears Curious, and Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio.
Chemicals found in perfume
Over 1500 chemicals are used in most perfumes and fragrances.
Here are some of the most common ingredients:
- Acetone- EPA hazardous waste list, and central nervous system depressant
- Amylcinnamaldehyde- Irritating to eyes, respiratory system, and skin
- a-Pinene- Sensitizer, inhalation exposure to high concentrations associated with irritation of the respiratory airways.
- a-Terpineol- May cause ataxia, headaches, depressed central nervous system
- Benzaldehyde- Harmful if swallowed, exposure causes sore throat, rash, and eye pain
- Benzophenone- Disruptive to hormones and thyroid
- Benzyl Acetate- Carcinogen, possibly a cause of pancreatic cancer
- Benzyl Alcohol- Causes headache, nausea, and dizziness
- Benzyl benzoate- Disruptive to hormones
- Benzyl cinnamate- Irritant, dangerous for the environment
- Benzyl salicylate- Disruptive to hormones
- Beta ionone- Possible carcinogen
- Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)- Disruptive to hormones and thyroid, possible carcinogen
- Cinnamyl alcohol- Irritating to skin and eyes,
- Coumarin- Carcinogen, toxic to liver and kidneys, used to kill rodents, common ingredient in cigarette tobacco products
- Diethyl phthalate (DEP)- causes abnormal development of reproductive organs in male babies and sperm damage in adult men
- Ethanol- EPA hazardous waste list, causes central nervous system disorder
- Ethyl Acetate- Narcotic, on EPA hazardous waste list
- Eugenol- Sensitizer, allergen
- Farnesol- Skin irritant, allergen
- Formaldehyde- Air pollutant, carcinogen, exposure causes wheezing, allergic reactions, skin rash
- Galaxoide- toxic to the endocrine system
- g-Terpinene- Causes central nervous system disorder
- Lilial (Butylphenyl methylpropional)- Disruptive to hormones, allergen
- Limonene- Carcinogen, causes central nervous system disorder
- Linalool- Narcotic, causes central nervous system disorder
- Lyral- Allergen, causes eczema
- Methylene chloride- Banned by the FDA, carcinogen, EPA hazardous waste list, causes central nervous system disorder
- Musk ketone- Disruptive to hormones
- Myrcene- possible carcinogen
- Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate) – Disruptive to hormones and thyroid
- Oxybenzone- Disruptive to hormones
- Toluene- Carcinogen
- Tonalide- toxic to the endocrine system
Which perfumes should I avoid?
Here is a list of perfumes that contain dangerously high levels of toxins that may cause cancer, migraine headaches, dermatitis, respiratory illness, hormonal disorders, and organ failure:
- Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce
- American Eagle Seventy Seven
- AXE Bodyspray For Men – Shock
- Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom
- Britney Spears Curious
- Calvin Klein Eternity (for men)
- Calvin Klein Eternity (for women)
- Clinique Happy
- Coco Mademoiselle Chanel
- Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue
- Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio
- Halle by Halle Berry
- Hannah Montana Secret Celebrity
- Jennifer Lopez J. Lo Glow
- Old Spice After Hours Body Spray
- Quiksilver (for men)
- Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Heavenly
Read more about migraine headache triggers:
Natural Supplements and Herbs for migraines
What’s that Smell? Migraine Sensitivity and Olfactory Auras
Migraine Weather Triggers- Seasonal Migraines in the Fall
Sources:
Perfumes filled with unknown chemicals, group alleges
The Good Scents Company
Not So Sexy: The Health Risk of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances
Tags: Headaches, migraine headaches, migraine triggers, Migraines, perfumes migraines, Severe headahces
Posted in Migraine Triggers | No Comments »
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
If you suffer from frequent headaches, then you need to see a doctor for migraines right away- You might have migraine headaches, or another form of chronic headaches. Knowing which kind of doctor to see for migraines depends on your migraine headache symptoms, and specific needs for migraine treatment.
What kind of Doctor should I see for Migraines?
Part I: Primary Care Physicians
Most chronic headache sufferers begin migraine headache treatment by visiting their primary care physician, or family doctor. This is because they have established a patient history with them, and because they feel comfortable visiting a doctor whose advice they already trust. If your primary care doctor is unable to treat you for migraine headaches, then he will refer you to a specialist.
Even if your family doctor has not received training in migraine illness, he does have a basic set of principles to refer to in diagnosing your condition. These 12 principles for migraine management in primary care are as follows:
- Most headaches are benign, and can be treated by any competent physician.
- By supplying a questionnaire, you can determine to what extent chronic headaches have affected the patient’s quality of life (daily activities, work, etc.). This information is crucial for diagnosing illness and prescribing treatment.
- A physician-patient bond is necessary for providing migraine management.
- Migraine management should be specific to the patient, and tailored to meet his/her needs. Patient should be able to manage migraine treatments self-sufficiently.
 Physicians should routinely check up on their patient by reviewing a migraine diary in which the patient records migraine triggers, headache symptoms, foods eaten, and other relevant everyday headache information.
- Schedule re-evaluation check-ups, with special attention given to frequency of migraine drug use, and relative success in providing migraine headache relief.
- Migraine treatment should be adapted continuously to meet the changing needs of the migraine headache patient.
- Urge patients to use prescribed acute migraine medications responsibly, as indicated.
- Prescribe a pain reliever or other rescue treatment as a backup for when standard migraine treatments fail.
- For patients who don’t respond well to migraine medications, or who suffer more than four migraine attacks in one month, prescribe preventative migraine medications, in addition to suggesting certain lifestyle changes that are conducive to better migraine management.
- When prescribing preventative migraine treatments, take into account any comorbid conditions the patient might have.
- Develop a healthy professional relationship with your patient based on trust, mutual agreement, and consideration for the patient’s lifestyle.
When is it time to switch headache doctors?
If you feel that your primary care physician is not meeting your needs, then it might be time to shop around for a doctor that specializes in the field of migraine headaches.
Parts II and III discuss headaches specialists and neurologists.
Read more about migraine treatment:
How to make your own Emergency Migraine Attack Survival Pack
Top 20 Simple Lifestyle Modifications to Prevent Migraines
Improve your Memory while taking Topamax for Migraines
20 Best Blog Sites for Migraine Information and Inspiration
Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients
35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer
Sources:
Which Doctors Provide Migraine Treatment?
Establishing principles for migraine management in primary care- PubMed NCBI
Image credits, from top:
Ambro, cohdra, photostock, scottchan
Tags: chronic headaches, constant headaches, Frequent headaches, headache relief, Headaches, Headaches everyday, Migraine, migraine headache treatment, migraine headaches, migraine medications, migraine relief, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, Primary care physicians, what kind of doctor to see for migraines
Posted in Migraine Treatments | No Comments »
Monday, November 7th, 2011
Migraines cause throbbing headaches, in addition to nausea and vomiting. Some assume that cyclical vomiting and nausea is caused by migraine headaches, but that is not the case. Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) that occurs with abdominal migraines is a separate condition that shares comorbidity with migraine symptoms.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS)
Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a condition that involves repetitive vomiting and nausea over a long period. A person suffering from cyclic vomiting will experience spells of extreme queasiness, stomach cramps, heaving, and vomiting that alternate with “breaks” without symptoms. This can go on for hours, or days. Physicians used to believe that CVS was strictly a pediatric disease, but current research indicates that CVS can strike people of all age groups.
 Migraines with CVS
Researchers are unsure as to why CVS occurs with migraine attacks, but they acknowledge that a high percentage of migraine sufferers experience nausea, stomach upset, and vomiting that is typical of cyclic vomiting syndrome. Abdominal migraines cause throbbing head pain, in addition to stomach aches, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Migraine triggers such as stress and anxiety are also common triggers of CVS.
Abdominal migraines- who gets them?
Although CVS can strike anybody, abdominal migraines in children is most common. Adolescent migraine patients usually complain of stomachaches in place of headaches, sometimes causing cyclical vomiting and/or migraine with aura. As they get older, their abdominal migraine symptoms switch to typical classic migraine symptoms- sharp head pain, neck pain, sensitivity to light, smells, and sounds, and migraines with or without aura. (Read What are Abdominal Migraines?)
Anti- nausea drugs for migraines
Some migraine medications are effective at treating all migraine symptoms at once, including nausea and vomiting. However, prescribed migraine remedies don’t always work as efficiently as they should. If cyclical vomiting is keeping you from digesting your migraine medications, then your headache doctor might prescribe anti-nausea drugs to soothe your stomach and put an end to vomiting.
Note that many of the following anti-nausea drugs come with side effects such as dizziness and fatigue:
- Phenergan
- Thorazine
- Compazine
- Tigan
- Reglan
Natural alternatives to migraine drugs
If long-term use of prescribed migraine medications has not provided any long-term headache relief, then it might be time to try some natural migraine remedies that do not cause side effects such as “brain fog,” chronic fatigue, memory loss, or tinnitus. For nausea, many followers of naturopathic medicine recommend ginger, peppermint, or chamomile teas. Also, supplementing with magnesium and butterbur has resulted in 95% reduction of migraine symptoms for many people who have suffered with chronic migraines for years.
Read more about migraine treatments:
Migraine Nausea and Vomiting- 10 Natural Home Remedies
The Painkilling Power of Ginger: Migraines and Beyond
7 Healing Headache Relief Treatments for Children
Sources:
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome – National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
Nausea Drugs for Migraines and Headaches
Migraine- Health- Patient UK
Comorbidity of headache and gastrointestinal complaints. The Head-HUNT Study- PubMed NCBI
Image credits, from top:
QuinnDombrowski, Spencer E Holtaway, suzyq212, Fillmore Photography, Chris Morriss
Tags: Abdominal migraine, Classic migraine, Common migraine, headache, Headaches, Migraine, migraine attacks, migraine headache, migraine nausea, migraine symptoms, migraine with aura, Migraine without aura, Migraines and diarrhea, Migraines in children, Nausea drugs migraines, nausea vomiting, Stomach migraines
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Monday, October 31st, 2011
Throughout the years, scientists have conducted many studies linking chronic migraines with anxiety attacks and panic disorder; other symptoms associated with migraine headaches include phobias, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Anxiety and migraine illness occur together
In a 2009 study, scientists Gregory E. Ratcliffe B.Sc. and Jitender Sareen M.D., F.R.C.P.C. observed the correlation between chronic headaches and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
According to researchers, certain people are more susceptible to mood disorders such as anxiety disorder and depression than others are- and those people are also more likely to experience chronic migraine than people who don’t suffer from anxiety attacks.
Clinical study links migraines with mental disorders
The study, published by General Hospital Psychiatry, focused on over four thousand test subjects from an earlier study on migraines- the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey.
 About Eleven percent of German migraine patients suffered from migraine headaches in addition to at least one of several mental disorders, including:
- Chronic depression
- General anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Dysthymia
- Bipolar disorder
- Panic attacks
- Panic disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance abuse disorders
- Agoraphobia
- General phobias
“Together, migraine and mental disorders cause more impairment than alone,” says lead study author Gregory Ratcliffe, University of Manitoba, Canada. “Patients who have one condition should be assessed for the other so they can be treated holistically. Although it is important to know that both are present, treating one will have an effect on the other.”
Migraines are a recurring nightmare
Scientists also discovered that migraine patients who suffer from anxiety are 40% more likely to suffer from severe depression, as well. Researchers have observed a cyclic relationship between depression, anxiety, and migraine attacks. Depressed individuals begin to experience symptoms of anxiety, which include heart palpitations, nervousness, feelings of despair, and uncontrolled thought patterns. The aftermath of anxiety attacks often includes migraine; among the many symptoms of chronic migraines, depression is one of the most common, and so the cycle continues.
Dealing with anxiety and migraines
Migraine headache specialists recommend the following tips for preventing migraines and anxiety:
 Acknowledge the reality of the situation by doing your research. The more you learn about your brain and migraine illness, the sooner you will come to realize that there are perfectly reasonable, scientifically proven explanations for all the symptoms of anxiety you are experiencing.- Keep track of migraine triggers by keeping a headache journal.
- Practice guided meditation, relaxation techniques, and exercises such as yoga or Tai Chi, all of which focus on quieting the mind.
- Stay regular. Migraines sufferers are very sensitive to fluctuations, so sleep regular hours, eat at regular intervals, and prepare yourself for hormonal changes such as menopause, menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause.
- Seek out alternative natural migraine remedies, such as aromatherapy, biofeedback, acupuncture, restrictive dieting, and natural supplements, such as butterbur, magnesium, and riboflavin.
Read more about preventing migraines:
Sources:
Image credits:
(From top) DerrickT, Rennett Stowe, MikeBlogs, Ev0luti0nary
Tags: anxiety attacks, Anxiety disorder, Bipolar disorder, chronic migraines, depression, Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), Headaches, Migraine, migraine headaches, migraine remedies, migraine triggers, Migraines, Mood disorders, natural migraine remedies, panic attacks
Posted in Stress and Migraines | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
Migraine Symptoms caused by Allodynia
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Migraine headaches caused by long hair? It’s no joke- your neurologist might diagnose allodynia, a type of neuralgia that contributes to migraine symptoms such as cluster headaches or tension headaches. Allodynia strikes fibromyalgia patients and migraineurs, causing throbbing head pain at key pressure points for headaches.
The symptoms of allodynia
Chronic pain sufferers with allodynia experience extreme physical pain from things that don’t hurt others- a light touch, a passing breeze, or even the gentlest amount of pressure. Cutaneous allodynia (CA) refers to an oncoming migraine attack resulting from overactive neurotransmitters. There is a high correlation between migraine headaches and allodynia.
Fluorescent Lights, Migraines, and Incandescent Bulb Mania
Migraine sufferers are more sensitive
When your neurons become overly responsive to certain conditions, we call that “central sensitization.” Like a broken record, your nervous system becomes “sensitized” to frequent migraine attacks, and strives to make it easier to deliver those pain signals every time. Hypersensitive neurotransmitters send messages to the brain, communicating pain signals, constantly becoming more efficient at perceiving pain from the tiniest of stimuli- a pinprick, the scratching of heavy fabric, or even the delicate pull of an earring.
10 Golden Food Rules for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Heavy hair hurts
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For many migraine patients, the beginning of a migraine attack brings debilitating symptoms, including sharp head pain, eye pain, nausea, vomiting, and hypersensitivity to light, noise, and scents. For many females, who account for an overwhelming majority of all migraineurs, migraine attacks are preceded by allodynia pain on the scalp, neck, or cheeks. Brushing your hair, wearing a ponytail or braid, or even tossing your hair over your shoulders could result in excruciating head pain. Although not cited as a cure for ponytail headache, cutting the hair to a shorter, less weighty length is a common recommendation by neurologists.
Only your neurologist or other headache specialist can recommend the proper treatment for your migraine headaches. For natural headache remedies, such as magnesium and butterbur, you may also seek advice from an alternative medicine practitioner, or anybody who specializes in neuropathy.
Flickr
Related reading:
Wear a Medical Emergency ID- Save your Breath and your Sanity
Best Twitter Pages to Follow for Migraine Sufferers- Top 40
Sources:
Allodynia in Migraine: Association with Comorbid Pain Conditions
Allodynia Prevalent in Migraine Patients
My Hair Hurts! Migraine and Allodynia
Suffer from Ponytail Headaches? How to Avoid These Nasty Pains in Your Head and on Your Scalp
Ponytail Headache: A Pure Extracranial Headache
Migraine, Allodynia, and Central Sensitization- Migraine.com
Tags: allodynia, cluster headaches, Headaches, Migraine, migraine symptoms, Neuralgia, neurologist, Pressure points for headaches, tension headaches
Posted in Migraine Prevention | No Comments »
Monday, October 24th, 2011
Common Migraine Triggers and Headaches
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Many non-migraine headache sufferers think that migraine symptoms are all about headaches, but they’re wrong. Signs of a migraine attack include nausea, depression and anxiety, in addition to mild hallucinations and neuralgia. Since chronic migraines differ between patients, migraine remedies also vary between over-the-counter Excedrin for migraines, prescribed migraine relief, and natural headache remedies.
How many migraine triggers are there?
Scientists have named over 100 possible migraine causes (triggers), including those pertaining to food, scents, the weather, hormones, and stress. The best way to determine the culprit behind your migraine headaches is by keeping a migraine diary, and sharing it with a neurologist or other headache expert.
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7 Headache Symptoms you definitely shouldn’t ignore
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Here are some helpful clues that indicate a migraine attack:
- Throbbing head pain, usually limited to one side of the head, but not always
- Pain in the back of the head
- Intense shooting pain behind one eye socket
- Teary eyes, head congestion- similar to sinus headaches
- Stiff aching neck pain
- Depression or anxiety symptoms
- Fatigue, tiredness
- Excitability, euphoria, or hyperactivity
- Agitation, or nervousness
- Dizziness, need to faint
- Frequent need to urinate
 Poor sleep, tendency to wake up feeling sluggish instead of refreshed- Frequent yawning
- Unusual cravings for sweet or salty foods
- Nausea, urge to vomit
- Stomach cramps and diarrhea
- Pale face, washed-out look
- Head pain after physical exertion, typical of “exercise headache”
- Migraine aura, or ocular migraine, including flashing, colored lights, often in zigzagged patterns, bright crescent shapes, or “fireflies” (Free Digital Photos)
- Blind spot- dark “hole” in your field of vision, temporary partial blindness
- Double vision, blurry eyesight
- Hypersensitivity to bright lights, photophobia
- Low tolerance to noise
- Hallucinatory scents
- Partial paralysis, stroke-like symptoms
- Tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations in one arm, or around the mouth and nose on one side of the face
- Cold hands and feet
- Distorted speech, temporarily and suddenly, also similar to stroke symptoms
- Upper torso weakness on one side
- Afterwards, a hangover, and the need to recuperate for hours
Flickr
Read this:
Migraine Aura Video Simulations: You Tube’s Top 10
Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky
Is it a Cluster Headache or a Migraine?
Sources:
18 Signs You’re Having a Migraine – migrainesheadaches – Health.com
Migraine Symptoms, Causes, Treatment – What are the symptoms of migraine headaches on MedicineNet
Migraine: Symptoms – MayoClinic.com
Tags: Headaches, Migraine, migraine causes, migraine headache, migraine nausea, migraine symptoms, migraine triggers, Natural Headache Remedies, ocular migraine symptoms, Ophthalmic migraine, Signs of a migraine attack
Posted in Types of Migraines | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011
Patient Satisfaction without the Pain
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Pharmacists and chronic pain patients don’t always see eye to eye. Here are tips for getting customer satisfaction on your migraine pain treatment refills.
Is this déjà vu to you, too?
If you suffer from chronic pain, such as migraine headaches, muscular stiffness, or arthritis, then you might recognize this scenario:
A customer walks into a Walgreen’s pharmacy, stands in line, and then comes up to the register. She inquires about her Darvocet prescription, which she takes for migraine headaches. She mentions that she ordered her refill online, and believes that her medication should be ready for pick-up.
Imagine her surprise, and shock, when instead of retrieving her order, the pharmacist leans over menacingly, points at her, and shouts at the top of his voice, “What? You shouldn’t be out, yet! You need to quit gobbling those things up. If you’re still in pain, then ask your doctor to prescribe something else.”
35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer
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It’s not just you.
According to a report, published by the National Institutes of Health, many pharmacists exhibit an astonishing lack of regard and knowledge for basic migraine management guidelines, despite their intensive educational background.
- More than half of the 171 pharmacists surveyed believe that migraine patients should take over-the-counter painkillers, such as Advil or Tylenol, before submitting to prescription migraine medications.
- Only half ever inquire about migraine-related conditions, such as nausea or vomiting.
- About one-third believe that migraine-specific medications should be a last resort when all other drug treatments have failed.
- Two-thirds do not believe that migraine is a neurological illness.
You have options.
Flickr
1- Switch pharmacies.
If you currently support a large chain-store pharmacy, such as Wal-Mart, Walgreens, or CVS, then visit a small local pharmacy, instead. Experiences among patients vary, but overwhelmingly, chronic pain sufferers who give their business to “mom and pop” pharmacists report getting more customer satisfaction.
2- Communicate.
Be open, and explain to your pharmacist about your chronic migraines, disabilities, symptoms, comorbidities, and pain medication preferences. Choose a pharmacist who is experienced, compassionate, and open to fostering a customer-pharmacist relationship.
3- Don’t shop around.
Once you find a pharmacy that meets your needs, stick with them. Pharmacists receive training to sniff out “drug seekers,” addicts or street dealers who fill out prescriptions for narcotics frequently and at random pharmacies, in order to avoid being recognized. Sadly, each time you switch pharmacies, you run the risk of falling under the radar, despite your best attempts to explain your case. The best way to avoid an unpleasant scenario is to pick up your medications from the same pharmacy. Before you go on vacation, notify your doctor and pharmacist, and check to make sure that you have enough meds to get by. For more advice on traveling with migraines, read Plan a Headache-Free Summer Vacation: Five Travel Tips.
4- Notify management.
If you feel you’ve received unfair or offensive treatment from a pharmacist, then discreetly complain to the higher-ups. It’s not “ratting out” when you report to superiors, but rather ensuring that other customers don’t receive similar abuse in the future. First, take a deep breath, and regain your composure. It won’t do to approach management in a fit of tears- they won’t take you seriously, and your grievances will likely fall on deaf ears. Unfortunately, pharmacists have a high turnover rate, particularly the ones who work in large corporation pharmacies. Don’t be surprised when you see the same pharmacist, the one who treated you rudely, back behind the counter the next day.
5- Develop a thick skin.
This is tough advice, but a necessary coping mechanism for all chronic pain patients, migraineurs included. You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your reaction to “snide remarks and whispering” from health professionals who should know better.
6- Know the system.
It helps to see things from the other perspective, not only because it reduces anxiety, but also because it allows you to see the bigger picture. Here a few pet peeves of most pharmacists:
- Sometimes, doctors make hasty prescriptions. It’s the pharmacist’s duty to double-check before dispensing orders. If they dispense a wrongful medication, then they are equally liable, particularly where narcotics are concerned.
- When a doctor orders a medication, he operates in conjunction with the pharmacist. The pharmacy technician is under no obligation to hand out drugs mindlessly, just because the physician requested it. To do so would be to risk losing their license.
- Dispensing early refills is punishable by fine, in addition to loss of license.
- Pharmacists earn a degree from medical school, yet they feel that they are often treated like store clerks.
- Working in a pharmacy is a high-pressure job. You must be able to make quick decisions that affect the lives of others significantly. That’s not an easy feat, considering bureaucratic intricacies, insurance policies, and conflicts between physicians and patients.
Free Digital Photos
Related reading:
Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?
New Study Warns against Taking these Painkillers with Antidepressants
Should I Take Excedrin for Migraine Headaches?
Sources:
Chronic Pain General Discussions at DailyStrength: Being treated like a junkie at the Pharmacy
Treated Bad by Pharmacy Today : FightingFatigue.org
Migraine Headache: The Pharmacist and the Role of OTC Medications
Migraine therapy: a survey of pharmacists’ knowled… [Headache. 2005] – PubMed result
Tags: chronic pain, customer satisfaction, Headaches, Migraines, pain treatment, patients, pharmacists
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
Best Care Packages for Headache Patients
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Do you know somebody who suffers from chronic migraines? Show them you care by giving them a thoughtful gift package of goodies every headache suffer wants.
More than Words
If you’re close with somebody who gets regular migraine attacks, then you probably understand the agony that they endure. At times, it can be difficult to find the right words to offer comfort, especially when it seems like no amount of words will do. Throbbing headaches, sharp jolts of eye pain, stomach cramps, intense nausea, and frequent vomiting are just a few of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks. Nothing you can say will alleviate their pain, but a few caring gifts will speak louder than any words of sympathy.
What NOT to gift somebody who suffers from chronic migraine headaches:
- Perfume
- Flowers
- Artificially scented candles. A good alternative is a lightly scented candle made from soy or beeswax.
- Potpourri
- Scented soaps, lotions, or powders
Free Digital Photos
Twenty Great Gifts for Chronic Migraine Headache Sufferers
- 1- Eye covers- Migraine headaches are sometimes caused by bright lights. To relieve head pain, sufferers need to relax in a dark room with a cold or warm cloth over their eyes. Look online for some soothing eye masks that provide relief.
- 2
 - Unscented bath products- A warm, sudsy bath is a delightful way to de-stress for at the end of the day. Pick out a line of bath gels, salts, and foaming agents that don’t contain perfumes, as scents are a common migraine trigger. Free Digital Photos
- 3- Aromatherapy oils- For some migraineurs, essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, and rosemary provide headache relief. For others, the opposite effect might be true. Before diving into the apothecary section, ask your friend which scents trigger migraines for her.
- 4- Herbal tea collection- You can’t go wrong with a variety pack of caffeine-free teabags.
- 5- Dietary supplements- Instead of asking her if she knows about alternative medicine options, go ahead and buy her a bottle of natural herbs formulated to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine symptoms. Migraine therapies usually contain butterbur, magnesium, riboflavin, and C0Q10. New York Times- Patient Thanks Butterbur for Migraine Relief
- 6- Music CD- Migraine patients benefit from relaxation exercises; order a CD that features calming background music, or instructional meditations.
- 7- Hot/Cold packs- Cold packs relieve swelling and head pain, but sometimes you want soothing heat for muscular aches. Look for a hot/cold pack that does double duty.
- 8- New pillow- Buy her a fluffy pillow for when she is bedridden with headaches. Specialty pillows include body pillows, side sleeping pillows, and neck pillows. 10 Unusual Chronic Pain Relief Tactics for the Bedridden
- 9- New zip-up robe- Most leisure robes and caftans come in one-size-fits-all, so that would be an easy gift to buy.
- 10- Neck massage tool- Neck pain contributes to headaches. Most health stores and techie gadget shops sell a collection of massage tools for the neck and back.
- 11- Cleaning help- A migraine attack can last for day. An elaborate (and much appreciated) gesture would be to hire a cleaning lady for the day.
- 12- Day planner- Having a calendar to track future errands, reminders, and events is an effective way to reduce stress. Free Digital Photos
 13- IPad- iTunes offers a wide selection of health apps that are geared towards migraine patients, including headache diaries, stress managements, and more. 20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers- 14- Window tints- Vinyl window tints are an easy, inexpensive way to darken your room without buying heavy curtains. Wall paper for your windows comes in many attractive designs.
- 15- Tinted sunglasses- Dark sunglasses are effective for deflecting light-induced migraines. Rainbow Colored Sunglasses that Prevent Migraines
- 16- Spa package- Who wouldn’t love a trip to a local spa, complete with massage, sauna, and facial?
 17- Gym membership- Yoga and Tai Chi are therapeutic exercises for chronic pain sufferers. Find a gym that has a good selection of fitness classes, and buy her a one-month membership. Blow Off Migraine Pain with 4 Simple Yoga Breathing Exercises!- 18- Biofeedback session- Biofeedback is a popular alternative migraine treatment that helps pain sufferers learn how to control stress.
- 19- Coupon booklet good for errands, carpooling, laundry, grocery runs, or just a hug.
- 20- Donation to non-profit migraine advocacy organization. Free Digital Photos
- See Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients for some reputable migraine support groups.
Related Reading:
35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer
Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist
Gotta Have Books for Migraineurs- 5 that Stand Out
Sources:
Top Ten Gift Ideas for a Migraine Sufferer
Headache Relief Gifts – Headache and Migraine Center – EverydayHealth.com
Gift Ideas for Headache Sufferers
12 Nice Things You Can Do For Someone In Pain
Tags: can, caregiving, chronic, do, for, gifts, headache relief, Headaches, healthy, in, Migraine, nice, Pain, someone, sufferer, things, you
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Friday, July 29th, 2011
Migraineur Credits Alternative Medicine
In the New York Times piece entitled, Patient Voices: Migraine, six migraine sufferers attest to the agony experienced by migraine sufferers, including how they managed to overcome their debilitating illness. One, Aviva Goldfarb, tells of her success with butterbur extract.
Migraines are a neurological illness
Migraine headache attacks afflict millions of people with debilitating head pain that makes it to perform everyday tasks. In addition to throbbing, localized head pain, migraine attacks cause a series of other distressing side effects, such as severe nausea, stomach cramps, visual disturbances, difficulty speaking, and extreme sensitivity to light, sounds, and scents. Migraine triggers range by the dozen, in categories such as food, weather, and hormonal fluctuations. Not surprisingly, many chronic migraine patients have difficulty holding down well-paying jobs, and frequently seek disability assistance.
Migraine sufferer finds relief- finally
In this interview featured in the New York Times, cookbook author Aviva Goldfarb talks about her experience with migraine management, medications, and a popular alternative medication for migraines, butterbur extract, which has decreased her migraine attacks by half, in addition to dramatically reducing the severity of her migraine headache symptoms.
The following is a transcription of a New York Times article, Patient Voices: Migraines
Aviva Goldfarb: Headaches have been a lifelong affliction for me, almost so much that they’ve become a part of my life, but they’ve never been debilitative. I can pretty much do anything that I really have to do, most of the time, when I have a headache. It’s just painful. And my mood would start to sour, or I would be less productive, because my energy would be lower, if I had a headache.
Headache Journaling…
I have a journal here, and I write down every time I have a headache; what I would take, and how long it would last, to see if there were any triggers, and also just to see how many headaches I was having. So, I started a few years ago, and it turned out that some months, I was having fifteen, eighteen, even twenty headaches a month. (See: 10 Clues your should Include in your Headache Diary Today)
If at first you don’t succeed…
What I’ve learned, is that every time you try something, when you are trying to get rid of headaches, you have to try them for at least a month, though that would mean that that month I would have to try something that usually didn’t work, just to see it through, to see if it was having an effect. I tried getting rid of wine for a month, and that didn’t do anything; these are some common triggers. I tried getting rid of sugar for a month. I tried getting rid of caffeine, and those are pretty much the three loves of my life, so that was hard, but I didn’t have to do them all simultaneously. None of them had any impact.
My headaches did respond to migraine medication when I took it, and that was good, but the migraine medications had side effects that didn’t make me feel great. I played around until I found one that I could tolerate, but the problem was, it took six to eight hours to kick in, so it wasn’t ideal.
Butterbur- Isn’t that what Harry Potter is always drinking?
I have now been taking butterbur for, I would say, ten months, or so, and it really has improved my headache situation. I think it’s cut them by thirty to fifty percent, and when I do get them, they’re not as intense. So, finally, I found something that does help for me.
People seem to look at me like, Is she for real, can I take her seriously? Butterbur. I mean, it’s got kind of a funny name; it sounds like Butterball turkey. I got it at the apothecary, and who knows what an apothecary is, anyways? But I don’t really care- I can have a sense of humor about it. (See: Effective Migraine Remedy: Butterbur)
Butterbur for migraines- it’s catching on.
But eventually, maybe this will be something that neurologists all over the country are prescribing, and I think that neurologists in other parts of the world are already prescribing it, so maybe I’ll be on the cutting edge. -End.
Related reading:
Natural Migraine Treatments: 12 Herbal Remedies that Provide Headache Relief
Source:
Patient Voices: Migraine – Interactive Feature – NYTimes.com
Tags: Headaches, Medicine and Health, migraine headaches, migraine relief, migraines butterbur, New York Times Patient Voices
Posted in Natural Migraine Treatments | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011
Candidate Michele Bachmann says, Yes
Ga-Ga-sized heels are all the rage, but at what cost to your physical and neurological well-being?
Migraine headaches are a leading cause for disability
Migraine headache illness debilitates millions of sufferers, most of whom are woman, every year. For many, migraine attacks keep them at home and out of work, school, and social engagements. Migraine symptoms such as throbbing head pain, nausea, vomiting, visual impairments, and speech difficulties make it difficult, if not impossible, for migraine patients to hold down a job.
Nevertheless, Republican candidate Michele Bachmann assures her supporters for the upcoming Presidential Election of 2012 that she has her chronic migraines under control. Although she has required emergency treatment on several occasions for chronic migraine attacks, Ms. Bachmann has declared that migraine medications keep her condition stabilized, and that her “uncomfortable high-heeled shoes” were to blame for most of her head pain.
“Can wearing high-heeled pumps trigger migraine headaches?” ask experts.
Well, it’s no secret that wearing spikey heels promotes bad posture. According to Spine-Health, poor posture distorts the natural curve of the spine, contributing to “back and neck pain, as well as headaches, fatigue, and possibly even concerns with major organs and breathing.”
Sacrificing comfort for fashion is one thing, but sacrificing your mental and physical health for a really cute pair of Jimmy Choo’s is beyond normal comprehension.
Which came first- the power heels or the migraines?
Still, not all health experts agree. Dr. Joel Saper, founder and director of the Michigan Headache and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, thinks it’s more likely that the correlation exists between migraine headaches and stress; for a career woman struggling to earn the respect of her peers, leather high-heeled shoes are just par for the course.
And for Michele Bachmann, who hopes to win a male-dominated political campaign, even recurring flashes of migraines won’t keep her from rising to new heights.
Also read:
The Four Phases of Migraine Headache Attacks
10 Unusual Chronic Pain Relief Tactics for the Bedridden
Slash your Migraine Medication Budget- 8 Ways to Save Money
Sources:
What Migraines? New Yorkers Defend Their High Heels – NYTimes.com
High Heels Cause of Michele Bachmann’s Migraines? – ABC News
Can High Heels Trigger Migraines? – TIME Healthland
Good Posture Helps Reduce Back Pain
Tags: Headaches, health, health information, health news, high heel shoes, high heels, high heels and michele bachmann, high heels trigger migraines, medical news, mental health, michele bachmann, michele bachmann migraines, migraine headaches, migraine triggers, Migraines, Presidential Election of 2012, stress
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