Relief MD

Increased Vascular Risks For Pregnancy Migraines

March 19th, 2009

When is a headache more than just a headache? Unfortunately, for the 35 million Americans that suffer from migraines, that pounding headache can interfere with their daily routine, affect personal relationships and reduce work productivity. Recently, a US study has showed that women who have migraines during pregnancy have 15 times higher risks of suffering a stroke, twice as likely to have heart disease and three times more likely to have blood clots and other vascular problems during pregnancy.

It is important to have prenatal care, and women that have persistent and severe migraines must be made aware of their risks factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, history of blood clots, heart disease and prior stroke. one of the most common and dangerous complications of pregnancy, preeclempsia, and migraines is believed to be linked. The research has also found out that women aged 35 years and older have higher risks of developing migraines while pregnant. Women aged 40 and older were 2.4 times more likely to have migraines than women younger than 20, and white women were more likely to have them than women of any other race or ethnicity.

Migraines, especially those associated with an aura or visual changes during the time of the headache, have been previously connected to stroke and heart disease in women. As many as 26 percent of women of childbearing age experience migraines.

Different women can react differently to pregnancy. Some women find relief from migraines while being pregnant, while others can have migraines that are more frequent and severe. Although the cause of the severe migraines related with stroke and vascular disease isn't clear, it can be due to that some women don't compensate well for the increased vascular stresses of pregnancy, such as increased blood volume, stroke volume and heart rate.

Regardless of the cause, active migraine during pregnancy should be viewed as a potential marker of vascular disease.

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Recent News For Rheumatoid Arthritis

February 24th, 2009

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be a debilitating condition causing severe pain and limiting the ability to do everyday tasks, and it affect generally the joints on the hands and feet. Presently, there is not cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, but there are many treatment to help sufferers deal with the condition.

Recent research from the UK has given a new guidance aimed at ensuring a consistent national approach to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The advice - to be issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - concentrates on the early diagnosis and specialist treatment of the painful condition. The study and advice also touches on the prescription of anti-rheumatic drugs and access to physiotherapy and other specialist support to periodically assess the effect the disease is having on the lives of patients.

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Acupuncture To Help Ease Migraine Headaches

January 27th, 2009

Migraine headaches can be very troubling and painful, affecting up to 17% of women and 6% of men who experience them. Experiencing migraine headaches can put you at higher risks of other health problems as well. New research finds migraine headaches and mental illness sometimes go hand-in-hand. For example, migraine sufferers were twice as likely to have depression, three times as likely to have bipolar disorder, and four times more likely to experience agoraphobia - a fear of leaving the house.

The need for migraine headache relief has been very important, and many times a lot of its medication have become controversial due to its side effects. Migraine prophylaxis, often in the form of pharmaceutical drugs, is used in order to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. Another alternative for migraines headaches is through acupuncture, although its effectiveness has been deemed controversial. A recent review of 22 clinical trials published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews revealed that acupuncture is at least as effective as prophylactic drugs for migraine. However, insurance reimbursement for acupuncture therapy varies, so migraine patients may want to check with their health insurance carriers prior to initiating this type of treatment.

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December 18th, 2008

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Cherries Can Help Ease Arthritis Pain

December 3rd, 2008

Finding relief from arthritis can be hard. More than 20 million Americans are already suffering from this condition. Now, relief can come from somewhere unexpeceted. A study at Baylor have found out the pain relief properties of cherries. They have a lot of the same properties that common anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen will have. There is another possible benefit of treating pain with cherries. Many patients like the fact that they're natural and might keep them off prescription painkillers, which can have side effects. More studies are needed to prove the pain relieving benefits of cherries, but in the meantime cherries might at least help control the pain brought about by arthritis.

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Tyramine-rich Food May Trigger Migraine Attacks

November 25th, 2008

For migraine sufferers, being finicky with the food you eat can save you from having a migraine attack. Headache specialists and dieticians said that up to 15 per cent of the migraine sufferers report sensitivity to certain food. Triggers such as tyramine are very common. Tyramine - typically found in preserved or aged food - is a compound known as an amine. Pickled and smoked food, miso, teriyaki sauce, MSG and cheeses are some examples of tyramine-rich food.

Tyramine is produced when amino acids are broken down. It can cause blood vessels to dilate and this may cause migraines in some people. Other migraine triggers include tannins, found in alcohol, and caffeine-rich food such as tea, chocolate and coffee. Getting a migraine after consuming such foods signals that the body can not cope with the food. It is always best to take caution for those who suspect that certain foods are triggering their migraine attacks. Headaches caused by migraines can last from four hours to as long as three days. One way to find out if a particular food is causing your migraine is to keep a food diary. Getting a migraine after eating a certain food can mean you might be sensitive to it. Eliminating the food from your diet usually helps.

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Travel Without Bringing Your Back Pain

November 17th, 2008

Traveling to new places is one of the many adventures people enjoy, but it can cause body pains. Flying can be a pain in the neck and the back. To avoid back pain, here are some tips you can do while travelling:

1. Move around. As long as the seat belt sign is off, you can just stand in place and do some stretching.

2. Pack light. Do not overstuff your carry-on or shoulder bag, which can cause painful neck and shoulder injuries.

3. Pick your luggage for comfort and your particular needs.

4. Consider a backpack, but don’t overstuff it either.

5. Sit properly in your seat. It can save you a lot of backaches.

6. Support your lower back with a rolled blanket, sweat shirt or jacket.

7. Do some stretching exercises while standing in line at security or at the gate or waiting your turn for the plane’s restroom.

8. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. There is a link between tight clothing and back pain.

9. Bring your own healthy snacks.

10. Chill out. More than 80 percent of travelers consider flying stressful, which is the No. 1 factor when it comes to back pain.

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Shedding New Hope For Rheumatoid Arthritis

November 14th, 2008

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful, inflammatory form of arthritis. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks itself. People with rheumatoid arthritis are generally either lacking a gene needed to keep their immune system from attacking their own body, or have a dysfunctional form of the gene.

British researches have begun working on reversing this process. In a recent animal study, they were able to successfully inject a correct copy of the gene, known as Foxp3, into animals where it was missing. When administered to and activated in animal models of arthritis, the modified cells inhibit or even reverse the disease process.

While excited about their discovery, much more work remains before the treatment can be used in people. Not only must they develop a human form of the gene, researchers also have to make sure it will not impact the remainder of the human immune system, which is needed to fight off dangerous infections.

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Migraines Can Lower Risks Of Breast Cancer For Women

November 12th, 2008

Migraine sufferers who likely have no kind words about the condition may take comfort in news that women who get the extra-strength headaches have a 30 per cent lower breast cancer risk, according to a new US study. Migraine history seemed to curb risk of the most common subtypes of breast cancer: those that are oestrogen-receptor or progesterone-receptor positive, the study found.

While the biological mechanism behind the association between migraines and breast cancer is not entirely understood the study suggests that it has to do with hormone fluctuations. Oestrogen is known to stimulate the growth of hormonally sensitive breast cancer. According to the US National Cancer Institute, if current rates do not change, one in eight women will develop breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.

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Developing Good Habits Earlier In Life To Avoid Back Pain

November 3rd, 2008

Back pain is something people experience as we grow older, but recently studies have shown that almost half of all children of secondary school age experience occasional backache. Back pain during adolescence can mean youngsters are four times more likely to suffer the condition as adults. Childhood back pain has been linked to heavy schoolbags and ill-fitting classroom furniture. But while both of these factors can contribute towards back pain, heavy bags alone should not cause bad backs. It is only when the everyday physical demands of school life are combined with sedentary lifestyles and poor posture that real back problems can set in.

Although recent research shows that active children and young people are generally less likely to get back pain in adulthood, studies also show that six out of 10 children spend more than 25 hours a week slouched on the sofa watching television or sitting in awkward positions playing with games consoles. Under these conditions, backs become particularly vulnerable, and by adulthood could be feeling the full effects of an inactive youth. Given these statistics, it is important that young people develop good habits early on in life.

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Increased Vascular Risks For Pregnancy Migraines

Recent News For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Acupuncture To Help Ease Migraine Headaches

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Cherries Can Help Ease Arthritis Pain

Tyramine-rich Food May Trigger Migraine Attacks

Travel Without Bringing Your Back Pain

Shedding New Hope For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Migraines Can Lower Risks Of Breast Cancer For Women

Developing Good Habits Earlier In Life To Avoid Back Pain

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