health tips

5 surprising ways to prevent migraines

When it comes to migraines, the best offense is a good defense. If are suffering from a migraine, you are probably more than willing to try any migraine medication or unusual home remedy in the hope of getting some sort of migraine relief. Many migraine sufferers find that it is easier and more effective to prevent a migraine from happening in the first place than trying to treat the pain and nausea of a full blown migraine headache once it occurs. The best treatment for migraine relief is migraine prevention.

The problem with finding a definitive migraine medication or preventative treatment for migraines is that all migraine sufferers are unique and have different migraine triggers and causes. For example, the treatments for migraine prevention that keep me from having a migraine for months and even years at a time have not, unfortunately, worked for my sister.

If you suffer from migraines, the key is to keep trying until you find a treatment for migraine prevention that works for you.

 1: Lifestyle changes are the best treatment for migraine prevention.

The most important strategy in the war against migraines is avoiding a migraine attack in the first place. To prevent migraines, you need to figure out what your own personal migraine triggers are and avoid them religiously.

Common migraine triggers include chocolate, red wine, cheese and caffeine. Keep a diet diary to discover your migraine triggers. Avoiding migraine triggers in your diet is an effective treatment for migraine prevention.

Certain smells can also trigger a migraine headache. My sister, for example, stopped wearing perfume and asked her friends and family to do the same when they planned to spend time with her. That helped a little, but it was not enough.

However, when she stopped buying any type of scented soaps, shampoo, lotion, laundry detergent and other cleaning products and got rid of her flowering houseplants, it made an even bigger difference. You may not think of the original scent of Tide, for example, as being perfumed, but it is. Being around those low level smells meant that my sister was exposed to one of her migraine triggers all the time; for her, buying unscented everything is an effective treatment for migraine prevention.

 2: Natural herbal remedies for migraine prevention.

For centuries, migraine sufferers have been using natural herbal remedies to prevent and treat migraine headaches. If you suffer from migraines, you might want to try traditional herbal remedies to prevent migraines.

Natural herbal remedies such as feverfew and ginko biloba that increase blood circulation and decrease the constriction of blood vessels, especially in the brain, are good herbal treatments for migraine prevention. In fact, daily doses of feverfew has been shown in British medical studies to reduce not only the frequency of migraine attacks, but also the intensity of migraine headaches when they do occur, especially when taken in conjunction with white willow.

Ginger, a natural powerhouse and home remedy staple, is well known for preventing and reducing the nausea that all too often accompanies a migraine headache. Ginger can also be used as a treatment for migraine prevention.

 3: Vitamin supplements can be used to prevent migraine headaches.

You might also want to consider taking over the counter vitamins and supplements from preventative migraine relief. Coenzyme Q10, magnesium and vitamin B2 have all been shown to be helpful treatments for migraine prevention.

 4: OTC Migraine medications can help stave off a full blown migraine attack.

If, despite your best efforts, you do feel a migraine headache coming on, your best strategy is to stop it in its tracks.

Excedrin Migraine is a popular over the counter (OTC) migraine medication. It contains acetominphen, aspirin and caffeine, and many migraine sufferers have found that Excedrin Migraine works when taken at the first sign of a migraine. However, if caffeine is one of your migraine triggers, Excedrin Migraine not the migraine medication for you.

I personally find OTC naproxen (ie. Aleve) be effective if taken immediately, as well as over the counter sinus medications that combine pain relief with antihistamines and decongestants.

Finally, many migraine sufferers, men included, have found that OTC medications designed for menstrual problems are also effective for migraine relief.

 5: Prescription medications for migraine prevention.

If you have tried the typical lifestyle changes, herbal migraine prevention medications and over the counter migraine drugs listed above, you may need to talk to your doctor about at migraine relief from prescription migraine prevention medications.

Currently, there are only four migraine medications approved by the FDA for use in preventing migraine headaches. Two- Topamax (topiramate) and Depakote ER (divalproex sodium)- are neuronal stabilizing agents, or anticonvulsants originally developed for seizure disorders. The other prescription medications approved for migraine prevention are Blocadren (timolol) and Inderal (propranolol), which are beta blockers originally developed for treating heart disease and high blood pressure

These migraine medications provided relief from migraines to many sufferers, but they can have side effects. Topomax, for example, has been shown to cause birth defects, kidney stones, acute myopia (nearesightedness) and glaucoma, which can lead to blindness.

Doctors may prescribe certain medications off label for preventative migraine relief. “Off label” means prescribing a medication approved for something else for the treatment of migraines. Antihistimines, antidepressants and blood pressure medications have all been prescribed by doctors in the hope that they will prevent migraines.

Other brands of beta blockers and anticonvulsants that have not specifically been approved by the FDA for migraine prevention have been successful when used as preventive migraine medications, as well as Botox, muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) generally prescribed for arthritis, and medications usually used in the treatment of ADD.

As always, you should make sure to talk to your doctor before using prescription medications as a treatment for migraine prevention.

Source: health.com

Vitamin B could help reduce risk of stroke

Taking Vitamin B supplements may help to reduce the risk of stroke, according to a new study.

Researchers found that across 14 studies taking vitamin B reduced the risk of having a stroke by around seven per cent.

Vitamin B, which actually consists of a group of 8 vitamins, are generally found in fortified cereals along with meat such as tuna, liver and fruit such as bananas.

Processed foods such as bread, however, tend to contain low levels of B vitamins and so many health experts encourage taking supplements.

Previous studies have revealed conflicting findings for whether vitamin B supplements can help guard against stroke or heart attack. Some have even shown it can increase the risk.

However, researchers at Zhengzhou University in China analyzed 14 clinical trials, involving nearly 55,000 participants.

They found there was a seven per cent lower risk of stroke among those taking the supplements.

There were 2,471 patients suffered strokes but the studies also showed vitamin B resulted in lower levels of a molecule involved in blood clotting called homocysteine.

The authors, whose findings are published in the journal Neurology, said: “Our analysis demonstrated that homocysteine lowering therapy with B vitamin supplementation significantly reduced stroke events.”

However, the researchers found vitamin B supplementation did not have a significant impact on reducing the risk of heart attack.

They also found that folic acid, which is also known as Vitamin B9, could reduce the benefits of taking other vitamin B supplements.

However, many health experts have been pushing to have folic acid added to bread to help ensure pregnant women get enough of the nutrient as it can protect against neurological diseases such as spina bifida in their children.

The researchers also found vitamin B12, which is a common supplement, did not appear to have any impact on stroke risk at high doses.

Previous studies have shown that vitamin B3 can help to improve recovery in patients who have suffered a stroke.

Dr Xu Yuming, another of the authors behind the study, said: “Based on our results, the ability of vitamin B to reduce stroke risk may be influenced by a number of other factors such as the body’s absorption rate, the amount of folic acid or vitamin B12 concentration in the blood, and whether a person has kidney disease or high blood pressure.

“Previous studies have conflicting findings regarding the use of vitamin B supplements and stroke or heart attack.

“Some studies have even suggested that the supplements may increase the risk of these events.”

“Before you begin taking any supplements, you should always talk to your doctor.”

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Beat insomnia with yoga, Ease Stress, and Relieve Pain

If you’ve already tried everything from a warm bath to a warm glass of milk but you’re STILL lying awake counting sheep, wellness expert Peggy Hall has another tip that could help you get a good night’s sleep.

The next time you find yourself lying awake at night, grab your yoga mat: , relieve stress, and ward off aches and pains that can keep you tossing and turning. Closing your eyes and breathing long, slow breaths can have a sedating effect on the body, says Sara Ivanhoe, featured instructor on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab. “I’ve had trouble sleeping since I was an infant,” she says. “One of the reasons I got into yoga is because I wanted to learn to relax on command.”
“As a yoga instructor, I’ve developed two easy and effective yoga moves that anyone can do,” says Peggy. “Whether you’re a yoga pro or have never done yoga before!”

The first move she recommends is what she calls “Sleeping Beauty”:

  • Sit on the bed and place two pillows or a folded blanket to your left side.
    Bend your knees toward the pillows and let your feet go to your right.
    Place your chest and side of your head on the blanket. Close your eyes
    and relax for five to eight breaths. Repeat on the other side.
  • Why this works: According to the traditions of yoga, when you lie on your
    back, your brain tends to stay more alert, so it’s not conducive to falling
    asleep. But when you’re face down or curled up, your brain senses a
    drawing in and a calming down. If you like to sleep on your back,
    that’s fine — just start out on your side until you get drowsy, then you
    can turn over.

Peggy’s second move is the “Whole Body Blast”:

  • Lie on your bed, face up.
  • Tense your whole body, making fists, and clench every muscle tight. Hold this position and hold your breath for a few seconds, then release everything. Repeat a total of three times. Peggy says that this helps squeeze out the last remaining bits of physical and emotional tension that can lead to insomnia.

“You’re going to feel such a sense of relief after doing these simple moves,” says Peggy, “that your body is naturally going to enter the sleep zone so you can wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day!”

Source: Americanownews.com

Single cup of tea `boosts the brain

A new study has claimed that the nutrients found in a cup of tea can boost your brain power and increase alertness.

For the research, Dutch scientists studied the brain activity in 44 young volunteers to analyze the effect of key chemicals, an amino acid called L-theanine, and caffeine at levels typically found in a cup of tea, News.com.au reported.

The natural ingredients radically enhanced accuracy across a number of switching tasks for those who drank the tea after 20 and 70 minutes, compared with those who didn’t.

The study also found that tea drinkers’ had heightened alertness and were less tired as compared to their non tea-drinker counterparts.

Researchers added that the results of the study suggest that the combination helps to focus attention during a demanding cognitive task.

The study was published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience
Read more: http://www.indiavision.com

 

Cure for lifestyle-related diseases comes closer to reality

A new research suggests that changing your lifestyle could actually help your body’s metabolism, which could help fight against major diseases.

The study has found that an unhealthy lifestyle leaves traces in the DNA, which may have specific effects on metabolism, causing organ damage or disease.

Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen have now identified 28 DNA alterations associated with metabolic traits in the world-first epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of modified genes and metabolites.

In the course of life, aging processes, environmental influences and lifestyle factors such as smoking or diet induce biochemical alterations to the DNA.

Frequently, these lead to DNA methylation, a process in which methyl groups are added to particular DNA segments, without changing the DNA sequence.

Such processes can influence gene function and are known as epigenetics.

Scientists of the Institute of Genetic Epidemiology (IGE) and the Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology (AME) at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen are seeking to determine what association exists between these epigenetic processes and the health consequences, in particular for the metabolism.

To this end, the team led by Christian Gieger (IGE) and Melanie Waldenberger (AME), in collaboration with Karsten Suhre of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar analyzed blood samples from more than 1800 participants of the KORA study.

In doing so, they analyzed more than 457,000 loci in the DNA as to biochemical alterations and compared them with the concentrations of 649 different metabolites.

The analysis showed that the methylation of 28 DNA segments changed a number of important metabolic processes.

“This study gives us new insights into how lifestyle factors can influence metabolism via the resulting alterations in the DNA,” Gieger, research group leader at the IGE, said.

“We can now use these results to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes,” he said

The research is published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

Source: ANINews

 

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to asthma in grand kids

Researchers have discovered that smoking can have a lasting legacy, and one well-established risk factor for asthma is having a mother who smoked during her pregnancy.

When animal mothers are exposed to nicotine during pregnancy-a proxy for smoking-their grandchildren were also at an increased risk of asthma, even though they were never exposed to nicotine themselves.

Wondering if this dangerous heritage might extend even farther down the family line, Virender K. Rehan and his colleagues at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) exposed pregnant rats to nicotine.

They then tested an additional generation-the mothers’ great-grand-rats-for signs of asthma .

Their results suggest that this group of rats is also at an increased risk of this condition, bearing the brunt of nicotine exposure three generations in the past.

The study is published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, published by the American Physiological Society.

Source: Zee News

How to Cope with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

One of the most important parts of having generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is learning how to cope with the persistent anxiety and some of the physical symptoms. This page can serve as a guide to coping with anxiety that will be frequently updated with new articles and information based on practical tips that work to cutting-edge research findings.

Understanding GAD

It is crucial to understand the elements of GAD as completely as possible to be able to cope with it effectively. The following articles are a good way to begin or increase your depth of understanding of GAD:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD basically means feeling tense and anxious much of the time over things that wouldn’t normally bother you – or not so much, anyway (1). Feeling like this every day can quickly suck a sense of meaning from life. Every day feels like survival.

This can happen because structurally, the brain and body of the ‘you 20,000 years ago’ are no different from today (okay, the ‘you’ back then may have been a little more buff…). My point here is that the natural responses that kept us alert and alive back then still work within us.

So what hunts you now?

Modern life has replaced ancient wolves with relationships gone bad, financial worries, unresolved traumas, bad bosses, fears of not fulfilling expectations adequately, bad diet, and excessive consumption of stimulants. Unless we learn to fend off and master the inner ‘wolves’ as we did the outer ones, we’ll fall prey to all the fear and anxiety reactions we evolved to feel.

It’s strange that this most ancient of responses is seen as pathological or even as a medical condition or ‘disease’.

People with GAD commonly report:

  • Feeling by turns restless and agitated, but also exhausted and unable to cope.
  • Unable to ‘switch off’ and relax.
  • Always being ‘on high alert’.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Difficulty eating, digestive problems.
  • Other physical symptoms of stress such as raised blood pressure, palpitations, sweating, rapid shallow breathing.
  • Anxiety about everyday routines and circumstances, health worries, finances.
  • Worries seem to be out of proportion, meaning other people may be at a loss to understand just what is bothering you.
  • Worry seems to switch from one thing to another.

All of the above would fit the condition of a primitive person negotiating the savageries of pre-civilization. All of the above are natural adaptations we evolved to experience.

Experiencing GAD can be likened to driving a car in top gear in a 10 MPH speed limit zone. Adaptations need to be made so that you don’t waste ‘fuel’ in your daily life.

If you have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, then try the following:

1) Remember it’s normal

Remind yourself that whatever scary GAD symptoms you’ve been experiencing are all part of the normal range of what we’re all supposed to feel sometimes. Forget the clinical formality of psychiatric diagnoses. Basically, you have been feeling like a pack of wolves has been on your trail. This is normal after a build-up of stress; you are normal.

2) Think about what stresses you and seek to minimize it

One wolf might be scary, but many together can be terrifying. Lots of little life stresses build up into a pretty intimidating pack of stresses. Ask yourself: when did this GAD start? What was happening in your life at the time? Was there more stress than usual? Even a few nights of poor sleep can be enough to make some people feel very anxious.

  • Have you been worrying about something in particular?
  • Is your diet full of stimulants such as sugar and caffeine?
  • Have you learnt how to relax the mind and body?

Remember you are safe

The level of anxiety, trepidation, and foreboding so often seen in people suffering Generalized Anxiety Disorder is appropriate, even useful, in ongoing physically dangerous circumstances. If you are not physically safe in your life right now, then you need to take immediate steps to ensure you are.

But as I’ve said, we all still respond to modern threats as if they were ancient physical ones. You need to remind yourself that, luckily, you’re not being pursued by threatening wolves bent on eating you. Next time you respond physically (nerves in stomach, rapid breathing, and increased pulse rate) when there is no physical threat, remind yourself:

Don’t worry about worry

One commonly reported symptom of GAD is worry about stuff that shouldn’t really be worrying at all. This happens because when you have strong feelings, your mind will seek ways to try to justify that emotion. It’s as if your mind has to make a container for the feelings – something to worry about.

Sound strange? Well, consider this: If you’re already, say, seething with anger about something, you can go out in the street still feeling angry and find yourself angry about the way strangers look, the little slow elderly woman taking too much time in front of you in line, the way someone speaks to you…anything. This will happen until you calm down again, at which point the things you were using to justify those angry feelings will no longer be bothersome.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder drives us to find stuff to feel worried about. It’s important you remember this so you can start to put worries into their true perspective.

Deal with the physical symptoms of fear

When you feel physically safe and calm, you breathe nice and evenly, your blood pressure normalizes, and your immune system works better. The more relaxed you feel, the more ‘normal’ other physical processes like sleep and digestion become. Insomnia was supposed to happen when we were being tracked by wolves. When your body and mind start to feel safe again, then restful sleep can return.

When you relax, you also find it easier to think clearly; anxiety has a way of clouding the brain. Relaxation also improves your mood, including your optimism and level of self-confidence. Suddenly, the wolves have gone or you have mastered them. This is very different from the constant worry and foreboding of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Source:  http://www.uncommonhelp.me/

Statin use tied to cataract development: study

The risk of developing cloudy lenses in the eyes may be linked to the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins, according to a new study.

While the researchers can’t prove the drugs caused the eye condition, they found that people who took statins – such as Zocor and Lipitor – were more likely to develop cataracts, compared to people who didn’t take the medication.

“The results were consistent that there was a higher risk of being diagnosed with cataracts among statin users,” Dr. Ishak Mansi, the study’s senior author from UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Dallas VA Medical Center in Texas, said.

Statins are popular drugs that block a substance the body needs to make cholesterol, which can get trapped in arteries and ultimately lead to heart attacks and strokes.

About one-quarter of U.S. adults aged 45 and older take statins. The drugs are especially recommended for people with diabetes or a history of cardiovascular problems.

Researchers have looked at the link between statins and cataracts before with mixed results. While some studies found that taking statins lowered the risk of developing cataracts, other studies found the drugs increased the risk.

For the new research, Mansi and his colleagues used data collected from the medical records of people between the ages of 30 and 85 years old who were enrolled in one healthcare system in San Antonio, Texas, and received care between 2003 and 2010.

In one analysis, they compared about 7,000 people who were on statins for at least 90 days to about 7,000 people who were not on statins but were similar in about 40 other characteristics, including other health conditions, medications and healthcare use.

About 36 percent of statin users were diagnosed with cataracts, compared to about 34 percent of people not taking statins, for a 9 percent higher risk.

In a second analysis, the researchers looked at people with no other known health conditions. It included 6,113 statin users and 27,400 people who did not take statins.

Before adjusting the results for the participants’ age, sex, weight, medications, healthcare use, other vision conditions and cigarette, alcohol and drug use, the researchers found about 34 percent of statin users were diagnosed with cataracts, compared to about 10 percent of people not taking statins. After adjusting for those factors, statin use was linked to about a 27 percent increased risk of cataracts.

What’s more, the researchers found that the risk of developing cataracts increased with the length of time a person took the medication.

While Mansi and his colleagues can’t say how statins may affect the formation of cataracts, they write in JAMA Ophthalmology that there are a few possible explanations.

One is that the body needs high levels of cholesterol to maintain a clear lens and statins may interfere with the cells that control that process.

Dr. Jack Cioffi, head of ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, said the study is very well done, but has some limitations, including that the researchers used billing data rather than medical records, so they can’t say how severe the cataracts were.

“I don’t think we should overstate the significance of this. It goes back to if there is a good reason for you to be on that statin, it outweighs the risk of a mild increase in risk of cataract,” Cioffi, who was not involved in the new study, said.

He added that the treatments for cataracts have evolved over time. The National Institutes of Health says the procedures to remove cataracts are some of the most common and safest surgeries performed in the U.S.

“For patients themselves, my advice is to discuss what your benefit and risk ratio is for you with your doctor,” said Mansi, who added that he hopes the results will also encourage people to improve their cholesterol levels through lifestyle changes.

“This should motivate patients to do their part. Quit smoking, eat healthy and be active so doctors don’t have to give you a tablet that may have some side effects,” he said.

Source: Reuters.com

Tips to slow hair loss

For men with receding hairlines, baldness can be a major concern. And although there is nothing you can do to prevent going bald, there are some things you can do now to slow your hair loss.

Male pattern baldness is related to genes, and nothing can be done to prevent this common condition.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology two out of three men develop some form of balding during their lifetimes.

And heredity is not the only cause. Other factors include:
• Certain medications
• Deficiencies in your diet
• Stress

Managing stress levels will help to stop hair loss as major life stressors can actually cause your hair to die.

Look at your prescriptions, too. They could be making you go bald. Certain blood thinners and psychiatric drugs have been known have been known to have this side effect.

You can also eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and walnuts.

These foods are packed with protein and minerals, which has been linked to hair loss prevention in chemotherapy patients. Also, try incorporating foods high in iron and vitamin B if you are deficient.

You can always visit a dermatologist for more solutions if you are concerned about hair loss.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/27/tips-to-slow-hair-loss/#ixzz2fUwTrEM0

 

Key to healthy brain: Exercise

     A new study has discovered that exercising regularly can reduce one’s chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease, by keeping the brain healthy.

Dr Maree Farrow, co-author of the paper released by Alzheimer’s Australia and Fitness Australia, said that about half of Alzheimer cases are potentially attributable to risk factors one can change, News.com.au reported.

The study showed that a little boost in the number of physically active people could have a dramatic impact on the number of dementia cases.

Source: Deccan chronicle