Headache & Migraine

Narcotics May Worsen Migraine Headaches

Kathleen Blanchard RN — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:41:01 -0600

Commonly prescribed narcotics can make migraine headaches worse, if not used judiciously. The findings come from researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Migraine headache affects over 35 million Americans. Commonly used narcotics and barbiturates, such as acetaminophen with codeine, and oxycodone, may have the opposite effect for migraine headache sufferers. The researchers found that frequency of medication use was directly associated with increased episodes of migraine headache, producing a never-ending cycle of cause and effect.

Need for best treatment for medication overuse headaches

hareyan — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:39:40 -0600

There is a critical need to review current treatment strategies for the increasingly common problem of medication overuse headaches (MOH), according to a series of international papers in the November issue of Cephalalgia.

"Medication overuse headaches is associated with severe disability, unmet treatment need and little clinical data to support current management strategies" says neurology expert Professor David W Dodick from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Arizona, USA.

New guideline on treatment for common cause of dizziness

hareyan — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:27:22 -0500

Evidenced-based diagnosis and clinical treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) will issue a comprehensive clinical guideline to help healthcare practitioners identify and treat patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), one of the most common underlying conditions that cause dizziness. The guideline emphasizes evidence-based recommendations on managing BPPV, the most common vestibular (inner ear) disorder in adults.

Nerve Stimulation Therapy Alleviates Pain For Chronic Headache

ruzik_tuzik — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:54:01 -0500

A novel therapy using a miniature nerve stimulator instead of medication for the treatment of profoundly disabling headache disorders improved the experience of pain by 80 to 95 percent, according to a new study from the University of California, San Francisco and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.

Vestibular Migraines Put Janet Jackson In Vertigo

hareyan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:45:41 -0500

According to People Magazine Janet Jackson is suffering from vestibular migraines. Her representative has said in a statement. Vestibular Migraines is an anusual condition that creates the sensation of vertigo.

However, Jackson is now receiving treatmet from vestibular migraines and she's anxious to get back on stage.

According to Neurology Channel Vertigo, or dizziness, is a symptom, not a disease. The term vertigo refers to the sensation of spinning or whirling that occurs as a result of a disturbance in balance (equilibrium).

Migraine Linked To Blood Clots In Veins

ruzik_tuzik — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:04:25 -0500

People with migraines may also be more likely to develop blood clots in their veins, according to a study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

In the condition, called venous thrombosis or thromboembolism, blood clots form in a vein, which can limit blood flow and cause swelling and pain. Those clots can then dislodge from the vein and travel to the heart and the lungs, which can be fatal.

Allergan's Botox May Fight Migraine

hareyan — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:01:38 -0500

Allergan is conducting trials to measure Botox effectiveness in migraine pain treatment and announced that the trials give successful results.

Botox - botulinum toxin type A - is facial wrinkle-smoother and Allergan suggests it can be also useful for migraine treatment. Previously the company conducted first Phase III trial and reported promising results for secondary goal (reducing headache days), but the main goal (reducing the number of headache episodes) was missed.

Chronic migraine found to severely impact work and personal life

hareyan — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:39:20 -0500

Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, however less than half of those sufferers receive a diagnosis from a healthcare provider. Key findings from a recent study show that chronic migraine remains largely undiagnosed and untreated and has a severe impact on one’s ability to lead a productive life, personally and professionally.

Cardiac Resynchronization: Race, Age, Geography Matter

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:14:41 -0500

Race, age, and geography appear to play important roles in who receives cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), a proven treatment for some patients with heart failure, say researchers at Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI).

"We looked at figures nationwide, and we found that use of the therapy was extremely variable," says Dr. Jonathan Piccini, M.D., a cardiologist at Duke University Medical Center and the lead author of the study. "Basically, a lot of people who should be getting the therapy aren't, and some of the people who are getting it may not need it."

Gene May Put Women With Migraine At Increased Risk Of Heart Disease, Stroke

ruzik_tuzik — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:11:40 -0500

Women who experience migraine with aura appear to be at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke if they have a certain gene.