Hi Delma, Thanks for this. I get migraines and they are awful.
But, they kept saying Kristin had migraines until she went to the ER two weeks ago and they did the brain scans. I know mistakes can be made, though. ----- Original Message ----- From: "delma bliss" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 1:14 AM Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Migraines & health risks.txt > > > > Migraines & health risks.txt > > Your Health: Migraine Sufferers Face Higher Risk of Serious Disease >>Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H. >> >>Migraines are more than just occasional, minor headaches. Not only >>do they produce significant pain and suffering in susceptible >>individuals, they're also linked to a higher risk of stroke. >> >>Studies show that among all migraine sufferers, including men and >>women, the risk of experiencing a stroke is more than double that of >>people without the condition. Recent research suggests that the risk >>of stroke among female migraineurs is especially high. >> >>The latest findings from the Women's Health Study demonstrated that >>compared to women without the condition, those who had migraines at >>least once a week were three times more likely to have a stroke. The >>study followed nearly 28,000 women age 45 and older for more than 12 >>years. >> >>Although the exact cause of migraine headaches remains a topic of >>intense scientific debate, most experts agree that the condition is >>related to a disordered function of nerves, blood vessels and >>neurotransmitters in the brain. Regardless of the cause, migraines >>are considered to be a lifelong condition of recurring headaches >>that can strike as often as several times a week or as infrequently >>as once a year. >> >>Migraine headaches can affect anyone, but they're roughly three >>times more common in women than in men. More than two-thirds of >>cases occur in women between the ages of 15 and 55. >> >>Approximately 30 percent of migraineurs experience a phenomenon >>called an "aura" before or during the headache. The most common form >>of aura is a visual illusion of bright flashes of light that appear >>as stars or sparks, or as complex geometric patterns that shimmer >>across the visual field. >> >>The associated headaches are often so intense that they send their >>victims scurrying to the nearest dark, quiet place. In addition to >>pain, migraine sufferers typically experience overwhelming nausea, >>vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and noise. >> >>In most cases, the onset of symptoms is associated with specific >>substances or situations called triggers. Common triggers for >>migraines include stress, fatigue and hunger. >> >>Cheese, chocolate, alcohol and the food additive monosodium >>glutamate (MSG) may also be to blame. Among women, hormonal fluctuation -- >>especially around the time of menstruation -- is an important trigger. >> >>The results of a study conducted by researchers at Thomas Jefferson >>University's Headache Center in Philadelphia suggest that women are >>twice as likely to experience migraines with aura during the first >>two days of their menstrual cycles compared to the remainder of the >>month. The researchers also noted that women have a significantly >>lower risk of having migraines during the time of ovulation, which >>typically occurs around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. >> >>Although migraines are relatively common, drugs designed >>specifically for the treatment of the condition are few in number. >>Many medications prescribed for the treatment of migraines, >>including painkillers and anti-nausea medications, are extremely >>sedating. For some individuals, the treatment of migraines can be >>just as incapacitating as the condition itself. >> >>Fortunately, the frequency and severity of migraine headaches can be >>reduced by implementing a few preventive strategies. Avoiding known >>migraine triggers is an excellent place to start, and taking a few >>key nutritional supplements may help even more. >> >>A number of studies suggest that because migraineurs have low >>magnesium levels, taking supplemental magnesium can be an important >>part of an effective migraine-prevention program. Magnesium is known >>to help regulate serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in the onset >>of migraine symptoms. >> >>Many foods are rich in magnesium, including dark green vegetables, >>whole grains, beans, bananas and seafood. For individuals with a >>magnesium deficiency, however, eating a well-balanced diet isn't >>sufficient. >> >>Taking a nutritional supplement containing the mineral may be most >>beneficial. In recommended doses of 400 to 600 milligrams daily, >>magnesium supplements are generally safe and well tolerated by >>healthy individuals, with the most common side effect being diarrhea. >> >>In addition to magnesium, vitamin B2 and an herb known as feverfew >>have long been used in the prevention and treatment of migraine >>headaches. The recommended dose of vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is >>typically 400 mg a day. >> >>In clinical trials, migraine sufferers who took feverfew extract on >>a regular basis enjoyed a significant reduction in the frequency of >>migraine attacks. When they did experience headaches, they reported >>less severe pain, nausea and vomiting. >> >>Nutritional supplements won't necessarily cure migraines, but for >>migraineurs in search of relief, they could make the condition far >>more bearable. > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
