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Causes Of Migraine

Below are some underlying Causes responsible for Migraine
  1. Genetic causes - Successors may get affected due to genetic disorders .
  2. Medications like birth control pills, vasodilators etc.
  3. Fatigue or exaggerated stress may lead to Migraine
  4. Excess intake of Alcohol


Migraine affects and rise stage by stage in one's body.

Migraine headache is caused by physical or mental stress, sun, unhealthy eating habit, chocolate, milk products etc. Migraine headache is usually known as psychosomatic syndrome. Studies have proved that chemical imbalance in the blood carrying nerves on the surface of the one's brain. Migraine headache generally occurs in half of one's head. It begins with a warning of some form. Which may lead to certain issues related to vision like blurred visibility. The intensity of the pain gradually and intensively increases. This makes one uncomfortable to be in a in a room having more intense light. It ends up with feeling exhausted after vomiting and nausea. A long sleep of 12-14 hours is advisable for such patients.


Also typical perfumes and certain odors and subject to change of weather too, in most of the cases humidity and change in air pressure may increase the possibility of its occurrence in the victim's body.

Migraine

A migraine is a severe, excruciating bore that is time and again preceded or accompanied by intellectual cautionary signs such as flashes of light, sighted spots, tingling in the arms and legs, repugnance, vomiting, and increased thoughtfulness to light and hard. The excruciating pain that migraines be the cause of can last for hours or even days.

Migraine triggers:
Whatever the literal process of the headaches, a quantity of stuff may cause them. Common migraine triggers bring in:
1. Hormonal variations in women: Fluctuations in estrogen seem to generate headaches in many manhood with known migraines. Women with a present of migraines a lot loud noise headaches immediately before or during their periods, when they have a major drop in estrogen. Others have an increased drift to obtain migraines during or importmenopause. Hormonal medications — such as oral contraceptives and hormone replacement help — also may get worse migraines, however some womankind find it's beneficial to take them.
  1. Foods: Some migraines show to be triggered by convinced foods. Common offenders take account ofAntonym alcohol, in particular beer and red wine; aged cheeses; chocolate; aspartame; overplay of caffeine; monosodium glutamate — a key ingredient in some Asian foods; brackish foods; and processed foods. Skipping meals or fasting also can halt migraines.
  2. Stress: Stress at work or home can bring about migraines.
  3. Sensory stimuli: Bright lights and sun stare can produce migraines, as can loud sounds. Unusual smells — including friendly scents, such as fragrance, and foul odors, such as smear thinner and hand-me-downAntonym be on fire, can also activate migraines.
  4. Changes in wake-sleep decoration: Either absent sleep or getting too much sleep may function as a prompt for migraine attacks in some individuals, as can jet lag.
  5. Physical factors: Intense physical exertion, including sexual hobby, may bait migraines.
  6. Changes in the environs: A alteration of weather or air pressure can prompt a migraine.
  7. Medications: Certain medications can aggravate migraines.
Symptoms of migraine:
Symptoms of migraine can come to mind a while before the annoyance, immediately before the problem, during the pain, and after the nuisance. Although not all migraines are the same, typical symptoms omit:
Moderate to severe pain, usually enclosed to one side of the head, but switching in continuous migraines
  • Pulsing and pulse head pain
  • Increasing pain during physical pastime
  • Inability to perform routine events due to pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Migrane Pain & symptoms

migraine headache is mostly described by the case as a forceful pounding pain involving one temple. In some instances, the pain is bring into being in the forehead, nearby one eye, or in the back of the ego's head. Normally the pain is said to be joint, meaning it affects only one side of the head, although it can affect both sides in round a third of the cases. It's unusual for these headaches to change sidesbasic striking one side, and then on the next attack, affecting the further side. Some common symptoms of migraines add in vomitingunsettled stomachdiarrhea, cold hands and feet, mudpack whiteness, and a thoughtfulness to unassailable and light.

What is a Migraine Headache?

migraine is a persistent, throbbing headache typically affecting one side of the head. It can last from anywhere between 4 and 72 hours. Migraines are thought to be caused by a precipitous splayed of the genealogy vessels that provision the brain, which in turn irritates the stress surrounding these lifeblood vessels.


Migraine Headache Symptoms

Migraine headaches can be accompanied by symptoms that have a weighty control on diurnal life. As well as the headache, relatives may also experience symptoms such as motion sicknessvomiting and imagistic disturbances. Occasionally, symptoms can be more rigorous - including one-sided paralysisexertion in speaking, commotion, or fainting. (See Migraine Headache Symptoms)

Migraine Headache Causes:

The faithful causes of migraine headaches are not completely unspoken, but you may find that undeniable triggers can start or worsen a migraine. Avoiding these migraine triggers can become an effective revenue of reducing the digit of attacks.

Relief for migraines

Migraine sufferers may be able to get sufficient relief without turning to prescription drugs, according to two new studies.

The studies, published in the latest issue of the journal Headache, conclude that naproxen (marketed as Aleve) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) effectively decreased or eliminated pain and reduced migraine recurrence and migraine-associated symptoms to a degree defined as a "desirable outcome" of migraine therapy by the International Headache Society.

Migraine headache affects as many as 28 million Americans and costs the U.S. economy an estimated $24 billion every year.

About three-quarters of people who suffer from migraines report more than one migraine a month. The symptoms -- pain, light and noise sensitivity, nausea -- can last from 4 to 72 hours and often lead to missed days from school or work.

Researchers from Thailand analyzed four well-designed previous studies of naproxen at doses of 500 to 825 milligrams for treatment of acute moderate to severe migraines involving 2,168 patients.

Led by Chuthamanee Suthisisand of Mahidol University in Bangkok, the authors concluded that naproxen effectively reduced headache intensity, pain and symptoms within 2 hours of taking it - defined by the International Headache Society as a desirable outcome.

When compared to other drugs known as triptans, naproxen did as well as the prescription drug frovatriptan (marketed as Frova) but did not offer the same clinical benefits as almotriptan (marketed as Axert) and zolmitriptan (marketed as Zomig).

However, because of side effects, not all patients can take triptans, and naproxen offers those patients a non-prescription alternative, Suthisisand told Reuters Health by email.

Still, the authors found that naproxen "appears to be inferior" to aspirin in treating migraines. Suthisisand said the science suggests 1,000 milligrams of aspirin is the best of several treatments that include naproxen and acetaminophen for acute moderate to severe migraine episodes, as long as patients can tolerate potential gastrointestinal side effects.

Although the Thai team acknowledged that the quality of studies such as theirs depends on the quality of the original studies, they said they were confident the studies they reviewed were high-quality.

In the second study, researchers from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the makers of Tylenol, randomly assigned 378 migraine sufferers to either 1000 milligrams of Tylenol or a dummy pill.

In the 90-day trial, the researchers, led by Mary Jane Prior, found that the Tylenol group began to benefit within an hour of taking the medication. At 2 hours, 52 percent of the acetaminophen group reported that their pain was reduced to mild or no pain, compared to 32 percent of the dummy pill group.

The team also reported a benefit for severe pain sufferers, but they could not determine whether that was due to chance, given the small number of patients in the trial.

The study also found that acetaminophen offered "significantly larger" relief than placebo from nausea and noise sensitivity at 2 hours and nausea, light and noise sensitivity and functional impairment at 6 hours.

The study, the authors concluded, adds to earlier clinical evidence supporting acetaminophen's use to treat migraine.

"When effective," the authors wrote, "acetaminophen provides consumers with a non-prescriptive, lower cost alternative to costly prescription migraine drugs."

Acetaminophen is not currently approved by the FDA as a migraine treatment except as part of an aspirin or aspirin and caffeine compound. McNeil Consumer Healthcare declined to say whether they were applying to the FDA for approval of acetaminophen for use in migraine.

More migraines, less breast cancer?

Studies published in 2008 and 2009 found that women who have been treated for migraines have a 26% to 33% lower risk of breast cancer than other women.

To combat the pain, many migraine sufferers take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which also may reduce breast cancer risk. So researchers conducted a new study, published online in January in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, to determine whether migraines alone have an effect on breast cancer risk. They found that migraine sufferers were 11% less likely to develop breast cancer overall and 17% less likely to develop a hormone-sensitive breast cancer, whether or not they take NSAIDs.

The connection makes sense, researchers say, because the hormone estrogen plays a role in most breast cancers, as well as in many migraines. For example, 60% of women with migraines report having more headaches around the time of menstruation, when estrogen levels change. Many pregnant women also report fewer migraines once their estrogen levels stabilize mid-pregnancy, as do post-menopausal women.

How to deal with headaches

Sometimes, it really baffles you. The fact that your head hurts, that is. Because there seems to be no reason why. Yes, you did have a headache last week, but that was because you were out in the sun all day. Then there was the headache that accompanied a cold. And, the day you were so involved in your work that you didn’t step away from your computer for even one second…naturally, by the end of the day, your head hurt.

But this throbbing pain that just won’t go away. What’s this about? “There are three main causes of the primary headaches that people usually experience,” says Doctors. “Primary headaches are not caused by medical conditions, such as a fall or a disease, but are a result of environmental factors.”

Repeated episodes of headaches can be debilitating however, so it’s essential to know what is causing the pain and the correct treatment for it. One way to find out, says Doctors, is to keep a headache journal. “Pen down how it started and try and see a pattern. You will be able to know what kind of headache you have. It is also effective to know what are you allergic to in case you have migraines.”

Here are the three types of primary headaches, and how to deal with them.

Migraines

A migraine is a type of headache that is commonly triggered by food or sleep or stress or all three. Says Dr Praveen Gupta, consultant neurologist, Artemis Healthcare, Gurgaon, “Seventy-five per cent of the times that you get a common headache, it is migraine. People are unable to detect it and label it as gas-related or exertion-created or another kind of headache. If you miss a meal, lose sleep, or have been travelling, you might trigger a migraine.” Migraine headaches can also be triggered by an allergy. “If you’re sensitive to alcohol, or if you give up smoking in an on-and-off manner, or if you’re taking certain medication, you may get an attack,” says Dr Gupta. “Tea, coffee, ice-cream, cheese, wine and, sometimes, perfume are the common triggers.”

Many other things can trigger a migraine. Extremes of weather, noise, confusion, negative thinking and depression can all precipitate a migraine.

Symptoms: Throbbing and pulsating pain on one or both sides of the head. You might mistake it for gas because your stomach can feel bloated and the headache might be accompanied by nausea. While you have the headache, you might feel sensitive to light and sound. The pain can continue for anything between six hours and three days, and it can get worse with physical activity, says Hakim Mohammad Tariq of the board of physicians at Hamdard (Wakf) Laboratories.

The above are the symptoms of the common migraine headache that affects 75 per cent of us, more women than men. Another kind of migraine is called the classic migraine. This affects 15 per cent of us. “You might get a jarring headache that lasts up to two hours. It might start with flashes of lights and visions, and your field of vision (ability to see sideways) gets restricted. This will be followed by the headache,” says Dr Reddi. A migraine pain can also go to the neck.

Remedy: To prevent a migraine, make sure your life follows a regular pattern. Have your meals on time, sleep on time and avoid extreme temperatures (carry a sunshade if you’re going out during the day), advises Dr Gupta.

Meditation and yoga are also known to help keep a migraine headache away, he adds. If you still have migraine attacks in spite of this (because migraines are also genetic), or if you have more than three headaches a month, then you must visit a specialist to take preventive medicines.

In case of a migraine attack, keep an analgesic like dispirin or crocin handy. Doctors advise that it is best to take the medication as soon as the headache begins. Switch off lights, reduce noise levels and try and sleep. If you are not allergic to tea or coffee, have a cup of either. It helps. “If you take the analgesic an hour after the headache starts, it won’t help,” says Dr Gupta. If the pain gets too much, go to a doctor for an injection. But analgesics are not a long-term solution. Once you know for certain that you have migraines, go to a doctor for proper treatment.

Tension headaches

These stem from muscle contractions in the face, neck and scalp because of tension or stress. Says Hakim Mohammad Tariq, “Muscle tension headache is a condition that occurs due to tightness and inflammation of head and neck muscles. Major causes include fatigue, eye strain, stress, anxiety and depression.” Dr Praveen Gupta says that mental or physical exertions trigger this headache.

Symptoms: A dull headache with a feeling of pressure in the back of the head and tightness around the brain. If you feel relieved when the area is pressed, then you have this kind of headache. Symptoms of migraine, such as nausea and vomiting, are absent.

Remedy: Relax your muscles. Apply heat or ice, whichever you prefer, to ease the tension. Use a warm compress, a hot towel or a hot bath or shower. If cold is your choice, wrap your ice pack in cloth before using it. A massage may help to relieve muscle tension, and it may also provide relief from the headache. Gently massage the muscles of your head, neck and shoulders with your fingertips. Analgesics are effective against episodic tension type headaches.


Chronic daily headache

This is precipitated by stress, too much thinking or confusion, says Dr Praveen Gupta. Type A personality people who get worked up easily are generally prone to this type of headache, says Dr Rajashekahar Reddi.

Symptoms: A dull, aching pain that continues through the day, every day. It feels like a tight band around the head. While it doesn’t get worse, it is persistent.

Remedy: Doctors say that if you’re caught in a stressful situation, step back and allow your emotions to settle. Relaxation techniques are useful in coping with this kind of headache, including deep breathing, yoga and meditation. If anxiety or depression is an issue, visit a specialist. Doctors may prescribe antidepressants to prevent tension headaches and chronic daily headaches.

Migraine inspired art

Some historians believe Vincent Van Gogh (self portrait, left) had visual auras, accounting for some of the artistic techniques evident in his work. Migraine-related hallucinations may have inspired the surreal, imaginary world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Claude Monet (self-portrait, right) was a painter whose works were thought to have been inspired by the bright colours he saw when he was having migraines. His paintings were full of light and are most sought after by art collectors.



For more.....

Chronic migraineurs more likely to be sick


A new research has shown that chronic migraine sufferers tend to be in poorer general health, less well off, and more depressed than those with episodic migraine.
The results are based on the study of almost 12,000 adults with episodic - a severe headache on up to 14 days of the month - or chronic migraine - headache on 15 or more days of the month.
All participants were already part of the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) study, a long term US population based study of 24,000 headache sufferers, which has included regular surveys since 2004. The researchers analysed data collected in the 2005 survey on socioeconomic circumstances and other health problems.
They found that those with chronic migraine had significantly lower levels of household income, were less likely to be working full time, and were almost twice as likely to have a job related disability, than their peers with episodic migraine.
They were twice as likely to be depressed, anxious, and experiencing chronic pain. And they were significantly more likely to have other serious health problems.
These included asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity. They were also around 40 percent more likely to have heart disease and angina and 70 percent more likely to have had a stroke.
The research point out that chronic migraine “can be an especially disabling and burdensome condition.” The study has been published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

A magnetic device that head off migraine pain in two hrs


In a ray of hope for millions of migraine patients for whom available drugs are of no help, American scientists have claimed to have developed a magnetic 'pain-zapper' that can relieve a sufferer of headache within two hours.
The device, of the size and weight of a hair-dryer, is based on a technique called single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (sTMS) in which electrical currents produced by powerful magnets are used to stimulate brain cells.
At the first sign of a migraine, the device is held against the back of the head and switched on. It gives out two fleeting bursts of electricity which short-circuit the 'electrical storm' in the brain that causes the splitting pain, flashing lights and blurred vision associated with migraine.
The device, developed by Californian firm Neuralieve, has been tested on around 160 migraine patients -- both male and female, the Daily Mail reported.

As part of the study, half of the patients were given the gadget and half a dummy device that looked almost identical, to take home. They were told to treat up to three attacks at the first sign of symptoms and to record how they got on.
Almost 40 per cent of those who used the device were free of pain two hours later compared with 22 per cent in the other group.
Those who used the gadget were also more likely to be pain-free 24 and 48 hours later, according to a report in the journal Lancet Neurology.
According to the researchers, the electrical pulses produced by the gadget calm the over-excited brain cells responsible for migraines.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Now--a-magnetic-device-that-head-off-migraine-pain-in-two-hrs/586808

Yoga for Migraine : Basic Yoga ( Session I )

Kapalabhati
Kapalabhati is a Breathing Technique used specifically for cleansing. If you have a lot of mucus in the air passages or feel tension and blockages in the chest it is often helpful to breathe quickly. This article will introduce you to this breathing techniques and show you its its benefits.

Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

The Mountain Yoga Pose promotes the experience of stillness, strength, relaxed power, and immovable stability associated with mountains. This yoga posture, and coming back to this stillness after other poses, is one of the ways of becoming acquainted with stillness.

Hands to Feet (Pada Hastasana)

The Hands to Feet Pose or Pada Hastasana gives many of the same benefits as the Forward Bend - trimming the waist, restoring elasticity to the spine, and stretching the ligaments of the legs, especially the hamstrings. Learn how to do the Hands to Feet Pose in this section.

Crescent Moon Pose

The Crescent Moon Pose stretches and strengthens the arms and legs, increases stamina, improves balance and concentration, and can also relieve backaches. If you are suffering from diarrhea, high blood pressure or neck problems, you should take extra caution practicing this pose.

Stand Spread Leg Forward Fold

Practicing the Standing Spread Leg Forward Fold can strengthen and stretch your inner and back legs and your spine. People with lower back problems should avoid doing the full forward bend. For beginners, you may use props like a folding chair to support your forearms.

Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)

In Hindu art, the triangle is a potent symbol for the divine principle, and it is frequently found in the yantras and mandalas used for meditation. The Trikonasana or Triangle Pose concludes the Yoga Postures in our basic session.

Standing Side Stretch Pose
The Standing Side Stretch is another Yoga Pose with two lines of energy radiating outward from your center. This is a simple Yoga Posture with a wonderful stretch in which one line of energy reaches upward from your belly and outward through the arm, and one line travels downward through the legs.

Tree Pose (Tadasana)
The Tree Pose helps strengthen your thighs, calves, ankles and back. It can also increase the flexibility of your hips and groin. Your balance and concentration can also be improved with constant practice. This Yoga Pose is recommended for people who have sciatica and flat feet.

Lotus Yoga Pose (Padmasana)

The Lotus Yoga Pose is usually done in Meditation. It is a classic seated posture which strengthens your ankles and knees, enhances concentration, and improves flexibility of your legs. Know how to perform the Lotus Pose in this section.

Single Leg Raises

This Yoga Pose is performed in order to prepare the body for other exercises. It benefits the legs, lower back muscles, and abdominal area. In practicing the Single Leg Raise, one leg is raised while the other one stays on the floor.

Double Leg Raises

A Double Leg Raise is similar to a Single Leg Raise, only this time, you will raise both legs. In doing this Yoga Pose, make sure that the full length of your back is resting on the floor and your shoulders and neck are relaxed. This section covers the steps and guidelines on how to do this pose properly.

Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)

This Yoga Pose improves spinal flexibility and strengthens the muscles in the arms and back. In addition, it is effective in relieving menstrual irregularities and constipation. Learn how to perform the Cobra Pose in this section.

Child Pose

The Child Pose is a gentle way of stretching your shoulders, hips, thighs, ankles, and back muscles. It is a relaxation posture which is done to normalize the ciruclation after performing the Headstand and to serve as counterpose after Backbends.

Leg Reclining Lunge (Single and Double)

The Leg Reclining Lunge is part of the series of Yoga Exercises which target the leg muscles. When done properly, this Yoga Pose can strengthen and tone all muscles in your legs. Learn how to perform the Single and Double Leg Reclining Lunge.

Seated Forward Bend (Paschimothanasana)

Relax your body and mind, stretch your hamstrings, shoulders, and spine, relieve stress, and improve your posture and concentration by practicing the Seated Forward Bend. Learn how to do this properly and achieve maximum results.

Sage Twist Yoga Pose (Marichyasana)

Also called Marichi's Yoga Pose, the Sage Twist Pose benefits the abdominal organs and spine. Avoid doing this pose if you have chronic spine or back injury. Also, perform this only under the supervision of a Yoga instructor. Learn how to do the Sage Twist in this section.

Wind Relieving Pose (Pavanamuktasana)

The term Pavanamuktasana comes from the Sanskrit word 'pavana' which means air or wind and 'mukta' which means freedom or release. The Wind Relieving Pose works mainly on the digestive system. specifically, it helps in eliminating excess gas in the stomach.

Yoga Exercise - Final Corpse

For you to appreciate the benefits of relaxation, you should first be familiar on how it is to be tense. This is what happens when you do the Final Corpse. Everything related to that position including suggestions on how to do it is discussed in further detail in this article.

Relaxation Pose

There are three parts to proper relaxation - physical, mental and spiritual relaxation. Relaxation Yoga Pose relaxes your body and mind, and makes you feel refreshed after doing the asanas and the pranayamas.This is why it is an essential part of Yoga practice.

Anuloma Viloma

Anuloma Viloma is also called the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. In this Breathing Technique, you inhale through one nostril, retain the breath, and exhale through the other nostril. Learn how to do this technique for beginners by following the steps found in this article.

Simple Meditation Technique

This Meditation process is good to induce relaxation response and promotes a peaceful and relaxed mind. Meditation has also been scientifically proven to have health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and aiding the asthmatics in their breathing.

Yoga for Migraine : Basic Yoga ( Session II )

Kapalabhati

Kapalabhati is a Breathing Technique used specifically for cleansing. If you have a lot of mucus in the air passages or feel tension and blockages in the chest it is often helpful to breathe quickly. This article will introduce you to this breathing techniques and show you its its benefits.

Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

The Mountain Yoga Pose promotes the experience of stillness, strength, relaxed power, and immovable stability associated with mountains. This yoga posture, and coming back to this stillness after other poses, is one of the ways of becoming acquainted with stillness.

Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)

The Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar is a Yoga Pose which limbers up the whole body in preparation for the Yoga Asanas. It is a graceful sequence of twelve Yoga positions performed as one continuous exercise. Learn how to practice Sun Salutation in this section.

Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)

In Hindu art, the triangle is a potent symbol for the divine principle, and it is frequently found in the yantras and mandalas used for meditation. The Trikonasana or Triangle Pose concludes the Yoga Postures in our basic session.

Stand Spread Leg Forward Fold

Practicing the Standing Spread Leg Forward Fold can strengthen and stretch your inner and back legs and your spine. People with lower back problems should avoid doing the full forward bend. For beginners, you may use props like a folding chair to support your forearms.

Crescent Moon Pose


The Crescent Moon Pose stretches and strengthens the arms and legs, increases stamina, improves balance and concentration, and can also relieve backaches. If you are suffering from diarrhea, high blood pressure or neck problems, you should take extra caution practicing this pose.

Lotus Yoga Pose (Padmasana)

The Lotus Yoga Pose is usually done in Meditation. It is a classic seated posture which strengthens your ankles and knees, enhances concentration, and improves flexibility of your legs. Know how to perform the Lotus Pose in this section.

Boat Posture

Perform the Boat Pose to strengthen your abdominal area and hip flexor, tone muscles in the midsection, improve digestion, and relieve stress. You can use a Yoga Strap to aid you in holding the pose longer or if you cannot keep your legs straight.

Fish Pose (Matsyasana)

Doing the Fish Pose relieves stiffness of the neck and shoulder muscles and improves flexibility of your spine. It is the counter-pose of the Shoulderstand. Hold the Fish Pose for at least half the amount of time you spent in the Shoulderstand in order to balance the stretch.

Locust Pose (Salabhasana)

If the Cobra Pose works mainly on the upper back, the Locust Pose targets the lower part. This posture also strengthens the abdominal area, arms, and legs. Another thing that makes it different from many poses is that it entails rapid movement. Check out how it is done in this section.

Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)

In the Shoulder Stand, your body is resting on your shoulders. This Yoga Pose improves circulation, strengthens the abdominal area, and stimulates the thyroid gland. In this section, learn how the Shoulder Stand is performed.

The Bow

The Bow maintains elasticity of spine, improves posture, increase vitality, reduces abdominal fats, and keeps the digestive and reproductive system healthy. This posture combines the movements of the Cobra and Locust, and counters the Plough and the Forward Bend once you raise both halves of the body.

Cat Pose (Bidalasana)

The Cat Yoga Pose teaches you to initiate movement from your center and to coordinate your movement and breath. These are two of the most important themes in Yoga practice. Keep in mind that the Cat Pose may not be advisable if you have any chronic or recent back pain or injury.

Half Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)

If done properly, the Half Spinal Twist lengthens and strengthens the spine. It is also beneficial for your liver, kidneys, as well as adrenal glands. Practice this Yoga Pose under the supervision of a Yoga instructor. In this section, learn how to perform the Half Spinal Twist.

Wind Relieving Pose (Pavanamuktasana)

The term Pavanamuktasana comes from the Sanskrit word 'pavana' which means air or wind and 'mukta' which means freedom or release. The Wind Relieving Pose works mainly on the digestive system. specifically, it helps in eliminating excess gas in the stomach.

Relaxation Pose

This is an essential part of Yoga Practice. It relaxes your body and mind, and makes you feel refreshed after doing the asanas and the pranayamas. In this section, learn how to relax your body and mind through this Yoga Pose.

Yoga Exercise - Final Corpse

For you to appreciate the benefits of relaxation, you should first be familiar on how it is to be tense. This is what happens when you do the Final Corpse. Everything related to that position including suggestions on how to do it is discussed in further detail in this article.

Eye Migraines

They're commonly called eye migraines, but they're actually a group of different types of migraine.  Often these migraines are called ocular migraines [or occular], ophthalmic migraines, silent migraine, acephalgic migraine, and even ophthalmoplegic 'migraines'.  Confused?  With good reason!  Most of these terms are out dated, and sometimes defined in very different ways!

Eye migraines – silent migraine:

If this is you, you may be getting strange visual disturbances, usually lasting less than an hour, but no headache.  You likely have a type of migraine, which needs to be treated in basically the same way as any other type of migraine.  However, you do need to make sure you see a good doctor so that she can rule out other problems that can do permanent damage.  Normally today silent migraine is referred to as migraine aura without headache.


Eye migraines – Ocular migraines:

 The term ocular migraine (sometimes spelled occular migriane) is another one that is no longer generally used.  Most often in the past it has referred to retinal migraine, a rare type of migraine that has severe visual disturbances or blindness in one eye during an attack.  Sometimes the term has also been used to describe other types of migraine that have visual auras, such as the much more common migraine with aura.

If you are diagnosed with ocular migraine, it would be helpful to ask your doctor for a more specific diagnosis from the International Headache Society's classifications.  The other important thing is to rule out other eye problems, which could be quite serious.


Eye migraines - Ophthalmic migraine:

These have been called a rare type of migraine, though researchers now believe it's not technically a migraine at all. The headache is usually severe, and is accompanied by weakness in one or more of the eye muscles. Because of the decreased eye movement, you may experience temporary (less than 2 hours) double vision, drooping eyelid, or dilated pupil. Most often this problem is diagnosed in children.

It is very important to have a thorough examination if you suspect you may have ophthalmoplegic migraine. Dr. Seymour Diamond writes in Conquering Your Migraine,"Double vision and muscle weakness may be caused by an aneurysm or it may have another organic origin...the individual should undergo a thorough examination and appropriate testing to rule out conditions other than ophthalmoplegic migraine." 

Eye migraines - Basilar migraines

 Basilar migraines are not strictly just “eye migraines”, but the eye symptoms are often quite obvious and severe. These symptoms include a visual aura but also eye twitching, a graying out visually or even temporary partial blindness, vertigo, dizziness and more. This type of migraine is rare, but has some concerns of its own, so we have another article with all the details. Read here about basilar migraines and the unique problems that come with them.

If you suffer eye migraines, your doctor may recommend to you some of the common migraine treatments mentioned on this site, so take a look around, and all the best with your fight against migraine and headache!

Sore eyes??
If you're dealing with sore eyes, or pain around your eyes when you have a headache, consider getting an eye pillow.  Eye pillows are also useful to block out the light.

 

Migraine ‘doubles heart attack risk’

Migraine sufferers are more likely to have heart attacks, a new study claims.

The study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has been published in the February 10 online issue of Neurology.

The study also found that migraine sufferers face increased risk for stroke and were more likely to have key risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

"Migraine has been viewed as a painful condition that affects quality of life, but not as a threat to people''s overall health," said lead investigator Richard B. Lipton, M.D., senior author of the study and professor and vice chair in The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology at Einstein. He also directs the Headache Center at Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and Academic Medical Center for Einstein.

Dr. Lipton added, "Our study suggests that migraine is not an isolated disorder and that, when caring for people with migraine, we should also be attentive to detecting and treating their cardiovascular risk factors."

There are two major forms, migraine without aura and migraine with aura. Both forms involve pulsing or throbbing pain, pain on one side of the head, nausea or g, or sensitivity to light or sound. Migraine with aura has additional neurological symptoms including flashing lights, zig-zag lines, or a graying out of vision. Migraine is most common between the ages of 25 and 55; women are affected three times more frequently than men.

In the study, the researchers analyzed data on 6,102 people with migraine and 5,243 people without migraine.

How does excess body fat impact health

verweight and obesity lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance. Some confusion of the consequences of obesity arise because researchers have used different BMI cut-offs, and because the presence of many medical conditions involved in the development of obesity may confuse the effects of obesity itself.
The non-fatal, but debilitating health problems associated with obesity include respiratory difficulties, chronic musculoskeletal problems, skin problems and infertility. The more life-threatening problems fall into four main areas: CVD problems; conditions associated with insulin resistance such as type 2 diabetes; certain types of cancers, especially the hormonally related and large-bowel cancers; and gallbladder disease.
The likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes and hypertension rises steeply with increasing body fatness. Confined to older adults for most of the 20th century, this disease now affects obese children even before puberty. Approximately 85% of people with diabetes are type 2, and of these, 90% are obese or overweight. And this is increasingly becoming a developing world problem. In 1995, the Emerging Market Economies had the highest number of diabetics. If current trends continue, India and the Middle Eastern crescent will have taken over by 2025.Large increases would also be observed in China, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the rest of Asia.
Raised BMI also increases the risks of cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, endometroium, kidney and gallbladder. Chronic overweight and obesity contribute significantly to osteoarthritis, a major cause of disability in adults. Although obesity should be considered a disease in its own right, it is also one of the key risk factors for other chronic diseases together with smoking, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. In the analyses carried out for World Health Report 2002, approximately 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischaemic heart disease and 8-42% of certain cancers globally were attributable to a BMI above 21 kg/m2.

Overweight in Children and Adolescents

THE PROBLEM OF OVERWEIGHT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

    * In 1999, 13% of children aged 6 to 11 years and 14% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years in the United States were overweight. This prevalence has nearly tripled for adolescents in the past 2 decades.
    * Risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, occur with increased frequency in overweight children and adolescents compared to children with a healthy weight.
    * Type 2 diabetes, previously considered an adult disease, has increased dramatically in children and adolescents. Overweight and obesity are closely linked to type 2 diabetes.
    * Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80% if one or more parent is overweight or obese. Overweight or obese adults are at risk for a number of health problems including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer.
    * The most immediate consequence of overweight as perceived by the children themselves is social discrimination. This is associated with poor self-esteem and depression.

THE CAUSES OF OVERWEIGHT

    * Overweight in children and adolescents is generally caused by lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of the two, with genetics and lifestyle both playing important roles in determining a child's weight.
    * Our society has become very sedentary. Television, computer and video games contribute to children's inactive lifestyles.
    * 43% of adolescents watch more than 2 hours of television each day.
    * Children, especially girls, become less active as they move through adolescence.

DETERMINATION OF OVERWEIGHT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

    * Doctors and other health care professionals are the best people to determine whether your child or adolescent's weight is healthy, and they can help rule out rare medical problems as the cause of unhealthy weight.
    * A Body Mass Index (BMI) can be calculated from measurements of height and weight. Health professionals often use a BMI "growth chart" to help them assess whether a child or adolescent is overweight.
    * A physician will also consider your child or adolescent's age and growth patterns to determine whether his or her weight is healthy.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS

    * Let your child know he or she is loved and appreciated whatever his or her weight. An overweight child probably knows better than anyone else that he or she has a weight problem. Overweight children need support, acceptance, and encouragement from their parents.
    * Focus on your child's health and positive qualities, not your child's weight.
    * Try not to make your child feel different if he or she is overweight but focus on gradually changing your family's physical activity and eating habits.
    * Be a good role model for your child. If your child sees you enjoying healthy foods and physical activity, he or she is more likely to do the same now and for the rest of his or her life.
    * Realize that an appropriate goal for many overweight children is to maintain their current weight while growing normally in height.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS

    * Be physically active. It is recommended that Americans accumulate at least 30 minutes (adults) or 60 minutes (children) of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Even greater amounts of physical activity may be necessary for the prevention of weight gain, for weight loss, or for sustaining weight loss.
    * Plan family activities that provide everyone with exercise and enjoyment.
    * Provide a safe environment for your children and their friends to play actively; encourage swimming, biking, skating, ball sports, and other fun activities.
    * Reduce the amount of time you and your family spend in sedentary activities, such as watching TV or playing video games. Limit TV time to less than 2 hours a day.

HEALTHY EATING SUGGESTIONS

    * Follow the Dietary Guidelines for healthy eating (www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines).
    * Guide your family's choices rather than dictate foods.
    * Encourage your child to eat when hungry and to eat slowly.
    * Eat meals together as a family as often as possible.
    * Carefully cut down on the amount of fat and calories in your family's diet.
    * Don't place your child on a restrictive diet.
    * Avoid the use of food as a reward.
    * Avoid withholding food as punishment.
    * Children should be encouraged to drink water and to limit intake of beverages with added sugars, such as soft drinks, fruit juice drinks, and sports drinks.
    * Plan for healthy snacks.
    * Stock the refrigerator with fat-free or low-fat milk, fresh fruit, and vegetables instead of soft drinks or snacks that are high in fat, calories, or added sugars and low in essential nutrients.
    * Aim to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
    * Discourage eating meals or snacks while watching TV.
    * Eating a healthy breakfast is a good way to start the day and may be important in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

IF YOUR CHILD IS OVERWEIGHT

    * Many overweight children who are still growing will not need to lose weight, but can reduce their rate of weight gain so that they can "grow into" their weight.
    * Your child's diet should be safe and nutritious. It should include all of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins, minerals, and protein and contain the foods from the major Food Guide Pyramid groups. Any weight-loss diet should be low in calories (energy) only, not in essential nutrients.
    * Even with extremely overweight children, weight loss should be gradual.
    * Crash diets and diet pills can compromise growth and are not recommended by many health care professionals.
    * Weight lost during a diet is frequently regained unless children are motivated to change their eating habits and activity levels for a lifetime.
    * Weight control must be considered a lifelong effort.
    * Any weight management program for children should be supervised by a physician.

Migraine Headache

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.

Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called "fight or flight" response, and this activation causes many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks; for example, the increased sympathetic nervous activity in the intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

    * Sympathetic activity also delays emptying of the stomach into the small intestine and thereby prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed.

    * The impaired absorption of oral medications is a common reason for the ineffectiveness of medications taken to treat migraine headaches.

    * The increased sympathetic activity also decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet.

    * The increased sympathetic activity also contributes to the sensitivity to light and sound sensitivity as well as blurred vision.

Migraine afflicts 28 million Americans, with females suffering more frequently (17%) than males (6%). Missed work and lost productivity from migraine create a significant public burden. Nevertheless, migraine still remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated. Less than half of individuals with migraine are diagnosed by their doctors.

control obesity

A new study has shown that friends also may influence how much adolescents eat.

"Consider a person who usually comes home alone after school and eats out of boredom," said Dr Sarah-Jeanne Salvy, assistant professor of pediatrics in the University at Buffalo''s Division of Behavioural Medicine and first author on the study.

"But on this day, she has a play date with a friend and socializes instead of eating. In this case, socializing is acting as a substitute for eating. Identifying substitutes provides a potential way to reduce behaviour.

"Our findings underscore the importance of considering the child''s social network in studying youth''s motivation to eat.

"Previous attempts to find substitutes for food and eating have not been very successful. To our knowledge, no research has studied whether social interactions can be a substitute for food in children," she added.

Salvy said that youth''s social network might be uniquely relevant and influential to eating behaviour and choice of activities.

"Peer rejection and ostracism are obvious costs imposed on social interactions. Even the unavailability of one''s peers or friends can limit youth''s access to social settings and situations," she said.

"As a result, children may choose to engage in eating and sedentary activities when social alternatives are unavailable," she added.

The study is published in Annals of Behavioural Medicine.

Proper way to use preventive medications

    *  Doctors familiar with the treatment of migraine headaches should prescribe preventive medications.

    * Decisions about which preventive medication to use are based on the side effects of the medication and the presence of any medical conditions.

    * Propranolol (Inderal) often is used first, provided that the individual does not have asthma, COPD, or heart disease. Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep) also is used commonly.

    * Preventive medications are begun at low doses and gradually increased to higher doses if needed. This minimizes side effects from the medications. Preventive medications are to be taken daily for months to years. When they are stopped, the dose needs to be gradually reduced rather than abruptly stopped. Abruptly stopping preventive medications can lead to headaches.

    * In some instances, more than one drug may be needed. Non-medication and behavioral therapies also may be needed.