Migraine TreaTMenT CenTers of aMeriCa CourTesy Magazinejanuary 2013

also in this issue: • CoenzymeQ10CouldBeMigraineTreatment• GamingAddictionCouldBeTriggeringMigraines• ChronicMigrainesShowntoAffectSchoolPerformance• CelebrityLifestyleMayTriggerChronicMigraines• Post-HolidayMigraineGiftGuide• Jet-lagAidMightHelpYourMigraines• DataSuggestsWorkweekMigraineTreatmentsNeeded

Drug Free Migraine resolutions For 2013

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DruGFreeMIGrAINereSoLuTIoNSFor2013

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it has been said that when we put things in writing, we are more likely to follow through on intention. since migraines respond to positive lifestyle modification, check out these 10 easy new Year’s resolutions…

1 eat nutritiously Veggies,leanproteinandwholegrainsprovideimportantnutrientslikevitaminB2,magnesiumandomega-3fattyacids.

2 Banish trigger Foodsoneatatimeandtrackyourmigraineresponse.Culpritsincludechocolate,agedcheese,processedmeatandredwine.

3 HydratePreventmigrainesfromdehydration.

4 supplementCheckwithyourdoctorbeforeaddingmineralsandvitamins.

5 relaxMindbodytechniqueslikeYoga,TaiChiandmeditationperkupbodyandsoul.

6 exerciseAddfreshairto20-30minutesofdailyde-stressingaerobicactivityforahealthandmoodbooster.

7 Do Massage therapyTreatyourselftomassagetreatmentsthatrelievemuscularandemotionaltension.

8 sleep tightGet7-9hoursofzzz’sdaily.

9 Conquer stressDevelopcopingstrategieswithbehavioraltherapy.

10 Create a supportive surroundingSupportivefriends,familyandpetsrelievestressandtension.

so, put your pen to paper or journal, and get cracking on those migraine preventing new Year’s resolutions!

Ithasbeenlinkedwithbrighteningcomplexions,aidingincardiovascularhealth,treatinggumdisease,boostingcompromisedimmunesystems,helpingParkinson’s,increasingmalefertilityandrelievingchronicmigraineurs.

Producednaturallyinthebody,CoQ10isananti-oxidantthat’sinstrumentalinhelpingtoprovidecellularenergy.Coenzymesallowenzymestospeedupnecessarybio-chemicalprocesses.SomebelieveCoQ10supplementsenhanceathleticandphysicalperformance,andevenprolonglife.

A2002studyfromtheJeffersonHeadacheCenterinPhiladelphia,PAfoundthatthefrequencyofepisodicmigrainesdecreasedatagrowingrateoverthreemonthsinresponsetoCoQ10.Alater2005studyfromtheuniversityHospitalZurichinSwitzerlandfoundthatCoQ10,comparedwithaplacebo,wasbetteratpreventingmigraineheadachesandnausea.

CoeNZYMeQ10MAYBeAMIGrAINeTreATMeNT

isn’t Coenzyme Q10, (ubiquinone, often called CoQ10), the new trendy anti-aging skin care product? aBsolutelY! this fascinating supplement may have a wide array of health benefits.

if you are considering trying CoQ10 for chronic migraines, check with your physician as you would before taking any drug. this may turn out to be the magic bullet striking your migraines, wrinkles and lagging energy all in one shot!

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are you obsessed with winning badges, reaching higher levels and beating your virtual opponents in World of Warcraft and angry Birds? unless nature…or work… calls, are you content gaming for endless hours? if you also suffer with headaches or chronic migraine, ‘gaming’ may be the trigger.

AccordingtotheuniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter,tensionheadachesmayarisefromsittinginthesamepositionandplayingvideogamesfortoolong.Muscletensionmaycauseneurotransmitterlevelstofluctuate,sendingpainsignalstothebrain.Theyalsosendpainsignalsduringmigraineattacks.Thefollowingare‘gamingheadachetriggers:’

• ear-splittingfiringweapons,vehiclescrashingandloudmusic

• Vibrating“bass”that‘rolls’throughyourbody

• Flashinglightsandimages

• Heightenedstressforlongperiods

• Bodytensionandstiffnessfromsittingwithterribleposture

• Dehydrationandpoornutritionhabitsofthegaming‘lifestyle’(saltysnackswithoutwaterbreaks)

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GAMINGADDICTIoNCouLDBeTrIGGerINGMIGrAINeS

Depressionhasalsobeenlinkedtobothaddictivebehaviorslikevideogaming,aswellaschronictensionormigraineheadaches.Aswithmostthings,moderationandself-awarenessarethekeystobalancingfunwithgoodhealth.

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CHroNICMIGrAINeSSHoWNToAFFeCTSCHooLPerForMANCe

AresearchstudyoutofBrazil,publishedrecentlyinNeurology,foundthatkidswithmigrainesweremorelikelytoperformbelowaverageinschoolcomparedwiththeirheadache-freecounterparts.Italsonotedthesekidsweremorelikelythanthosewithtensionheadachestomissadayofschoolorleavebeforetheendofaschooldaywithinasix-monthperiod.

Now there is scientific support to validate your suspicion that your child’s lagging school grades may have something to do with his/her migraines.

Treatingmigrainesinkidscanbetrickysincesomemedicationsandinterventionalmethodsmaybeinappropriate.Hereissomeassistanceyoucanprovideasaparent:

• Makesureyourchildiswellrestedbeforeheadingtoschooleachday.

• Communicatewiththeschoolnurseandteachersaboutyourchild’sconditionandmedicationrequirements,soeveryoneispreparedtohelp.

• Withyourchild,setupacalmandpredictabledailyschedule.

• educateyourchildaboutmigraineprevention,recognizingwarningsignsandself-care.

learning these coping skills now will help your kids become better learners in school and throughout life.

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it’s a migraineur’s worst nightmare: thousands of feet in the air among the clouds, and trapped in a plane when you’re slammed with the worst migraine ever! ThisisexactlywhathappenedtorapperLilWaynemid-flightfromTexastoLosAngeles.AccordingtoreportspublishedintheNew York Daily News,theprivatejetmadeanemergencylandingsohecouldbehospitalizedfordehydrationandseveremigraine.Flyinganytimesoon?Trythesestrategiestopreventmid-flightmigrainemiseryofyourown:

• Be Prepared:Makesureyouarefollowingyourregularlyprescribedpreventativetreatment.Ifyoutakeabortivemedicationorpainrelievers,besuretopacktheminyourcarry-onsothey’rewithinreachduringyourflight.

• limit stress:Planaheadtoavoidfrenziedpre-travelpacking,workcatch-upanderrands.GetplentyofZZZ’sbeforetraveling.

• Hydrate:Preventdehydrationfromairtravelbefore,duringandafterflyingwithplentyofH2o.Skipthealcoholicbeverages.

Famousrapperscanalwaysoptforluxurytourbustravel.Althoughthismaynotbepossiblefornon-famousmigraineurs,land-basedtraveloptionsabound.Whenflyingisunavoidable,theabovestrategiesmayhelppreventair-bornemigrainemisery.

CeLeBrITYLIFeSTYLeMAYTrIGGerCHroNICMIGrAINeS

PoST-HoLIDAYMIGrAINeGIFTGuIDe

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relax! this gift is for You! are you like millions of guilt-ridden people looking at piles of unwanted gifts like scratchy reindeer sweaters and hi-tech wine-bottle openers from aunt louise and best buddy Bob?

Forgettheguiltandavoidtriggeringamigrainefromstressoverit.It’stimetoexchangethoseunwantedpresentsforsomeanti-migrainetreatslikethefollowing:

Delightful Delectables• Sulfite-freewhitewine

• Giftbasketwithexoticfruit,nutsandsoothingpeppermint-gingerinfusedherbalteastoeasenauseasymptoms,andblackteaforaneededcaffeineshot

Preventative Presents• StressrelievingmeditationCDsorDVDs

• Massagetherapytreatments

• Noisecancelingheadphonestoblockoutmigraine-triggeringloudmusicornoise

soothing statements• Heat/ColdPacks–variousthemedandfuzzyversionsofthese

packscanbemicrowavedorplacedinthefreezer.Warmpackseasemuscletensionandcoldpackssoothepain.

• Aromatherapyaccessories–whilecertainsmellsmighttriggermigraines,otherslikelavendermaycalmthesenses.

remember, your loved ones want you to be happy and not anxious over useless gizmos.

JeT-LAGAIDMIGHTHeLPYourMIGrAINeS

Thoughmedicalpractitionersdon’tnormallyprescribemelatoninformigraines,thereissomeresearchsuggestingitmayhelp.Melatonin,ahormonesecretedbythepinealglandinthebrain,playsaroleinthefunctionourcircadianrhythms(orinternalclocks)thatregulateoursleepingcycles.

A2004studypublishedinNeurology,fromtheHospitalIsraelitaAlberteinsteininBrazil,foundthatdailymelatoninbeforebedtimehelpedreducethenumberandseverityofmigrainesintwothirdsofthesubjectstested.

Melatoninmayalsohelpwithmigrainetreatmentinindividualstakingbeta-blockers,whichoftencauseinterruptedsleep.TheNationalInstitutesofHealthMedlinePlusreportsthatarecentstudy,outofBrighamandWomen’sHospitalinBoston,foundmelatoninmighthelpindividualstakingbeta-blockersimprovethequalityoftheirsleep.Thesedrugs,oftenprescribedformigraines,canalsoleadtoinsomniaorfragmentedsleep.

Frequent international multi-time zone travelers swear by it, to help return to work in their own time zone. People who struggle with insomnia turn to it for relief.

A physician should be consulted before trying melatonin as some people may experience adverse side effects, and it can interfere with other medications.

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DATASuGGeSTSWorkWeekMIGrAINeTreATMeNTSNeeDeD

scientists from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school in Boston conducted a study indicating that migraines and headaches increase during the workweek, peak on tuesdays and taper off by Fridays.

Touncoverthistrend,theytracked5yearsofGooglesearchesandTwitterpoststhatincludedthewords‘headache’and‘migraine.’

Can’tquityourjobandmovetoamountaintop?Atleastyoucanbepreparedbytailoringyourmigraine-fightingstrategiesthroughouttheweek.

schedule sleepCalmyourhomeaboutonehourbeforeheadingtobed.Banmediafromyourbedroom.

lunch smartAvoidmigraine-triggeringfoodslikenitrate-loadedcoldcutsandagedcheese.optforunprocessedleansandwichmeatandfreshveggies.Skipcandybarsandreachforfreshfruit.

Cut CoffeeAnticipateafternoonenergydropswithhealthysnackslikealmonds,driedfruit,juiceandwater.

Ifyoucandoit,takeadvantageofyourlunchhourtodosomequickexercise.Itwillhelptotakeabreakfromwork-relatedstress,wakeyouupfortheafternoonstretch,andreducesomeofthosecravingsformigraine-producingfoods.

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