Health Tip: Managing Your Child's Migraines

(HealthDay News) -- If your child gets migraine headaches, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent them:

• Make sure your child eats meals on a regular schedule, and never skips a meal.


• Keep your child on a regular sleep schedule.


• Make sure your child gets daily exercise, but don't overdo it.


• Figure out what triggers migraines in your child, and try to avoid those factors. Common triggers include stress, too much intense exercise, or changes in weather or altitude.


• Avoid foods that are known to trigger your child's migraines. Popular culinary causes include: cheese, processed meats, chocolate, caffeine, nuts, pickles and foods high in the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Health Tip: Pain Reliever Side Effects

(HealthDay News) -- Before you take a pain reliever for conditions such as headache, sinusitis, muscle or joint pain, make sure you know about the potential side effects.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says you should talk to your doctor about these potential risks of pain medications:

• Liver damage can occur in people who take large quantities of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol), or in those who already have liver problems.


• Gastrointestinal problems -- such as ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding or upset stomach -- can occur in people who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for long periods. NSAIDs include aspirin and ibuprofen.


• Kidney damage, if NSAIDs are used frequently for long periods.


• NSAIDs may interact with medicines that people take to combat high blood pressure.


• NSAIDs can also elevate blood pressure on their own.


• In rare cases, people can be allergic to pain medications.

Health Tip: Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

(HealthDay News) -- Chronic fatigue syndrome is an illness of unknown cause that can make a person feel excessively tired for prolonged periods.

While there is no cure, medication and lifestyle changes can help keep symptoms under control. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions:

• Keep a log of activities that trigger extreme fatigue, and try to avoid those things.
• Try to get some light exercise. But always talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever for the aches, muscle and joint pain, and headaches that can accompany the syndrome.
• Try a non-drowsy antihistamine to help with allergy-like symptoms.
• Talk to your doctor about whether an antidepressant can help you feel and sleep better.
• Join a support group.
  

Which Kind of Headache Do You Have?

By Ross Weale

Everyone suffers from headaches now and then, but it’s important to figure out what kind of head pain you’re experiencing so you can get the right treatment. Dr. Roshini Raj, a member of Health magazine’s Health Expert Network, spoke with NBC’s Amy Robach on the Today show about how to know what headache you have, and how to find relief.


Read More

Activity-Linked Heat Illness Needs Prompt Attention

(HealthDay News) -- As the mercury continues to rise, people of all ages should take precautions to ward off heat-related illness while exercising, playing or taking part in any kind of physical activity outside.

"Many cases of heat illness are preventable and can be successfully treated if such conditions are properly recognized and appropriate care is provided in a timely manner," Brendon McDermott, a certified athletic trainer with the University of Connecticut, said in a prepared statement. "We're hoping to educate athletes, coaches, parents and health care providers about what can be done to prevent and treat heat illnesses."

The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) recently issued recommendations to help guard against illness related to warm-weather activity:

• Don't start at full tilt. Gradually increasing the intensity and duration of activity helps ready your body for the heat.
• Take rest breaks. Add them to the activity and get adequate rest between bouts of exercise. Good sleeping habits also cut your risk of heat-related trouble.
• Stay hydrated. Drink water or sports drinks well before and throughout physical activity in the heat. If your urine turns a darker color -- more like apple juice than lemonade - that's a quick indicator of dehydration.
• Timing helps. When possible, exercise during the cooler portions of the day -- early morning or late evening.

Back off at signs of trouble. If you don't feel well, reduce the intensity or length of your activity, for example, walk instead of run. If you have symptoms of an illness (e.g., fever, diarrhea, extreme fatigue, etc.) don't exercise at all. These conditions can decrease your body's tolerance for heat and increase your risk of a heat illness.

Even if you think you are prepared, always listen to your body. If you start to feel ill or strange, stop immediately and seek medical attention.

Here are some heat-related ailments to watch for in yourself and others when working or playing in the warm weather:

Exertional heat stroke can result in death unless quickly recognized and properly treated. Watch for an increase in core body temperature (usually above 104 degrees F/40 degrees C); altered consciousness, seizures, confusion, emotional instability, irrational behavior or decreased mental acuity, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; headache, dizziness, or weakness; increased heart rate; decreased blood pressure or fast breathing; dehydration; and combativeness. Seek emergency medical treatment immediately; if you are waiting for medical help to arrive try immediate whole-body cooling, preferably through immersion in cold water.

Heat exhaustion is moderately serious, usually resulting from fluid or sodium loss in the heat. Loss of coordination; dizziness or fainting; profuse sweating or pale skin; headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; stomach/intestinal cramps or persistent muscle cramps are its signs. Heat exhaustion patients need to move to a cool, shaded environment, with feet elevated, and be given fluids. If their condition worsens or does not improve shortly, get them to an emergency room. Even if the patient does improve, NATA recommends having a doctor evaluate them.

Heat cramps often occur in people who perform strenuous exercise in the heat. Signs and symptoms include intense pain (not associated with pulling or straining a muscle) and persistent muscle contractions that continue during and after exercise. When heat cramps occur, stop activity immediately, eat salty food, consume a sports drink and stretch the affected muscle. If cramping getting worse or spreads, head to the emergency room.

Hyponatremia happens when a person's blood sodium levels decrease to a potentially fatal level. Over-hydration, inadequate sodium intake or both can cause it, with the result possibly being cerebral and/or pulmonary edema. Signs and symptoms include excessive fluid consumption to the point of weight gain during activity; increasing headache; nausea and vomiting; and swelling of the hands and feet. If the condition involves mental confusion and intense headache, see a doctor. A doctor should also be consulted before resuming outdoor activity in the heat.

More information

Health Tip: Don't Suddenly Stop Taking an Antidepressant

(HealthDay News) - If you want to stop taking an antidepressant, it's important to speak with your doctor first, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. The doctor may recommend weaning your body off the medication gradually.

People who stop an antidepressant too quickly may trigger a host of symptoms that doctors call antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Symptoms may include:

• Anxiety.
• Feelings of depression or sadness.
• Moodiness and irritability.
• Tiredness.
• Headaches and dizziness.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.

If an antidepressant is causing an unpleasant side effect, your doctor may opt to lower your dose or prescribe a different type of antidepressant altogether.

Poor Senior Vision Often a Window on Disease

(HealthDay News) -- Older adults need to monitor themselves for eyesight problems, which can appear gradually and worsen over time, says the American Geriatrics Society (AGS). If not properly monitored, eyesight deterioration can lead to other long-term problems.

"It's important for seniors to schedule routine eye exams every year. Changes in vision will not only hinder a person's ability to maintain their daily routine, such as driving or reading, but poor vision can also be a sign of more serious health problems," AGS member Dr. Amna Buttar said in a prepared statement.

"Most vision problems can be corrected with a simple prescription change. Regularly visiting a doctor will also help to prevent and treat common eye diseases that affect seniors, such as glaucoma and cataracts," Buttar added.

Here are some signs that could indicate the need to see an eye doctor:

• Blurry vision. If road signs are hard to see while driving or words are blurry when reading, it could mean it's time for a prescription change.
• Trouble seeing in dim lighting. This is often an early indication of vision deterioration.
• Tripping, stumbling or bumping into things more often than usual in familiar places, like at home, could be sign of poor vision. Peripheral vision declines with age, making it difficult for seniors to see objects on either side of them and causing a change in their visual perception.
• Constant headaches or dizzy spells may indicate vision problems. When people have trouble seeing, they tend to squint. The resulting strain on the eyes can cause headaches and dizzy spells.

More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about aging and eyesight.

New Drug Fails to Improve Odds for Heart Failure Patients

(HealthDay News) -- A new drug is no more effective at improving the survival rates of people with decompensated heart failure than a widely used medication is, a new international study has found.

Decompensated heart failure is one form of the general condition in which the heart progressively loses the ability to pump blood. It is characterized by a set of symptoms including shortness of breath and intolerance to exercise.

There were hopes that the new drug, levosimendan, would improve survival, because it uses a unique mechanism that makes heart muscle cells more sensitive to the calcium that causes them to contract. However, the study of 1,347 persons with acute decompensated heart failure, done at 75 centers in nine countries between March 2003 and December 2004, found essentially the same death rate for participants who got levosimendan as those who received an established medication, dobutamine, said a report in the May 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The trial leaves cardiologists without a totally satisfactory treatment for decompensated heart failure, said Dr. Robert Hobbs, a Cleveland cardiologist specializing in treatment of the condition. Some 5 million Americans have one form or another of heart failure, and about 1 million of them are hospitalized for it each year.

"The original therapy, which is still basic, is diuretics," Hobbs explained. "They make the body lose water, so people feel better. In the 1980s, ACE inhibitors came along to make people feel better and live longer, and they were added for long-term benefit. The third group of drugs to be used were beta blockers."

Dobutamine is a positive inotropic agent that has been found to improve symptoms, but it has also been associated with an increased risk of death and cardiovascular problems. In the latest trial, participants with decompensated heart failure received levosimendan or dobutamine intravenously.

"The common practice has been to give dobutamine in the belief that the heart is like a battery that has lost its charge," Hobbs said. "By giving dobutamine, you would recharge it. That didn't actually happen [in previous studies]. It appeared to be associated with complications, longer hospital stays and more mortality."

In another previous study, careful analysis indicated that levosimendan was associated with a lower risk of death than dobutamine. "It did have the different mechanism of action, and it was felt that might translate into improved safety," Hobbs said. But it proved to be no better in the new trial.

In the 180 days after drug infusion, the death rate was 26 percent among patients who got levosimendan and 28 percent in those getting dobutamine. There was no statistical difference between other endpoints, such as incidence of breathing difficulties and days spent out of the hospital.

Participants who got levosimendan were less likely to experience cardiac failure but more likely to experience the abnormal heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, low blood levels of potassium, and headache.

"The bottom line on all of this is that it is hard to show benefit for what we do for acute decompensated heart failure," Hobbs said.

More information
All aspects of heart failure are explored by the American Heart Association .

Constipation and Acne

Constipation and acne are two problems affecting hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis.

One hits you on the inside and the other on the outside. Could it be that more is going on with this unlikely pairing than you would first imagine?

When most people become constipated, they assume it’s just a momentary thing and they’ll soon become “regular” again. Likewise, when someone discovers a pimple or rash on their body, they usually throw some kind of drugstore cream on it and hope it goes away.

Usually, after a few days, the skin clears up and life turns back to normal. But it could very well be that constipation is leading to your skin blemishes, and that includes acne!

Constipation and Acne May Indicate Trouble
The human body is comprised mainly of water, about 55 to 60% in most adults. We already know it’s best to drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day.

If your body isn’t getting enough water, one of the first signs is constipation and acne or other skin blemishes.

Waste hardens within your colon and there are no fluids to lubricate its easy passage out of the body. You may also notice your skin begins to feel dry and cracks in certain places.

The lips, elbows and fingers are some of the first locations to notice the change. Spread all the moisturizer you want, but it’s not going to solve the problem because you must first hydrate from within.

Effects of Constipation
Another reason constipation and acne go hand in hand is the toxic effect constipation has on the body. When you’re constipated, your body isn’t getting rid of all the poisonous toxins normally expelled with a bowel movement. The toxins have nowhere to go, and they begin to accumulate before being reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

Then the toxins course through the body it goes into a state of emergency. The body senses these nasty poisons and begins trying to fight them off, trying to discover a way to detoxify itself. As a failsafe option, the toxins are expelled through the skin; but the acidic nature of the toxins causes the skin to become inflamed and thus develop acne.

If these toxins were left in the body indefinitely, they could eventually intensify to detrimental levels. Some signs you may be poisoning your system include bad breath and excess gas, bloating, depression, headaches, and “brain fog” or feeling like you can’t think clearly, and the aforementioned constipation and acne difficulties.

If your body is functioning properly and you are having regular bowel movements and eating the right foods, there is a very good chance acne can be reduced if not eliminated. Of course, the first step to changing your lifestyle involves becoming better educated. So, what foods, products or advice should one take to begin the transformation to better skin?

Positive Lifestyle Changes
Changing the way you look at food can be difficult, but it can be the most beneficial lifestyle shift you can make. Some foods aid in digestion and some can seize up the process. A high fiber colon healthy diet, with plenty of water consumption for the fiber to absorb in the colon, is one of the keys to controlling constipation and acne.

Foods Good for the Digestive System:
Fiber-rich fruits like apples, prunes, peaches, and raspberries
Fiber-rich vegetables like raw broccoli, cauliflower, kidney and lima beans, carrots, spinach, and Brussels sprouts
Whole grain cereals and breads (not enriched or bleached)
Protein-rich foods like fish, chicken, tofu, nuts, yogurt, and beans
Foods to Avoid:
You can’t have a good list without a bad list, so here are a few things you should avoid:
Caffeinated drinks
Foods with white flour or refined sugar (such as ice cream, cheese, processed foods, pizza, potato chips, etc.)
Heavy meats such as beef or pork
Alcohol
Chocolate

Cleansing the Colon
In order to regain control of your body, you need to clean it out and start fresh. The best way to accomplish this is with a thorough colon cleanse. Cleaning the colon, while it’s not a topic of everyday conversation, is one of the most important things you can do to help maintain your health and allow your body’s immune system to rebuild its strength. With a clean colon, your body can rid itself of the poisonous toxins causing constipation and acne as well as other health problems and skin conditions.

Oxy-Powder® is one of the most widely used colon cleansers; it gently cleans the colon with a unique formula of oxygenated magnesium, citric acid, and germanium-132. It thoroughly cleanses out deep-seated fecal matter, mucous, and sludge, leaving you feeling like a weight has been removed from your body. After removing all the garbage with Oxy-Powder®’s all-natural formula, your body can begin to rebuild a healthy environment within your colon for allowing good bacteria to grow in your digestive system.

As powerful as Oxy-Powder® is, it works gently enough so you don’t have to practically live in the bathroom. Once you finish the initial 7-day cleanse, you can help maintain your colon’s optimal health by following a regular maintenance program.

Helping to keep your body clean from the inside out offers many health benefits—mainly, reducing conditions such as bloating, excess gas, persistent fatigue, blurry vision, feeling heavy or lethargic, being overweight due to the accumulation of waste in the colon, and even chronic constipation.

So follow a healthful diet, stay well hydrated, get plenty of exercise, and be alert for signs such as constipation and acne symptoms as possible indicators something is not right in your normal digestive process.

more info at: http://www.dreddyclinic.com/products/oxypowder.htm

Constipation and Bowel Movements

By: Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, Ph.D, DACBN





Have You Had Your Bowel Movement Today?
Many people are under the impression they need to have only one bowel movement a week or fewer. Bowel disease, constipation, colon cancer, and stomach pain are all disorders that are leading to what I call the "Silent Killer in America". Colon health and colon problems are the most over-looked health problems in today's society.

Due to the poor diet in America, 200 million people suffer from constipation and do not have the required two to four bowel movements daily. The average person, by the time they are 30 years old, in America, has between 10 to 15 pounds of hard compacted fecal matter in their bowel.

The intestinal tract is composed of the small intestine which is attached to the lower part of the stomach then moves into the large intestine and finally the colon. Whatever you eat has to be properly digested and then move its way through a long, approximately 35 feet in length, intestinal lining to finally exit the rectum. So don't you think the most important area to keep clean in your body would be that 35 feet of food processing wasteland?

Constipation and Bowel Movements
It's important to understand how the digestive track breaks down food into smaller particles and then ultimately into the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need to survive. As we age, we develop a thick coating along the sides of the intestinal walls as hard as wood and even harder to eradicate.

When this coating adheres to the walls of your intestinal lining and your food tries to move through, it's difficult for your body to absorb the proper amount of nutrients.

These nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream so the blood can carry them to all the organs and tissues in your body. This is why it is essential to not only clean the colon but to purify and keep the whole intestinal lining clean at all times and free from any plaque or debris. You must have a minimum of one bowel movement a day but we recommend having two a day.

After years of research and studying bowel habits, especially constipation and bowel movements in general, we discovered keeping the bowel clean will not only reduce or prevent most types of disease but will also eliminate chronic bloating, symptoms of fatigue, headaches, nausea and a whole list of other symptoms. We recommend and use a product called Oxy-Powder® that will focus on cleansing and keeping clean your whole intestinal tract.

By using Oxy-Powder® every other evening you can ensure that you will have regular bowel movements and keep your intestinal lining clean and functioning properly. You must have regular bowel movements to prevent toxic chemicals from leaking through the walls of the intestinal tract into the blood. I also recommend drinking at least 64 ounces of purified water daily to help the intestinal tract move the toxic residue out of the body.

Constipation and bowel movements irregularity is a sneaky, undiagnosed, disabling epidemic that is sweeping America as we speak. Perhaps all of this doesn't surprise you.

Let's take a look at the following categories of disease and disorders that can be related either directly or indirectly to the colon and constipation: heart disease, high blood pressure, fatigue, irritability, varicose veins, gas, heart burn, bloating, obesity, diabetes, arthritis and more.

Some of these side effects or symptoms are a hundred times worse than the constipation itself. So if your doctor is treating you with traditional drugs or surgery he is most likely covering up your symptoms and possibly making your condition worse.

I recommend the following to ensure a healthy clean colon, easily and naturally without any drugs, surgery or toxic side effects: colon hydrotheraphy, a good diet, lots of live foods, a lot of pure water, the product Oxy-Powder® and exercise.

Constipation and bowel movements have a contradictory relationship--to have the latter on a regular basis the former condition must be eliminated (no pun intended). With a little diligence and common sense, you too can enjoy the benefits of a clean, healthily functioning digestive system!

more info at: oxypowder

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Day 6 of Oxy-Powder

Day six on Oxy-Powder

so last night i again lowered my dose, down to 6 caps. same results this morning, diarhea and a bit of butt-pee. i don't get it how i can have the same results with a dose of 3 and a dose of 10. how exactly does this stuff work? Sometimes more is less sometimes more is better, but here i have varying doses and yet the results are the SAME! very strange indeed.also some strange looking very little black specks with what looks like tails?

hmmmm.

Allergies still the same, Headache gone though and appetite ok.besides this being the gentlest and most effective constipation remedy so far, nothing else new to write home about!

have a great day!
More information’s about oxypowder

Transforming Your Health in 90 days or Less $19.95 [ learn more ] Your body can heal itself without drugs and their painful or deadly side effects. You can live a long and healthy life. Choose NOW to follow a better path; the decision is yours! Learn what simple and powerful decisions you can begin to make right now to restore your health and vitality! - E-Book Version.(THP)

Day 5 of Oxy-Powder

Oxy-Powder cleanse day 5

good morning everyone,

day 5 is here, and last night i must say i was almost ready to quit. Instead i took 8 caps, lowered my dose rather then bringing it up to 12, and decided not to take a higher dose since I’m getting exactly the same results starting from 3 caps.

So less maybe is more? or at least it will last longer and doing things longer may produce better results...if not thorough results?so no rumbling or waking up at night or early morning. Allergies still here (i need to do another liver flush sometime towards the end of this cleanse), skin nice and clear though but not much appetite. Headache gone and feelings from the last two days gone.

So maybe it was die off.I almost gave up this morning when i passed a semi formed bm. I thought ok, I’m going back to solid. then a few seconds later some major rumbling and i was off to the potty for 2 more rounds of diarrhea (not butt-pee tho). i looked in and became frightened at the sight of what looked like green small grape size PARASITES...

then quickly realized i had sugar peas for dinner...along with lentils! phew! I’ve seen stuff like that before but it had legs. this time false alarm.also, tiny black/dark brown specks. this is new, but I’m not gonna get my hopes worked up into thinking it's plaque. I’m starting to think i might not have any.ok, more later!

More information’s about oxypowder and parasites

Fibromyalgia Secrets Revealed $19.95 [ learn more ] This special book describes in detail what you must know if you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms and the quickest and easiest way you may be pain free! - E-Book Version.(FSRE)

Day 4 of Oxy-Powder

Day 4 of Oxy-Powder
Oxy powder cleanse day fouri gotta say i'm getting really disappointed with this cleanse because I’m not seeing any plaque... sorry folks...maybe others will have a better time. Either way i will keep going.i have taken 10 caps last night and for someone who is only 110lb that should work really well. instead of producing results I’ve been going to the bathroom less, and actually slept through the night.

This morning more butt pee - light brown in color and what looks like parts of my meals. Yesterday i ate very little and very light to see if that would make a difference. i don't think it did much. on top of that i wake up with a sore thought, my allergies killing me and a bad headache. Die off?

I hope so.i am getting out something odd tho...they look like short tubes, some of me hard as plastic and some like an apple piece, although 1/4 of an inch and tube like. i 'm thinking this might be parasites again....but no plaque.

I’ve done bowel cleanses for the past 2 yrs, so by now i would think that things have been stirred up and ready to release? or maybe I’m clean?

More information’s about oxypowder

Fibromyalgia Secrets Revealed $19.95 [ learn more ] This special book describes in detail what you must know if you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms and the quickest and easiest way you may be pain free! - E-Book Version.(FSRE)

Is It Dangerous to Combine Supplements and Drugs?

Is It Dangerous to Combine Supplements and Drugs? Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: I'm curious about interactions between herbs and drugs. Are there many that we should worry about? -- Nicole S.

A: For the most part, I think warnings about interactions between herbs and drugs are overstated. For example, a few years ago the American Society of Anesthesiologists warned that certain herbs and supplements could pose a hazard to patients undergoing surgery.

The group claimed that several herbs have anti-blood-clotting activity and conceivably could interfere with clotting during and after surgery. St. John's wort was also singled out in 2003 as an agent that could diminish the effectiveness of certain drugs because of its effect on enzyme systems involved in drug metabolism. (Many pharmaceutical drugs have the same effect.)

In general, I think you're pretty safe taking most supplements, but you certainly should tell your doctor about anything you're taking regularly, particularly if you're also taking either prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Here's a quick rundown of some commonly used supplements and drugs that could interact to your detriment:

St. John's wort: May affect metabolism of antidepressants; HIV protease inhibitors used to treat HIV/AIDS; digoxin, a heart medication; theophylline, used to treat asthma; cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant; chemotherapy; birth control pills (it may reduce their effectiveness); the blood pressure and heart disease medications nifedipine and diltiazem; Coumadin, a blood-thinner; and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for HIV/AIDS treatment.

Co-enzyme Q10, dong quai, feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng, vitamin E and St. John's wort: May increase the risk of bleeding if you're taking prescription anticoagulants such as Coumadin.

Echinacea: May increase levels of HIV protease inhibitors used to treat HIV/AIDS, calcium channel blockers used to treat high blood pressure, and anti-anxiety drugs.

Capsicum (red pepper, cayenne pepper): May increase the absorption and effect of ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and kidney disease; theophylline (for asthma); sedatives; and antidepressants.

Garlic: May decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppressant drugs and HIV protease inhibitors. It also may reduce the need for insulin among diabetics (by lowering blood sugar).
Ginkgo: May increase the amount of antidepressant drugs in your blood; may cause seizures when combined with anti-psychotic drugs.

Ginseng: Can cause headache, trembling and manic behavior when combined with the antidepressant Nardil; may interfere with the action of the heart medication digoxin; may reduce blood sugar levels in people with Type II diabetes, thus affecting the need for insulin or other medication for diabetes.
Andrew Weil, MD

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Monthly Migraine Misery?

Monthly Migraine Misery?
Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: Every month I get horrible migraine headaches during my menstrual period. Is there anything that can help? -- Elizabeth A: You're not alone. Nearly one in five women has migraines and about half of those who seek treatment report that their headaches are associated with their menstrual periods. Typically the headaches begin anywhere from two days before the start of menstruation to the first three days after the onset. Results of a recent British study published in the July 27, 2004 issue of Neurology showed that menstrual migraines are 71 percent more likely to occur during the two days before periods start.
The same issue of Neurology also included results of a study showing that taking the migraine drug frovatriptan (Frova) starting two days before the anticipated start of migraines associated with menstruation can prevent the headaches in some women and diminish their severity and duration in others. The study (which was sponsored by the drug's manufacturer) involved 443 women with menstrual migraines who took Frova. Menstrual migraines continued to occur in 67 percent of the women who took a placebo. Of the women who took Frova twice a day, 59 percent no longer got the headaches; of those who took the drug once a day, 48 percent no longer got headaches. That's something, but hardly a miracle cure.
Tennis great, Serena Williams recently announced that she suffers from menstrual migraines, takes Frova to prevent them and is now heading an educational campaign to raise awareness among women that treatment is available for menstrual migraines. (You can learn more about the campaign at www.menstrualmigraine.org.)
Frova is one of several drugs called triptans designed specifically to relieve migraines (they don't work for other types of pain). They are not free of side effects, some of which are serious. Many alternative treatments are available, both to relieve and prevent these headaches. For example, a new study indicates that the herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is effective in preventing migraines. Patients who took two 75 mg tablets of butterbur extract cut headache occurrence by an average of 48 percent (compared to 26 percent among patients who got a placebo). The study was published in the December 28, 2004 issue of Neurology. When buying butterbur, be careful to choose extracts guaranteed to be free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that are toxic to the liver. The supplement should be taken with meals.
Other alternatives include dietary measures as well as vitamin B-2. A Belgian study published in the February 1998 issue of Neurology found that 400 mg of B-2 reduces the frequency and duration of migraines. You'll need a doctor's prescription to get that dosage.
Biofeedback can also help. I urge you to experiment with these alternatives before seeking a prescription for Frova.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: May 2005

Health Tip: Considering Botox?

(HealthDay News) -- Botox is a compound, derived from a bacterium, that is injected through the skin and into facial muscles to reduce lines and wrinkles. If you're thinking about getting Botox injections for cosmetic improvement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers some guidelines.
As Botox only lasts for about four months, repeated injections may be needed to maintain the cosmetic appearance derived from the treatment. As the injections wear off, lines and wrinkles reappear.
According to the FDA, some side effects from Botox injections may include droopiness of the eyelid, flu-like symptoms, nausea and headache. In rare cases, there can be more serious side effects since the treatment is derived from the same bacterium that causes botulism, a deadly illness that makes it hard to breathe or move.
You should never receive Botox if you are or may be pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have problems with nerves or muscles, or are taking an antibiotic.

Blood Pressure Drugs May Prevent Headaches

Reuters HealthNEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Findings from a large analysis of clinical trial data indicate that the use of blood pressure-lowering drugs can prevent a substantial proportion of headaches.

The fact that agents of different classes produce this effect suggests that the mechanism is the ability to lower blood pressure, lead author Dr. Malcolm Law, from London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, and colleagues note.

Yet, findings from observational studies have not supported a link between high blood pressure and headaches. The study, reported in the journal Circulation, involved data from 94 trials that looked at the four main blood pressure-lowering drug classes -- thiazides, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

A total of 17,641 subjects received an active agent and 6,603 were given a placebo. Treatment with a blood pressure-lowering drug reduced the top and the bottom reading of blood pressure by an average of 9.4 and 5.5 mm Hg, respectively, the authors report. Overall, 12.4 percent of subjects given placebo reported headaches compared with 8.0 percent of those treated with an active agent, representing a risk reduction of 33 percent.

The authors estimate that about 1 in 30 subjects given a blood pressure-lowering drug benefitted by having a headache prevented. All four drug classes appeared to provide a significant reduction in headache prevalence. "Blood pressure-lowering drugs are prescribed to reduce blood pressure and a person's risk of having a stroke or heart attack," Law said in a statement. "This result indicates that, as an added benefit, the drugs also prevent headaches." Law conceded, however, that given the lack of association in observational studies, the present findings do not resolve the long-standing mystery of whether high blood pressure actually causes headaches.

SOURCE: Circulation, October 11, 2005.

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Ginseng Product May Lessen Misery of Cold Season

Reuters Health
By Amy Norton
Wednesday, November 2, 2005

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A cold remedy derived from the popular herb ginseng could help make the cold season a bit shorter and sweeter, new research suggests.

In a study that pitted the ginseng product against a placebo, Canadian researchers found that adults who took the botanical everyday for 4 months developed fewer and less-severe colds than did those on the placebo.

Though people in both groups were equally likely to suffer at least one cold during the cold and flu season, those who took ginseng were less likely to fall ill multiple times. What's more, their cold symptoms tended to be shorter-lasting and less severe, according to findings published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The dried root of the ginseng plant has a long history of use in Chinese medicine. In many countries, both the Asian and North American varieties of the herb have become popular as dietary supplements; these products purport to carry a number of health benefits, including increased energy and stronger immune function.

The product used in the current study, sold as Cold-fX, is composed of 10 percent North American ginseng and a large amount of complex carbohydrates called polysaccharides. According to study co-author Dr. Tapan Basu of the University of Alberta, the findings cannot be generalized to all ginseng formulations.

"Does this mean any ginseng will do? No," Basu said in an interview.

The polysaccharides, according to the researcher, are key to enhancing the body's immune defenses against cold viruses. A random ginseng product, he said, would have polysaccharides, but they would be "diluted."

The product's manufacturer, Edmonton, Canada-based CV Technologies Inc., funded the research. Basu has served as a consultant to the company.

The study included 323 adults who were randomly assigned to take either the ginseng capsules or placebo capsules filled with rice powder everyday for 4 months. During that time, participants kept daily logs of any cold symptoms -- including runny nose, congestion, sore throat and headache.

In general, adults in both groups had a similar likelihood of developing one cold during the study period. But less than half as many in the ginseng group had a repeat cold -- 10 percent, versus almost 23 percent in the placebo group.

And based on participants' reports, symptoms tended to be less severe and have less staying power in the ginseng group.

Since the study assessed participants' symptoms, and the common cold and Influenza share some symptoms, there is a chance that the ginseng product prevented some cases of the flu, Basu noted.

He said he "wouldn't hesitate to recommend" the herbal remedy to healthy adults who tend to suffer from multiple colds during the winter. But the product's safety and effectiveness for other groups -- including children, pregnant women and people with immune system dysfunction -- is unknown.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Ronald B. Turner of the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville points to the difficulty of studying remedies for the common cold.

Numerous cold therapies, he writes, "both alternative and conventional," have shown promise in preliminary research only to fizzle with further study. More research, Turner concludes, will be needed to confirm the current findings.

SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association Journal, October 25, 2005.

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