Manage stress
Stress can be a huge factor in causing headaches. Ways to manage stress include regular exercise, deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation.
Tricyclic antidepressants, including amitriptyline and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include antidepressants such as partoxetine (Paxil), venlafaxine (Effexor) and fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and ketoprofen (Orudis)
Other medications include anticonfulsants such as divalproex (Depakote) and muscle relaxants such as tizanidine (Zanaflex)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), naproxen sodium (Aleve®), or ketoprofen.
Migraine
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), Triptans for severe migraine attacks. Sumatriptan (Imitrex® injection) was the first drug that was developed. Recent medications include rizatripan (Maxalt®), naratriptan (Amerge®, zolmitriptan (Zomig®), almotriptan (Axert®), frovatriptan (Frova®) and eletriptan (Relpax®).
Ergots (Ergomar®)
Anti-nausea medications including metoclopramide or prochlorperazine
Headaches can literally interrupt your day and make you feel miserable. I’ve experienced several different types of headaches, including sinus headaches, stress related headaches, and caffeine withdrawal headaches.
A headache (cephalagia in medical terminology) is a condition of pain in the head. It can be chronic, recurrent, or occasional and the pain can be mild or severe enough to interrupt daily activities. Headaches often result from traction to or irritation of the meninges and blood vessels. The membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord, called the dura mater, is innervated with nociceptors (a sensory receptor that sends signals that cause perception of pain). Stimulation of these dural nociceptors is thought to be involved in producing headaches. In the United States, over 45 million people—including more than the 33 million sufferers of asthma, diabetes, and heart disease—experience chronic, recurring headaches. Of these, 28 million suffer migraine every year.
I love drinking coffee. My parents are avid coffee drinkers, so I grew up with the aroma of coffee. It was not until high school when I took a sip of an ice blended mocha from Coffee Bean. SO good!
Recently I came across Mike Pederson’s blog and wanted to read more about whether coffee is good for you. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but here is a summary of the benefits of coffee:
The Hepatitis B vaccine is endorsed by medical, scientific and public health communities for its outstanding record of safety and effectiveness. It provides protection against Hepatitis B for at least 15 years. Since 1982, over one billion doses of hepatitis B vaccine have been used. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that newborns and individuals up to 18 years of age and adult participating at risk of infection should be vaccinated. The vaccine is given as a series of three intramuscular doses over a 6-12 month period.
Today is marks the first day of National Hepatitis Awareness week, which is set to run until May 26th. With over 200 patient groups it is the first official global awareness event. Activities are planned nation wide to raise awareness of Hepatitis B and C.
Recently, I read Brian Wansink’s book called Mindless Eating and was immediately captivated. It is an in depth look into understanding why and what we eat. I will be pointing out specific examples in this blog, which are spoilers so be warned!
These are some of the themes mentioned in the book that apply to my life:
Seeing food=Eating more
Whenever snacks are more visible you eat more. I used to have all the snacks lying around especially during the college days. I would eat candy or whatever was in my sight. It was easy to get to and convenient, which was the problem. Once I stored them, my volume for eating greatly decreased. I still get to enjoy my snacks, but I don’t overeat.
Yesterday’s blog was about recognizing the symptoms of a stroke and knowing what to do. Today’s will describe some key steps in preventing a stroke.
Stop Smoking
Smoking can cause not only lung cancer, but also increase the chances of getting a stroke or heart attack. It harms the people who smoke it, as well as those around who inhale the second-hand smoke.
Limit alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke.
