Management of Migraine

Migraines can disrupt your life severely, but the best way to keep them in check is to identify and eliminate the triggers, suggests Abha, 40, who has been having chronic migraines for the last 20 years and maintains a trigger diary to reduce attacks. Please tell us a bit about your condition. I suffer from Chronic Migraines! I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago. I was about 20 years old at the time. Is there a history of migraines in your family? My aunt suffered from migraines too, but her…

ElectroCore, LLC (electroCore), a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an expanded label for gammaCore® (nVNS) as an acute treatment of pain associated with migraine in adult patients. gammaCore therapy is a proprietary, non-invasive neuromodulation treatment delivered by a hand-held unit that stimulates the vagus nerve through the skin. This follows the initial FDA clearnance receieved by gammaCore for…

Ignatius Misquitta, 56, who has been battling epilepsy attacks for over four decades, looks at how epilepsy shaped his life and humorously recounts how his seizures landed him in a soup many times. And why he wears a bracelet. My first seizure at 12 months was so severe that the doctor declared me dead. Yet, my father gave me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and pumped my heart, over and over. I have since survived to tell this tale. At first seizures were limited to just 2-3 a year (blank spells…

Migraines are often confused with headaches. Its important to know the difference since it affects the prevention, treatment and management of it. Would you like to learn to manage your migraine? Here are some of our top tips. If you want to know more, check out some of our most bookmarked articles on migraine All about Migraine  Can Washing Hair Cause Migraines? Can Children Get Migraines? And other FAQs Triggers of Migraine and how to manage pro-actively  

Are you confused as to when to use Ice Pack and when to use Heat to deal with pain, injury and inflammation? This infographic below sums it up quite simply. According to Dr. Bhuvaneswari, a quick guideline to follow is:  Ice pack is preferred if it is a recent and acute pain episode especially injury which may be a blood clot, muscle tear or tendon tear.  For instance most sport and exercse injuries.  Heat or warmth for Chronic pain with stiffness, especially joint related…

Kavita Krishnamoorthy had resigned herself to sacrificing at least four days a month to severe headaches till proper diet, exercise and meditation showed her the way to complete relief. She shares her story of liberation here: Ever since I turned 30, I have been plagued with debilitating headaches. They would come with unerring regularity –- once mid cycle and once around the time of my period. When they came, they would last for a full 48 hours. A beating down, one-sided headache. I would…

And other such questions on Migraine addressed by Dr Amit Haldar, Head of Neurology at Medica Superspeciality Hospital, Kolkata. He also tells us about the role of triggers and the best way of avoiding migraines. Is migraine the same thing as a common headache? If not, how does it differ? Migraine is an episodic hemicranial (one-sided) throbbing headache. It has got definite diagnostic criteria that include intolerance to light and sound. There may be associated issues like nausea and vomitting…

Worldwide, medical hypnosis is being increasingly accepted to ease acute and chronic pain arising from burns, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis and reduction of anxiety associated with surgery. What is hypnosis? Hypnosis is a state of increased suggestibility with constriction of peripheral awareness and increased focal concentration on task at hand. Heightened suggestibility is an essential characteristic in hypnosis. Hypnosis is like a meditative technique that encourages inner search and the…

When actors go through phases of rapid weight gain to rapid weight loss in preparation for film roles, many eyebrows are often raised among health professionals. Dr Shital Raval lists out reasons why it is medically dangerous and unhealthy of such yo-yoing. Imagine going from 68 kg to 93 kg in six months and then back again to original size. Well...That’s what actor Aamir Khan did recently oscillating from rapid weight gain to rapid weight loss. While Khan’s bulging - thinning programme…

Porrselvi A.P. a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist shares the six common migraine triggers for men and women. And what you should do to pro-actively manage your migraine.   Migraine is a severe, recurring and throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. It is a chronic neurological disorder in which a throbbing, pulsating type of headache is only a symptom. Migraine is actually caused by the uneven vasodilation of the cranial blood vessels (…