Migraine TreaTMenT CenTers of aMeriCa CourTesy MagazinenoVeMBer 2012

Also in this issue:

• StillHaveTeensAtHome?• MigrainesMayOfferExplanationforCrankyKids• CrummySleepandChronicHeadacheConnection• TipsforaGoodNight’sResttoAvoidChronicHeadaches• ABrit’sFranticSearchforEffectiveTreatment• GoodNewsthisFallforMigraineSufferers!• FortifyingFolicAcid

TREATEMpTyNESTSyNdROMEMiGRAiNESdRuGFREE

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©CanStockphotoinc./Kurhan

TREATEMpTyNESTSyNdROMEMiGRAiNESdRuGFREE

Awhileback,welearnedaboutthe“Let-downMigraine”,whichoccursafterstressfuleventsorperiodshavepassed,ratherthanduringthesetimes.unfortunatelymigraineurscanexperienceheadachesasaresultofvarioustriggers.ifyourkidsleftforcollege,youmaybeslammedwithadoublewhammy.

it’simportanttoapplycopingskillsforasuddenlet-downinexcitementfromgraduationparties,shoppingandtraveling,andthetemporarydepressionthatcomeswhenchildrenmovetocollege(cheerup,they’llbebackforbreaks!)Meanwhile,trythefollowing:

• Refocusyourenergiesintowork,hobbiesorinterests.positiveenergywillovercomenegativeemotions.

• Addsomecalmingelementstoyourenvironment.Aromatherapy,classicalandnewagemusiccanreplacerapandvideogames.

• practicehealthynutritionwithvitaminsandgrown-uprecipeswithhealthyprotein,veggiesandherbsthatyourteenagerwouldnevertolerate.Noharrieddrive-thrumealsforyoubeforerushingtomeetsandgames!

• Getfreshairandexerciseeveryday,nowthatyouareoutofexcuses!

So,ratherthanmoping,smile!yourkidsaredoinggreatandyou’veearnedwell-deservedMe-Time!

Forbacktoschoolteenagers,thestressofjugglingclasses,activities,andhomeworkisdaunting.ifyourteensufferswithmigraines,theAmericanHeadacheSocietysaysthistimeofyearcanbeespeciallyoverwhelming.

Avoid these teen migraine triggers:

• BusRides–noisy,hot,bumpyandmiserableforanyone;offertodriveinstead

• SkippingMeals–provideconvenienthealthybackpacksnackslikedriedfruit,nutsandwholegrainproteinbars

• ExcessiveScreenTime–Limitviewingtelevisionandcomputertime.Encourageactivebreaks

• StressandSleepdeprivation–Encourageyourteenagertotalkwithyouabouttheirstressandhelpthemdeveloptimemanagementskills

• Caffeine,alcoholandsmoking–Educateandcommunicatewithyourchildabouthealth,self-respectandrespectforthelaw

• HormonalChanges–Whileobviouslyunavoidable,theyarealsotrickytoidentifyastriggers.it’sbesttocheckinwithyourteen’sphysiciantomakesureallisfine.Assureyourteenthisphase‘shallpass’

Makingsurethey…andyou…getregularfreshair,downtime,andexercise.itwillhelpthem–andyou–makeitthroughtheschoolyear.

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STiLLHAvETEENSATHOME?

it’snosurprisethatwhenyoungkidsgetintotroubleorhavedifficultiesperformingtheirschoolworkandextracurricularactivities,thereisusuallyanunderlyingreason.ifyourchildhasbeenhavingcopingdifficultiesandexperiencingmigrainesorheadaches,thereisnewmedicalresearchyoumaywanttolearnabout.

doctorsfromtheGliainstituteinSaopaolo,BrazilandAlbertEinsteinCollegeofMedicineinNewyorkfoundthatinasubjectgroupof1,856youngchildren,morethanhalfofthosewithheadachesandmigrainesexperiencedemotionalandbehavioraldifficulties,comparedwithlessthan20%ofthenon-headachegroup.interestinglythemorefrequenttheheadaches,themoreemotionalandbehaviorissuestheyhad.

itmaybetrickyforparentstoseethisconnectioninkidsbecausetheemotionaldifficultieswereinternalizedratherthandisruptiveoraggressive,whichbotherotherchildrenoradults.Theymayexperiencedepression,anxietyortroublefocusingratherthanpickingfights.Thestudy’sauthorsalsoreferredtopaststudiesthatlinkedsocial,focusandemotionalproblemswithmigrainesinkids.

Thisresearchsuggeststhatfindingtherightheadachetreatmentmayprovetosolveyourchild’sdepression,socialproblemsorevenlagginggrades.

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MiGRAiNESMAyOFFERExpLANATiONFORCRANKyKidS

Afterwakingupwithadailychronicheadache,anddraggingyourselfthroughyourdays,itmightbetimeforalittle‘sleepinvestigation.’

youmayhaveObstructiveSleepApnea,asleepdisorderlinkedwithtriggeringmigrainesandheadaches.ScientistsfromMissouriStateuniversitydeterminedthatREMsleepdisturbancesincreasethelevelsofcertainproteinsthatplayaroleintriggeringchronicpaininfacialnervesinvolvedwiththeneurologicaleventsunderlyingmigraines.

TheAmericanHeadacheSocietyalsoindicatesthatsnoringandsleepapneaareriskfactorsfortransformingepisodicmigrainesintochronicmigraines.Otherapneasymptomsincludeinterruptedbreathingpatterns,awakening,nighttimeurination,daytimedrowsinessandnightsweats.

Expertssuggestaskingyourbedpartnertonotenighttimebreathinginterruptionsandsnoring.ifyoususpectyoumayhavesleepapnea,youshouldjournalyoursleepactivities,alongwithyourmigrainestolookforaconnectionbetweenthetwo.youmayfindthatovernighttestingbymedicalexpertsatasleepcenterisnecessarytodiagnoseyourcondition.ifitturnsoutthatyouhaveasleepingdisorder,treatingitcouldgoalongwayinmanagingthesymptomsofyourchronicmigrainesorheadachesaswell.

CRuMMySLEEpANdCHRONiCHEAdACHECONNECTiON

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WECANHELp!

patientCareServicesMigraineTreatmentCentersofAmerica10740NorthCentralExpressway,Ste275dallas,Tx75231

Patient Care Services MigraineTreatmentCentersofAmerica10740NorthCentralExpressway,Ste275dallas,Tx75231

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TipSFORAGOOdNiGHT’SRESTTOAvOidCHRONiCHEAdACHESMedicalresearchlinkingsleepdisorderswithheadachesandmigrainespresentsawonderfulopportunitytolearnaboutanotherdrugfreemigrainetreatment:Sleep!

ScientistsfromtheuniversityofNorthCarolina,ChapelHillfoundthatbehavioralmodificationstoimprovesleeping,suchasnoTvwatchinginbedormealsbeforebedtime,resultedinfewerandlessseveremigraines.TheAmericanHeadacheSociety’seducationwebsitesuggestswaystoimproveyoursleep:

• improveyourstress-copingskills

• Takecareofyouremotionalandmentalhealth

• Talktoyourdoctoraboutmedicinesideeffectsruiningyoursleep

• Treatunderlyingmedicalconditions

• Womenshouldseekmedicalcareforhormonalissues

• Avoidconsumingalcohol,nicotineandcaffeineastheycauserestlesssleep,nightawakeningandgrogginess

• Avoidstimulatingeveningactivitieslikesurfingtheinternet

• Relaxbeforebedtimewithwarmbaths,peacefulmusic,mind-bodypracticeorprayer

• Exerciseandgetfreshairdaily

• Turnyourbedroomintoa‘zen’space

Withthesetips,youmightbegintofeelbetterandfinallygetsomequalityZZZZZZ’s!

Let Migraine treatMent Centers of aMeriCa heLp!doyousufferfromchronicmigraineheadaches?Takethefirststeptowardlivingwithoutchronicmigrainepain.Completethispostcardandsendittous.

iwouldliketohaveapatientcoordinatorcontactmeabouttheOmega™procedure.

iwouldliketoreferyourservicestomyfriend. pleasecontacthimorherandletthemknowireferredyou.

MyName:_______________________________ Friend’sName:___________________________

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phone: _________________________________ Email: __________________________________

MTCA’spartnerphysiciansareboard-certifiedspecialists.OurexclusiveOmega™migraineprocedureprovidesmigrainepainsuffererswithalong-lasting,drug-freesolutiontotreatmigrainepain.

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ABRiT’SFRANTiCSEARCHFOREFFECTivETREATMENTABritishwriterrecentlysharedherpersonalstrugglewithmigrainesontheBritishnewssiteMailOnline.

Herdoctorswereperplexedwhenhermigrainestransformedfromepisodictochronicanddidn’trespondtoanyofthecommonmigrainemedicationstheywereprescribing.

Sherecountswakingupwithpainandbarelymakingittothebathroombeforevomitingandreturningtobed,depressed.Shespentvirtuallyallofhertimeinbedandtriedprescriptionpainkillersandtriptansthatnarrowdilatedbloodvesselsduringamigraine,tonoavail.Shetriedmagnesiumandfeverfewsupplements;acupunctureandcranialtherapy;andevengaveupalcohol,cheeseandchocolate!Nothingworked.

Shefinallyvisitedaneurologistwhospecializedinmigrainesandheadaches.Atfirsthetreatedherwithvariousmedications,butshecouldnottoleratethesideeffects.Hethenprogressedtonerveblockinjections.Shedescribesherinjectionprocedureaslessthanfun,butisamazedthatherpainandsymptomsarevirtuallygoneandthatheroccasionalmigrainerespondstoatriptan.

Thisbravewoman’sstoryshowsushowimportantitistohaveaccesstotheproperinformation,specialists,treatmentsandproceduresthatcanputmigrainesufferingtorest.

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GOOdNEWSTHiSFALLFORMiGRAiNESuFFERERS!

AsFallfairsandautumn-inspiredmenusappearacrossthecoolingcountry,somemigraineursmightbeworriedaboutthepumpkin-flavoredtreatsandfrieddelicacies.

Therehasbeensomepastresearchsuggestingalinkbetweenchronicmigrainesandexcessweightgaininwomen.Afterallisitreallyworthputtingonweightandenduringdepletingpainandnauseajustforafewmomentsofsinfuldecadence?Well….

don’tworry…here’ssomegoodnews:Frenchresearchersfoundthatwomenwithmigrainesatthebeginningofastudywerenomorelikelythanthemigraine-freewomentogainmorethantheaverage10pounds.Weightgainacrossbothgroupswasnearlyidentical.Also,thewomenwithsevereorchronicmigraineswerenotmorepronetogainmoreweightthanthosewithoccasionalmigraines.

Sowhatdoesthismean?Maybealittletreatonspecialoccasionsisn’tallthatbad?ingeneral,itisbesttomaintainahealthyweightbyeatingnutritiouslyandexercisingregularly.Let’sshowappreciationtotheFrenchforteachingus‘Joiedevivre’byenjoyinggreatfood(inmoderationplease…)!

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FORTiFyiNGFOLiCACid

Migraine-afflictedwomenaroundtheworldmayfindrelieffromtheseverityoftheirsymptomsinthedietarysupplementfolate.ThisconclusioncomesfromastudybydieteticexpertsattheGriffithuniversityinAustralia.

Folate,alsoknownasvitaminB9,isthenaturallyoccurringnutritionalelementfoundinfoods.Folicacidisthesyntheticvarietyusedtosupplementnutritionalintakeforindividualswhodon’treceiveadequateamountsofthevitaminintheirdailydiet.Widelyrecognizedtopreventbirthdefectsandtakenbypregnantwomenintheir‘super-vitamins,’itcannowbeappreciatedasamigrainetreatmentaswell.

Afterdiscussingthisoptionwithyourphysician,reachforfolate-richfoodslikeleafygreens,beans,citrusfruitsandawidevarietyofenrichedbreadsandcereals.Bysimplyaddingthispreciousnutrienttoyourdiet,youmaybeabletolessentheseverityofyourheadachesandsymptoms.

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