Migraine, cluster, and tension headache press releases

Migraine, cluster, and tension headache press releases

Press Releases By The Migraine Research Institute

An electronic headache diary called iHeadache has been developed by an American Neurologist which is available for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Blackberry. Click here to read full release.

The fasting month of Ramadan is an annual religious practice of Muslims prior to the “Hari Raya Puasa” celebration. During the one-month period, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset (participants abstain from eating, drinking and smoking for 29 to 30 days). Many people who fast over Ramadan suffer mild or moderate headaches as a result of factors such as hypoglycemia, caffeine withdrawal, change in sleep patterns and the stress of fasting itself. Click here to read full release.

To commemorate Headache Awareness Week (6th-12th June), The Headache Clinic will be hosting an education seminar in Gauteng on Thursday 30th June to provide expert information, support and advice to people affected by headaches. This seminar will be totally free of charge. Click here to read full release.
To mark National Women's Health Awareness Week, the research division of the South African Headache Society will commence with their Women's Headache Health programme on the 1st May 2011. The main focus of this programme is to help women suffering with headache to manage their condition by providing them with an information pack filled with helpful information. Click here to read full release.

Global brain awareness week takes place from the 14th - 20th March. The aim is to raise public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. Each year during this week universities, hospitals, patients groups, services organizations and professional associations worldwide unite in a week-long observation of the brain. Click here to read full release.

The Headache Clinic will be honouring all South African police personnel and registered nursing staff with a special "Salute to Heroes" treatment plan. Starting in February all "Heroes" will be treated at 50% of the usual cost of diagnosis and treatment. Click here to read full release.

February is known as the month of love. For many this is the time when you want to enhance the romance but you don't want a spike in the migraine scale. What you need are some aphrodisiacs designed specifically for the romantic with migraine. Click here here to read full release.

Back to school headaches. For many children this doesn't just mean new teachers and new friends, but a source of nervousness with homework and tests just around the corner. The latest research conducted by the World Health Organization has shown 80% of headaches are caused by muscle tension which is triggered by stress. Click here to read full release.

The Migraine Research Institute has compiled beneficial guidelines for headaches sufferers this festive season. These guidelines are based on a study published in Cephalalgia November 2007, The International Journal for Headache. The aim of this study was to evaluate and define triggers for headache sufferers, so that they could reduce them and improve their quality of life. Click here to read full release.

We would like to encourage companies in South Africa to take part in spreading a little Christmas cheer. Earlier this year, we decided that instead of having a staff year end function, we would pick a charity of our choice to donate the money to make a difference in South Africa. Click here to read full release.

The Headache Clinic have launched a new campaign focusing on ‘Migraines in the workplace’. The main focus is to raise worldwide awareness and encourage those affected to seek information and advice. Click here to read full release.

CGRP a chemical that causes migraines, has been found in the arteries outside the skull, which further proves that the source of migraine or headache pain is outside the skull. Click here to read full release.
U.K based medical journal 'Therapy' has published breakthrough results for revolutionary new surgery to relieve chronic migraine. Click here to read full release.
Neurological journal "Brain" has published a study that proves that migraine attacks do not in fact originate in the brain as previously thought. Click here to read full release.
Research data from the French Neurological Institute, Cabinet de Neurologie, has found that a new varicose vein treatment known as Polidocanol Foam is triggering migraine attacks in women who had never previously suffered with the condition. Click here to read full release.
It must be remembered that different people have different physiological responses to increased stress levels. Click here to read full release.
Headache have become an ordinary occurrence for students around exam times and many of them feel helpless when dealing with this problem. Click here to read full release.

The Governments of South Africa and Italy have agreed to the joint financing of further research into breakthrough migraine surgery developed by South African specialist surgeon Dr Elliot Shevel. Click here to read full article.

At the 6th Congress of The International Headache Society held in Austria in 2004, Dr Elliot Shevel, South Africa's migraine research pioneer, presented a study on successfully treating migraine in children without the use of medication. Click here to read full release.

A study conducted at Tel Aviv University in Israel found that 91.7% of children can link their headaches to caffeine intake in the form of cola drinks. Click here to read full release.

Research data using chocolate bars, and bars of carob as a placebo, has shown that chocolate does indeed cause migraines in certain unfortunate patients. Click here to read full release.

The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in the U.S.A has published new data that proves a link between children suffering from migraine and emotional disorders. Click here to read full release.

Meningitis is caused by a bacterium that attacks the brain coverings. Click here to read full release.

Taking a handful of tablets each time you get a headache is merely one of the ways to treat the problem. Click here to read full article.
The International Migraine Awareness week takes place from 6 to 12 September. Click here to read full article.
Fasting safely during Ramadan. Click here to read full release.

‘Breakthrough' in migraine research’ Migraine specialists are hoping for a better treatment for migraines following a "breakthrough" study that found that the chemical responsible for the headaches was actually not in the brain, but in an artery.

According to South African migraine scientist Dr Elliot Shevel, one of the specialists who made the discovery, the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), the chemical responsible for migraines, had long been believed to originate in the brain.

But Shevel recently discovered this was not the case, following a study he conducted with an Italian professor of neuropsychiatry, Dr Carlo Cianchetti.

The project was partly funded by the South African and Italian governments.

Shevel, who is the chairman of the SA Headache Society, said the chemical had always been known to be one of the main chemicals associated with migraines. It is usually found in raised levels in the blood of migraine sufferers, but despite this knowledge the origins of the pain had remained a mystery.

Shevel said: "The discovery of CGRP in raised levels in these tissue samples is a major breakthrough in that we now have a chemical and physical explanation for the pain of migraine. This breakthrough heralds a new era of far superior migraine medications."

Migraines have a number of different qualities in addition to the pain. Migraine headache is by definition accompanied by migraine symptoms, and is caused by various inputs. Migraine treatment is therefore often not successful because it is based on these various symptoms and not on the headache causes. At The Headache Clinic, headache treatment is only undertaken when the underlying pain centre has been identified, and with this type of treatment migraine can be effectively handled. Headache is best treated once an accurate diagnosis has revealed the headache causes. Headaches as diverse as sinus headache, tension headache, and cluster headache can all be treated using this approach. With the new migraine surgery techniques pioneered by Dr Shevel, even cluster is often responsive to surgery.

Elimination of headaches while fasting

Many people who fast for religious purposes suffer from headaches or migraines as a result of factors such as caffeine withdrawal, stress and low blood sugar. The good news, says Dr Elliot Shevel the chairman of the South African Headache Society is that you can manage these headaches without breaking your fast.

“Headache or migraine onset often occurs in the afternoon or evening just before the fast is broken. Headache frequency typically increases over the duration of fasting. Those prone to headaches at other times of the year are most likely to get headaches when fasting, but some patients that experience headaches during this time have no previous history of headaches or migraines.”

How to eliminate headache from your fasting regimen:
Dr Shevel highlights caffeine withdrawal as the most common cause of migraine headache while fasting. Patients can often prevent migraine headaches and other migraine symptoms by reducing caffeine consumption in the weeks leading up to their fast, while a cup of strong coffee just before the start of the fast may prevent caffeine withdrawal headache. If the pain is prevented then migraine treatment becomes unnecessary.

Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) can also trigger headaches in many people. If a meal with high sugar content is taken before the fast begins, it can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels followed by a fast drop that may trigger a headache. Eating a meal with low sugar content before the fast may prevent the onset of a headache during the day. Contact The Headache Clinic for a list of foods which have a low glycemic index. If one uses this preventive treatment migraine often is aborted.

Dehydration is one of the common headache causes, so adequate intake of fluid before the onset of the fast can often prevent headaches. The human brain is more than 75% water, and it is very sensitive to the amount of water available to it. When the brain detects that the water supply is too low, it begins to produce histamines. This is essentially a process of water rationing and conservation, in order to safeguard the brain in case the water shortage continues for a long period of time. The histamines directly cause pain and fatigue, in other words a headache, even types such as sinus headache, tension headache, and cluster headache and the low energy that usually accompanies it. Make sure to drink large amounts of water before starting your fast and after ending it.

“Patients should also, as far as possible, try to avoid exposure to other triggers such as fluid retention, stress, fatigue and lack of sleep during their fast, when there is a greater tendency to experience headache,” says Dr Shevel. “Rest and sleep often to help prevent being subjected to headaches and the pain often melts away when the fast is broken.”

Medicinal help

During Ramadan, preventive medication that will last for the full twelve hours of the fast includes preparations such as the tablet Naproxen sodium, which is taken as a single dose of 400mg just before the fast begins. These tablets are sold over-the-counter at your pharmacy as “Aleve” formulated by Bayers AG. This is unlikely to help with cluster headache.

When to call your doctor

“If headaches are interfering with your fast, contact The Headache Clinic on 0861 678 911 as we have a number of techniques to relieve you of your pain so that you can continue your fast without having your focus on the fast overtaken by persistent headaches”, added Dr Shevel. If headaches persist after the fast or are severe in nature, patients are advised to seek help from a medical professional. Dr Shevel explains that headaches can be most successfully treated using a multidisciplinary approach, since no one medical specialization covers all the psychological and physical dimensions of severe headaches. Migraine surgery is an exciting new development in the permanent treatment of migraine and even cluster.

Festive season migraines

In summer, people who are prone to migraine headaches and migraine symptoms should take plenty of fluids. Dehydration is known to trigger migraine headache in some people, so be sure to remain properly hydrated. Drink plain water, as many carbonated soft drinks contain substances that can trigger headaches. Avoid caffeine and artificial sweeteners. Alcohol is dehydrating so don't drink liquor if it is a trigger to a headache. If you do drink, drink plenty of water during and after a session of indulgence. At least one glass of water to each glass of alcohol is advisable.

Dr Shevel says that too much hard partying into the wee hours may mean you do not get enough sleep - also a major trigger of tension headache and migraines. Eat a healthy diet with regular, well-balanced meals. Many headache and migraine sufferers are sensitive to bright light, so wear sunglasses for protection. Polarized lenses are recommended, as they cut out glare. A hat may also be helpful. Changes in season also bring about changes in the pollen types and these may trigger hay fever and sinus congestion, which can trigger what people often think are sinus headache.

Summer can also be a stressful time, thanks to family gatherings over the festive season, and stress is a headache trigger. Cluster headache can also be seasonal, but the reason for the appearance of a cluster is not known. Manage stress and plan ahead of time for big family get-togethers to avoid tension headaches. Avoid last-minute gift shopping, ensure your car is serviced before travelling, delegate chores to others in the family and make travel reservations well in advance. People who are sensitive to fragrances and/or odours should bear this in mind when shopping for sunscreen, insect repellent and other summer products.

General tips

Do · Eat balanced meals three times a day with healthy snacks in between to make sure your body gets the nutrients and energy it needs.

· Make sure that you don't become dehydrated.

· Put an ice pack on your forehead to help narrow swollen arteries and relieve tension headaches.

· Avoid bright flashing lights. A television or computer screen can also contribute to a headache.

· Breathe deeply - this promotes relaxation, relieves tension and provides more oxygen to the blood vessels.

· Massage your neck and shoulders or have it done by a therapist.

· Stretch for at least five minutes a day to loosen stiff muscles. Stretch your neck and jaw muscles carefully and gently.

· Keep a headache diary: take note of when the headache started, how long it lasted and what you consumed that could have triggered it (a free headache diary can be downloaded from The Headache Clinic website - www.headacheclinic.co.za).

· Exercise regularly to relieve tension and stimulate circulation.

Don't

· Skip meals. Keep your blood sugar levels stable by eating regularly and at least three times a day.

· Take too many painkillers. Your body becomes accustomed to them and they can make headaches worse in the long run.

· Lose out on sleep. Fatigue is one of the important headache causes, so aim to sleep seven or eight hours a night.

· Sleep on your stomach or in any position that causes muscle spasms in your neck.

· Eat any foods or drinks that have been identified as triggers (eg coffee, chocolate or alcohol).

What a neurologist says

Not everyone agrees with Dr Shevel's approach to the treatment of a migraine. A Durban neurologist comments:

"The current theory is that a migraine is primarily a brain disorder and then a vascular disorder. The study done in the Brain article quoted by the Headache Clinic focuses on the anterior circulation and not the posterior circulation. There is general consensus that the posterior circulation is involved in a migraine.

"In the article, the changes in the posterior circulation are dismissed as insignificant. The statistics show this, but the numbers are small; therefore, the study needs to be replicated with larger numbers.

"Migraine medications do not only act on the arteries, they also act centrally within the brain preventing transmission of pain. Drugs such as Amytryptilline, Topiramate and Sodium Valproate are used prophylactically to prevent migraine attacks. It is however unfortunate that with this preventive treatment migraine often does not improve. None of these act on the arteries.

"However, lifestyle modification and alternative medicine such as massage and reflexology are also effective in migraine prophylaxis. But an acute migraine attack will require medication."

Triggers

In a study of 1 750 migraine sufferers, about 75 percent reported at least one trigger of acute attacks. These included:

emotional stress (80 percent);

hormones in women (65 percent);

not eating (57 percent);

weather (53 percent);

sleep disturbances (50 percent);

odours (44 percent);

neck pain (38 percent);

lights (38 percent);

alcohol (38 percent);

smoke (36 percent);

sleeping late (32 percent);

heat (30 percent);

food (27 percent);

exercise (22 percent); and

sexual activity (5 percent)

Evidence also suggests that obesity is associated with an increased frequency and severity of migraines.

Migraine headaches are often worsened by rapid head motion, sneezing, straining, constant motion, or physical exertion. Menstrual migraines occur typically two days before and three days after the onset of menstruation.

Headaches from hell

Most of us know what it's like to have a throbbing headache, whether it be from a spike in stress, lack of sleep or the excesses of an all-night party.

But if your headache is relieved by a couple of paracetamol and a few hours' rest, count yourself lucky. Not everyone gets relief that easily.

Most people who have a headache go to work and soldier on, throbbing pain and all, but researchers say migraine headaches cost the United States $18-billion a year in lost productivity. Migraine headache occurs in similar proportions in South Africa and it is estimated that the cost to the economy is great.

Migraine symptoms however tend to make it worse. Most are all too familiar with the signs that signal an attack on its way - visual changes, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and blinding pain. For some, the headaches are so debilitating that going about their daily business is all but impossible and many migraine sufferers head for a bed in a dark room to get relief.

The causes of headaches and migraines are many and foods like chocolate, cheese, citrus are well-known triggers. But for others, the causes remain a mystery. With the correct treatment migraine triggers often do not work. Headache treatment at The Headache Clinic is based on the headache causes. Even such diverse types as sinus headache, tension headache, and cluster headache respond to treatment that is based on an accurate diagnosis. Many patients, even some of those with cluster, respond well to migraine surgery.

New research is shedding light on possible causes, however. A study published in the neurological journal Brain suggests that migraine attacks do not originate in the brain, as previously thought.

The widely-accepted belief that arteries in the brain dilate and cause migraine has been called into question by Dutch researchers who measured blood flow and the diameter of the arteries inside the brain during a migraine. The results suggested that migraine attacks "are not associated" with the dilation of arteries in the brain.

Dr Elliot Shevel, chairman of the South African Headache Society and a Maxillo-facial and oral surgeon, says he is delighted with the finding.

"I have been asserting for almost two decades that migraines do not originate in the brain. For the past few decades migraine drugs have been specifically designed to act on these very arteries that have been shown to have no association with migraine attacks at all. This is the reason that migraine drugs work so poorly," he explains.

Dr Shevel says that in some people, headaches - be they migraine or tension headaches - can be relieved by massage: "Get your hands on to your head. Feel every inch. Rub, compress, massage. Learn to self-massage or teach your partner, friend, parent or child. Massage should be firm but never painful. Painful massage will just make the problem worse. It should be soothing and relaxing, not something that you have to grit your teeth to endure. Learn the right stretching exercises to stretch the muscles of your head, face, neck and jaw. Stretching should be gentle and soothing, not agonizingly painful. Stretch your neck and jaw muscles carefully and you may get relief."

Shevel is not completely anti-medication, however, and says it is only appropriate for someone who suffers infrequent mild headaches.

According to the International Headache Society, if you are taking headache medication more than twice a week you are at risk of developing medication overuse or rebound headache. This means that the drugs you are taking will cause the headache or migraine to become more severe and more frequent over time. This leads to a downward spiral into constant medication use and constant pain. The more medication you take, the more pain you are in, the more medication you need, and the cycle continues.

Phumzile Ntanzi, 34, of Montclair, is someone who has found relief from migraine the drug-free way. She has suffered from migraine headaches from the age of 10.

"I can remember missing school because the pain was so intense. I would get painkillers from the clinic but nothing helped. They got progressively worse as I got older and in my mid-20s, they were at their worst. Sometimes I would have to be admitted to hospital and have injections to relieve the pain.

"I worked in a telecommunications call centre and when I look back now, my sick leave was for nothing other than

migraines. I would have no warnings at all. The pain would start and it would be intense. I had CT scans but the cause could never be established. The headaches were not triggered by specific foods either."

She consulted the Headache Clinic, went through tests to determine the cause of her headaches and was fitted with a Posture Modifying Appliance (PMA) to wear in her mouth. This prevents tension in the muscles in the jaw which are thought to cause the headaches. "It has been the answer for me," says Ntanzi. "My headaches have gone."

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