Headache and Migraine News

Miracle Medication helps 3 in 10 Migraine Sufferers!

James — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:28:29 +0000

Yes, there is an amazing medication that helps – 3 in 10 migraineurs! Ok, that doesn’t sound like much. Actually, it isn’t.

It is great for those 3, of course! But for the rest, no so great.

So what is this medication? Actually, it’s not just one medication – it’s most of the common ones you’ve heard of. No, I’m not saying that all medications only help 3 in 10, but that a single medication will probably only help 3 in 10.

This is based on research done at the Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center. Researchers wanted to pool results from 5,244 clinical trials of migraine medications.

They examined 59 drugs in 14 different drug classes. This would include medications like:

Topamax
Depakote
Inderol
Toprol-xl

…and many more.

The researchers concluded that, generally speaking, individual drugs helped – at least, better than a placebo – about 200-400 people out of 1000.

Of course, whether they helped or not, many medications aren’t continued because of side effects. Some of the worst offenders include topiramate (Topamax), other antiepileptics used off label, and antidepressants.

Some drugs did much better when it came to side effects vs. benefit. These included angiotensin inhibitors (such as lisinopril (ie Zestril)) and beta-blockers (such as metoprolol or propranolol).

Other than the lack of a miracle drug, there were a couple of other things that did not impress the researchers. One was that many trials were of poor quality. Another was that there is a lack in research into the long term effects of these drugs, particularly when it comes to quality of life.

Again, this report is not suggesting that only 3 in 10 migraineurs can be helped with medication. Considering all the various drugs and treatments and combinations, that number is much higher. There is good treatment available!

But once again we’re reminded that migraine is very individual – what helps one person won’t help another.

We’re also reminded that much of the excellent migraine-fighting medication available today is still very new. We don’t have good studies, and we don’t know what the risks are when it comes to taking these meds long term.

A neurologist reflects on these findings: Effective Migraine Prevention per 215 Trials
Also see: Is your migraine preventive treatment balanced between drugs’ benefits and harms?

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Miracle Medication helps 3 in 10 Migraine Sufferers!

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The Top 12 Mistakes People Make With Nasal Sprays

James — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:31:40 +0000

Medication isn’t cheap. So when you’re using a nasal spray, make sure you’re making the most of it by using it properly!

Here are the top 12 nasal spray mistakes that people make. Learn from their mistakes!

Photo courtesy of Kristina

They don’t blow their nose first: Don’t rush! Gently blow your nose before using a nasal spray. You don’t want the medication to get stuck, or just come out again.
They tilt their head too much: Sometimes it’s recommended that you tilt your head slightly forward or back, but leaning way over can make your medication less effective. And remember, keep your head up for a while after you’ve taken the medication.
They point the spray the wrong way: The nozzle should not point toward the centre of your nose. Point it up, and slightly out (away from the centre of the nose).
They keep both nostrils open: Close the other nostril with your other hand. You don’t want the spray just to go out the other side.
They hold their breath: Breath in gently as you spray.
They snort: Breath in gently, like you’re smelling a flower. Don’t “snort” the medicine. The spray could end up in the wrong place.
They don’t clean the nozzle: Obviously, this isn’t needed for a one-time use medication (for example a one-dose migraine spray). But if you’re using the spray over and over, follow instructions on how to clean the nozzle. Otherwise tiny bugs will soon have large families, and they’ll vacation in your nose.
They blow their nose afterwards: Yes, some people really do. Don’t! Give the medication a little time before you blow your nose again.
They prime – or don’t prime: Some nasal sprays should be primed first – that is, you give it a little spray into the air first. Other medications you should not prime. If it’s a one-dose medication, you’ll lose your only dose!
They use it past the expiry date: Not only may the medication be less effective, it may be contaminated over time.
They share their nasal spray: Never, ever share a nasal spray with someone else.
They don’t read through the instructions: Read the instructions in the package carefully before using. It will answer many questions, such as – should I shake it first? Should I prime it? How do I clean it (if needed)? How much is safe to use, and for how long?

Nasal sprays can be much more effective than other medication “delivery systems”. But they do need to be used properly so that the right dose can get where it needs to go when it needs to be there.

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

The Top 12 Mistakes People Make With Nasal Sprays

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Why is Headache Research Under-Funded?

James — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:25:03 +0000

June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. And no, that doesn’t mean it’s the month for headache sufferers to vent to each other. It means that there are good reasons why the public, governments, and health organizations need to be more aware of the drastic impact of headache conditions.

I’m not suggesting that there isn’t a time for headache sufferers to “vent” – we need to know that someone is listening and we’re not alone.

But the reality is that we could be doing more, as a society, to treat these serious conditions. And awareness can start the process.

A recent article in USA Today highlighted some of the reasons why headache conditions such as migraine and cluster aren’t getting more attention.

Is Headache Research Under-Funded?

According to this article, there’s little doubt. Even Dr. Linda Porter, pain policy adviser for the NIH (National Institutes of Health) admitted that more funding was needed.

Why the lack of funding?

Here are some of the reasons that this one article suggested (I’m expanding on some of them).

People are afraid to admit that they have migraine disease: Why would this be a problem? Well, it’s obvious that it makes migraine seem like less of a problem. But it becomes even more significant if someone in the government has migraine. Negatively, it could impact their ability to get votes. Positively, it could make them a powerful advocate to solve a worldwide serious disability.
Social stigma: This one is related to the first, of course. The stigma, which the article points out extends even to the medical community, makes migraine, cluster, and other headache issues less of a priority than they should be.
The economy: Some reasons for a lack of funding may not be logical, but they’re the reality. A simple reason is that the economy is not allowing for more money for anything. And it’s not easy to take money from one project to put it into another.
Few getting into headache research: More researchers need to be working on headache. Although somewhat of a vicious circle, if there were more people willing to devote themselves to this type of research, it would be easier to get funding.

The article reminds us again of some of the statistics when it comes to headache disorders. An estimated 60 million Americans are affected by migraine, and speaking of economic impact alone this costs $30 billion a year. Dr. Robert Shapiro also points out:

Cluster headache is a good case in point. Cluster headache is widely regarded as the most severe pain a human can experience — that’s not hyperbole. It has a population prevalence that’s approximately the same as multiple sclerosis.

However, NIH has directed $1.872 billion to multiple sclerosis research over 10 years, and $2 million to cluster research over 25 years!

Of course we don’t want to see money taken out of MS research. But the difference between the funding of the two is a scandal.

Raising awareness is important, and everyone can have a part. For ideas on how to be involved, check out these pages:

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Why is Headache Research Under-Funded?

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Headache Roams (Can you see Migraine in this ancient poem?)

James — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:05:13 +0000

This poem is from Babylonian tablets 3-4 thousand years old, but probably originates in more ancient Mesopotamian traditions. It was believed that headache was a demon that had to be cast out…

Headache roams over the desert
Blowing like the wind
Flashing like lightning
It is loosed above and below.
Flashing like a heavenly star
It comes like the dew
It stands hostile against the wayfarer
Scorching him like the day.

It has struck him
And like one with heart disease, he staggers
Like one without reason he is broken
Like one thrown in the fire
He is shrivelled

Headache is like the dread windstorm
No one knows its course
No one knows its full time or its bond.

This is based on a translation by R. Campbell Thompson. Do you see migraine symptoms here? Aura? Confusion? Feeling feverish? Doesn’t migraine feel like the hot, dry, dusty wind of a windstorm? And even a mention of heart disease (now known to be related to migraine)!

Observant in those days, weren’t they?

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Headache Roams (Can you see Migraine in this ancient poem?)

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Fight Back – Facebook Cover Photo

James — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:30:29 +0000

Still don’t have a cover photo for Migraine and Headache Awareness Month? Feel free to use this one. It’s full resolution – just right click on it and download it to your desktop, then upload to Facebook.

Whatever you do, do something today to raise awareness about migraine disease and the many headache disorders people suffer with in 2013.

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Fight Back – Facebook Cover Photo

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Migraine and Histamine: Part 2

James — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:01:02 +0000

Yesterday we started talking about histamines, DAO, and migraine. If you missed that post, you’ll need to go back in order to get background before you go on with this post.

The theory is that low diamine oxidase (DAO) levels in migraineurs may be a cause or at least a trigger of migraine attacks in some (or maybe most) migraineurs.

We talked about a study yesterday that suggested that low DAO was common in migraineurs. Now there are reasons to be positive about this study, but also reasons to be suspicious. First let’s look at some reasons in each category. But I’ll tell you from the start that I think there is some merit in the theory.

More reasons why this theory might work

First, a list of foods rich in histamine may look very familiar. It includes, for example, fermented and aged foods, such as red wine and aged cheese. Chocolate and nuts may also be on the list. Sound familiar? That’s right, these are all common migraine triggers, and foods often avoided in a low tyramine diet, which is probably the most well-known migraine diet. Could it be that, while avoiding tyramine, we’ve really been cutting down on histamine?

And what about symptoms? Yes, headache can be a symptoms of histamine intolerance. So can congestion (very common in migraine), and gastrointestinal symptoms (also common in migraine or comorbid with migraine (IBS for example)).

We do know that headache can actually be triggered by administering histamine (example).

Reasons to be suspicious

First, this was a fairly small study, especially when it comes to filtering other factors, such as medications that people were taking.

There could be other reasons why migraineurs had lower DAO levels. There are also a number of reasons for migraine symptoms.

In other words, other studies have shown common issues in migraine patients, such as genetic factors, low magnesium levels, neurological factors, etc. You simply cannot throw out all that information and say that this is now the only cause of migraine. Either it fits into the web of triggers and causes, or it is a trigger in some and not others, or it is actually a result of other migraine issues, not a main cause.

We cannot take one small study and claim we can now cure migraine.

But let’s take the DAO connection seriously…

That being said, there are good reasons to take this study seriously.

This is not just a vague theory from beginning to end. We already know that histamine levels can cause sometimes severe symptoms, and we have a pretty good idea how it works. We already know that many of these foods do trigger migraine attacks. We already know there are links between migraine and histamine. There’s a lot of science behind this idea. The main question is, just how much do low DAO levels impact migraine symptoms, and how many migraineurs may be in this category? It will take time before we know the answer.

Should I take action?

As with most neurological diseases such as migraine, it’s a challenge to generalize. Symptoms of both migraine and histamine intolerance can vary drastically from person to person. Tests may not be reliable. And treatment will work to varying degrees.

If you have symptoms that might suggest histamine intolerance, you should certainly look into lowering your histamine levels. We’ll talk about that more in a moment.

Here are some common symptoms... Skin problems, such as itchiness and hives. Swelling of tissues (including tightening in the throat). Headache. Congestion/runny nose. Fatigue. Indigestion and heartburn. Red or watery eyes. Irregular heart beat. You’ll especially notice these symptoms after eating histamine rich foods such as alcohol, foods with yeast, and cheese. Other symptoms common to migraine, such as nausea, may also occur.

The best way to see if you’re histamine intolerant – and this may not be what you want to hear – will be to change your diet for several months.

Tests may not be reliable (example). And remember, this is different from an allergy, which you may be tested for.

It is wise to talk to your doctor, particularly if you see clear symptoms after eating histamine rich foods (you are keeping a headache diary, right? You are including other symptoms and possible triggers, right?). You may actually have an allergy, or your doctor may have other recommendations.

Your doctor may not, however, know a lot about histamine intolerance.

Now here’s the tricky part. Even if you can’t see an obvious connection, it is possible that histamine is triggering at least some of your migraine attacks. And the diet may be the only way to find out for sure.

Finally, here are some common treatments for histamine intolerance:

A low-histamine diet: This one isn’t optional. If you do the things below, the assumption is that you’re already on a low-histamine diet. This will start out very strict, and last for several months in order to see if it’s a help. Don’t take a shortcut here. You’ll also have to watch out for some medications which could raise histamine levels. (An example of a low histamine diet)
Vitamins: Your doctor or specialist may recommend vitamins that will help support the diet. Vitamin C and vitamin B6 are commonly prescribed.
DAO supplements: DAO supplements can also support your diet. Some of these include HistDAO, DAOSin, and Histame.
Other supplements: Other supplements may help, such as a good probiotic. Some people find that their histamine levels get out of balance due to imbalanced flora in the intestinal tract.
Antihistamines: It might be surprising the antihistamines are low on the list. They’re not always a good preventative or treatment generally, but they can sometimes help in case of emergency (ie if you accidentally ate something high in histamine).

Thanks for sticking with us through all this information! Let us know if you have experience with histamine intolerance, or if anything else is consistent with your symptoms or treatment.

Want to learn even more? Start here: Histamine and histamine intolerance

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Migraine and Histamine: Part 2

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Migraine and Histamine: Part 1

James — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 01:01:13 +0000

Recently Marisa, one of our HeadWay subscribers, sent me a note about a study relating diamine oxidase levels and migraine. This opens up a pretty complex topic, but we like complex topics around here – especially when they might help someone! So let’s give it a go.

First, what exactly is diamine oxidase? Diamine oxidase (DAO) is an enzyme also known as histaminase. DOA occurs naturally in the body. DOA breaks down histamines.

Histamines are also very important to the body. We all have them. But it is possible to have too much.

So – what if I have too much histamine? By now you might be thinking – allergies. That’s right, there’s a connection. When you are allergic to something, your body releases histamine, and the histamine starts many of the symptoms you’re familiar with. You know, watery eyes and congestion, for example. Actually, inflammation is triggered by the histamine.

Normally, histamine is an important player in the body’s fight against invaders – the immune system. But again, too much histamine (or histamine at the wrong time!) can cause problems.

So why in the world would I have too much histamine? There are actually a number of reasons your body could have too much histamine. Histamine can come from food, for example. Some foods are higher in histamine than others – take for example wine and other fermented foods and drinks.

Sometimes food poisoning comes from high histamine levels, particularly in fish.

Another way levels can get too high is if the histamine isn’t broken down properly in the body. That’s right, one of the things that breaks down histamine is DAO. But a shortage or malfunction of anything that might be involved in the breakdown of histamine could cause a problem (and we’re not going to get into all that today!).

So we know that histamine levels can cause nasty symptoms, and we know that there are a number of things that can change histamine levels in the body. Now, on to the study.

Study on DAO and Migraine

Now, there are actually a couple of related studies, but I’m going to focus on the first one, reported on in 2010. In fact, the connection between migraine and histamines is far from new.

82 migraineurs were compared with 82 controls (people without migraine). DAO levels were measured in the patients.

Actually, DAO levels tended to be low in both groups. So apparently low DAO is not so uncommon.

However, diamine oxidase levels were significantly lower for migraineurs. In the end, almost half of them had very low levels, and almost all had low levels.

If DAO is low, it’s quite possible that histamine is high – and that means histamine intolerance (known by a variety of other names, including histamine excess or histaminosis).

Now another interesting fact came out of the study – most of the migraine patients were, in the opinion of the researchers, experiencing symptoms more common in histamine intolerance than in migraine after drinking alcohol or eating histamine rich foods. They estimated 95% were in this category.

Now, to suggest that most migraineurs are low in DAO certainly makes it sound like there could be a solid connection. But there are reasons to be suspicious of this theory – and also more reasons to think it may be valid.

Tomorrow we’ll talk about whether low DAO levels could be triggering migraine symptoms in at least some people, and what the treatment may be if this is the case.

If you’re interested in the full study, it’s available in Spanish in pdf format here: Evaluación del déficit de diaminooxidasa en pacientes con migraña.

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Migraine and Histamine: Part 1

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Is this why we’re not getting better treatment?

James — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:28:03 +0000

Headache: Worldwide Challenges to Good Treatment

Are these the reasons why we’re not getting better treatment? Neurologists worldwide think so…

Lack of professional education
Lack of headache-specific health care resources
Challenges of treating patients (ie comorbid conditions)
Medications not available
Lack of public awareness

By far, most people are self-treated. And so? The education and awareness must start with US!

June is Migraine Awareness Month. This is just a reminder from the World Health Organization of some of the challenges we face. And there is a lot we can do to face those challenges! Raise awareness among our networks, educate ourselves and make sure our own doctors are up to date, and raise awareness among governments and other organizations.

One note: #3 in the list seems to cover a range of issues – issues that are not necessarily the “fault” of the patient. For example, treating comorbid conditions – diseases and conditions that tend to go along with migraine, for example. At the very least, from a patient standpoint, it does highlight again the need to communicate well with our doctors and keep track of symptoms and medical history.

Incidentally, the top two changes recommended by neurologists were professional education and raising awareness. Awareness really is the seed that can grow to solve many headache treatment challenges worldwide.

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Is this why we’re not getting better treatment?

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Headache from WiFi? Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

James — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 02:08:14 +0000

Is it possible that wifi – cell phones – computers – basically, modern technology – could be at the root of your headache?

That’s the claim of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). Common symptoms of EHS include redness or tingling of the skin, fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, aches and pains, and heart palpitations.

Of course, these symptoms could be the result of a thousand things. The trick is to rule out other conditions, and see some kind of evidence that the technology is the problem.

When it comes to EHS, the main concern is EMF exposure – electromagnetic fields. EMF can come from anything as simple as a lamp, power lines – anything with voltage, and wireless signals (think cell towers, cell phones, iPods, etc).

Here’s the problem. Studies have so far failed to convince most researchers that EHS is a significant problem. First, even when it is accepted as a “real” condition, it’s extremely rare. Second, tests in controlled conditions have found that most often those who thought they had EHS were probably more affected by other conditions than by things like wifi signals.

For example, the issue was significant enough for the World Health Organization to take notice, but their findings were not encouraging for those convinced they suffer from EHS.

But any migraineur who has done a bit of research will take notice of the word “hypersensitivity”. We know that migraineurs have measurable wiring in their bodies that make their brains more sensitive. Things that don’t bother the “average Joe” (who is that? I’ve never met him…) can be serious concerns for someone with migraine disease.

It does seem to be the case that at least some of those who once thought they had EHS actually were suffering from undiagnosed conditions. But there’s another issue – many of these electromagnetic fields are not alone. They include other things that certainly may trigger migraine attacks – bright lights, flicker, noise – and so on.

So it is very possible that this modern technology is bothering you – but it’s a complex study to find out how or why.

In most countries, there are guidelines about how much EMF exposure you’ll get in a home. However, some people watch out for things that can raise EMF – living close to high voltage power lines, wiring on the street, older appliances, and your proximity to appliances/computers/any electronics etc.

It’s not a bad thing to experiment with turning off and getting away from EMF. However, this should be done with continued investigation into other causes and triggers.

For more information: A recent article on women and EHS
The Man Who Was Allergic to Radio Waves
Ways of reducing exposure to EMFs

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Headache from WiFi? Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

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Congratulations: “My Days of Losing Words” is Funded!

James — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:29:02 +0000

I got news of this fascinating migraine photo book just a little too late. It’s a Kickstarter project from Rachael Jablo, entitled My days of losing words: a photo book about chronic migraine.

Our congratulations to Rachael for a fully funded project! And I know our readers will still enjoy listening to your story. We’re looking forward to seeing the book when it’s finished!

From the Headache and Migraine News Blog

Congratulations: “My Days of Losing Words” is Funded!

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