Migraine
Jefferson researchers want to learn if heart defect ‘at heart’ of some migraines
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Researchers of the heart and headaches at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are combining efforts to determine if a common heart defect may be the cause of some forms of migraine headaches.
Investigators from the Jefferson Heart Institute and the Jefferson Headache Center are enrolling participants in a blinded study to determine if closing a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), a small hole or flap that can allow blood to flow between the right and left sides of the heart, can stop migraines. In newborns, the PFO closes at or shortly after birth, but in 20 percent of adults the gap remains open to some degree.
Innovative Treatment for Migraines Combines Botox and Surgery
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Five years ago, Sharon Schafer Bennett suffered from migraines so severe that the headaches disrupted her life, kept her from seeking a job and interfered with participation in her children’s daily activities.
Now, thanks to an innovative surgical technique performed by a UT Southwestern Medical Center plastic surgeon who helped pioneer the procedure, the frequency and intensity of Mrs. Bennett’s migraines have diminished dramatically - from two to three per week to an occasional one every few months.
Acupuncture shown to relieve migraines: study
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Acupuncture, one of the most popular complementary treatments, works as well as standard drugs for migraines, German researchers said on Thursday.
They compared the effects of real and fake acupuncture with drug treatments for migraine and found all equally effective.
“The main finding is that Chinese acupuncture is as effective as drug treatment for the prophylaxis of migraine,” said Hans-Christoph Diener, a neurologist at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.
Feverfew extract can reduce migraine frequency
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A stable extract of the popular herbal remedy feverfew, called MIG-99, appears to be particularly effective in preventing migraine, German researchers report in the current issue of Cephalagia.
“Feverfew in the form of MIG-99 is an effective and safe prophylactic treatment of frequent migraine attacks,” said lead investigator Dr. Hans-Christoph Diener.
Infants admitted to ICU may later develop migraine
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Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at birth is associated with the development of migraine later on in childhood, according to investigators from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Previous studies have suggested that early painful or stressful events can sensitize an individual to later pain or stress, Dr. Anuradha Venkatasubramanian and Seetha B. Maneyapanda report in the medical journal Pediatrics.
Migraine History May Predict Severity of Illness in Depressed Patients
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A previous diagnosis of migraine suggests that a fresh diagnosis of Depression may mean a particularly severe illness, with significant comorbidities.
In a presentation to the American Academy of Family Physicians meeting here, a group from Kalamazoo, Mich., reported on an office-based chart review of 107 patients newly diagnosed with Depression.
Millions in US suffer migraines needlessly
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The results of a new survey suggest that more than 11 million Americans could benefit from treatment to prevent migraines, yet only 1.4 million actually take these medications.
Based on findings from the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention study, which involved a survey of 162,576 US residents, researchers estimate that about 28 million Americans experience migraine headaches. Of these individuals, 11.5 million are considered candidates for preventative medications, because they experience at least one migraine per week.
