Latest news with #migraines
ABC News
21-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Bendigo concussion clinic booked out as patients travel 200km for treatment
On bad afternoons for a few months last year, 24-year-old concussion victim Jeremy Rodi would forget how he had spent the day. Constant migraines, nausea and fatigue made it one of the most terrifying periods of his life, and he became anxious about his future. "My close family was quite scared. It was just so uncertain how I was going to wake up feeling," Mr Rodi said. "Am I [going to be] able to do the normal things that parents do with their kids? Mr Rodi is aware of six concussions he suffered while playing football, including as a talented junior footballer who went through Victoria's elite under-18 competition. He said he had "no idea" some of the blows would have such a big impact on him in his treatment, Mr Rodi saw a specialist in Melbourne. Now, a concussion clinic has opened in the regional city where he lives, Bendigo, and appointments are booked out. The AFL has faced a reckoning over its concussion management since former players suffering the long-term effects of concussion launched a class action. It introduced policies for players and clubs at elite and local levels after a series of high-profile cases of former players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head injuries. As awareness of concussion grows, so too does demand for treatment in regional areas. Daniel Hamilton is a sports physiologist and physiotherapist who opened a dedicated concussion clinic in Bendigo in February, the first of its kind in Victoria outside of Melbourne and Geelong. "People are probably travelling between 100 and 200 kilometres," Mr Hamilton said. Mr Hamilton said most of his patients had suffered head knocks during weekend community football. And even though Australian football is the leading cause of sport-related concussion in Victoria, he said many local club officials were not aware of the education resources available. "That's half the battle," Mr Hamilton said. Mr Rodi agreed there was not enough concussion awareness at a local sporting level. "If you get hit in the head and you're not feeling right, you need to come off and we need to assess you," he said. It is estimated that more than 100,000 sports concussions occur each year in Australia, most unreported, according to AIS Sports Concussion Guidelines analysis. Mr Hamilton said he hoped his outreach educational programs on concussion with local clubs would broaden awareness on how to manage head knocks. "We need to go through the right protocol and the right rehabilitation," he said. "Things like change of work, change of school [and] lifestyle modification can make a big difference to minimising the risk of getting those symptoms that last for six to eight to 12 weeks. AFL Victoria advises clubs to use the HeadCheck App, an evidence-based phone application that helps identify concussions. "Anything that can guide people without the medical knowledge or background is beneficial at the moment," Mr Hamilton said. However, neuroscience academic Alan Pearce said the management and understanding of concussion in sport should not be based on a phone app. "One of the things about concussion is that it's a medical diagnosis and no-one else other than a medical doctor can diagnose a concussion," he said. "What clubs really should be doing is more than just rely on an app. "Community clubs around Victoria and Australia really need to be developing relationships with their local concussion clinics and doctors in order to be able to look after their players properly." There is one concussion per 20 players each season in community football, according to the AFL. But Dr Pearce said he believed the actual figure was six to 10 times higher. "Many physios and osteos and doctors don't really know what to do," he said. AFL Victoria has been contacted for comment.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Man, 38, diagnosed with deadly brain cancer with grim survival rate after suffering painful sensation in head
Branden Newman had been suffering from migraines since he was just 13 years old. Normally, he would take an over-the-counter painkiller and the pain in his head would disappear within 24 hours. But in late April, the Texas native suffered a six-day migraine that left him unable to eat and constantly feeling dizzy, nauseous and sensitive to light. It was then that the now 38-year-old was taken to the emergency room, where scans revealed a large 'mass' in his head that had wrapped around one of his vital blood vessels. Doctors diagnosed him with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and deadly types of brain cancer which most patients do not survive for longer than 18 months. Revealing his symptoms to TODAY, he said: 'I had a headache for six days straight. I wasn't eating. I was sleeping a lot and just not myself. I was just out of it.' Just six days after the diagnosis, he was rushed through for major surgery where doctors cut out part of his skull to remove 90 percent of the tumor. But during the surgery, one of his major blood vessels spasmed, causing a stroke and now leaving him struggling to move anything on the left side of his body. Glioblastomas can be diagnosed at any age and are particularly difficult to treat because the tumors can grow tentacles deep into the brain. About 12,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year, and only five percent of them survive longer than five years, estimates suggest. Cases are rising, experts say, including a slight uptick among those under 40 years old, but physicians are stumped as to the cause. Newman went to his primary care doctor, and then the emergency room after his wife Joanna, who works in a physician's office, recommended that he got checked. 'Branden had a migraine for six days,' she told local news station KCENTV. 'He's always had migraines, but this one was different because it lasted so long and he was nauseous and the light really bothered him.' Revealing the moment she found out the diagnosis, she said: 'My boss came and got me out of the [operating room] and told me that they found a mass on Branden and I lost it.' He was diagnosed with a 'mass' on May 2, and underwent a craniotomy to remove it on May 8, a surgery where doctors cut open the skull to access the brain. He has endured radiation for six weeks followed by weekly chemotherapy for six months to eliminate the tumor cells, and is now undergoing daily chemotherapy. Newman is also taking perampanel, an anti-seizure medication that can have anti-tumor effects, and gabapentin, also an anti-seizure drug that has been linked to improved survival among people with the disease. Doctors said that during the surgery, they tried to remove the tumor from around his middle cerebral artery, one of the three major arteries that supply blood to the brain. But during the procedure, the blood vessel spasmed, causing a stroke and damage to the brain tissue. He was initially unable to move his left side after waking up from surgery but has now recovered enough movement to walk again. He is still having trouble with his left arm. Newman revealed his diagnosis amid Glioblastoma Awareness Day on July 16, which aims to make more people aware of the disease. Warning signs of the disease include a persistent headache, vomiting, loss of appetite, double vision and changes in mood and personality. Doctors say the overwhelming majority of headaches do not represent tumors, but those who are concerned should speak to their primary care providers. Newman and his wife were childhood sweethearts, having met when he was 13 and she was just 11 years old while on a camping trip. The pair dated in high school and married in 2007. But shortly after the wedding, the pair faced a crisis when Newman's wife was unexpectedly diagnosed with a non-cancerous spinal cord tumor that left her struggling to walk. Newman stuck by her and supported her through the surgery and the recovery. His wife said: 'Branden stuck by me through all of that, even at such a young age and facing life with potentially having your wife in a wheelchair. 'He took great care of me all the way through. I am so grateful. He's such a good man.' She is now looking after Newman and helping to support him while he battles his diagnosis. The pair has also launched a fundraiser to help cover hospital and emergency bills triggered by battling the disease. It has already raised $140,000 out of its $35,000 goal.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Relieve Head Pain Fast With These Natural Headache Remedies
Roughly twice as many women deal with frequent headaches as men, according to a study in The Journal of Headache and Pain. And we may be more susceptible to them in the summer, when high heat and humidity can cause headache-triggering imbalances in brain chemicals. The good news? There are a few natural remedies that can provide fast and effective headache relief. From migraines to tension headaches, keep reading to see the simple fixes for your head pain. While over-the-counter painkillers can also deliver headache relief, they can sometimes trigger unwanted side effects such as GI upset. If you'd prefer to try a natural remedy first, these quick fixes are study-proven to help ease the ache. Kicking back with a bottle of ginger beer (alcoholic or non-alcoholic!) is a refreshing way to get relief from a migraine headache. Zingy ginger root works in the same way as the prescription medication sumatriptan by boosting serotonin, which restricts inflamed blood vessels. It eases migraine pain by 90 percent within two hours, according to a study in the journal Phytotherapy Research. Not a fan of ginger beer? Try sipping ginger tea for natural headache relief instead. Also smart: Stash a bag of dried beans in the freezer, and at the first sign of a migraine, place it over your eyes. Research in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests this reverses burgeoning migraines entirely for 71 percent of people. The 'beanbag' blocks out pain-triggering light, while cold therapy short-circuits pain signals in as little as three minutes. Switching between warm and cold compresses provides fast and natural sinus headache relief, according to experts at the American Sinus Institute. A warm washcloth draped over your eyes and nose loosens mucus to ease congestion, while a cold one lowers pressure-causing inflammation and numbs pain. Leave the warm compress on for three minutes and the cold one for 30 seconds, alternating until pain eases. Refreshing peppermint oil provide tension headache relief within 15 minutes when applied to the temples and forehead, say German scientists—results on par with Extra Strength Tylenol. Peppermint oil has a cooling effect that prevents headache-triggering muscle contractions. Simply add two to three drops of peppermint oil into an ounce of vegetable oil and apply to your forehead and temples. Also smart: The next time you feel a tension headache brewing, close your eyes and ask yourself three questions: 'Where is my headache? What color is it? What shape is it?' In under two minutes, the pain will have disappeared. Scientists say asking these questions works similarly to in-office biofeedback, alerting your brain of hidden tensions so you can relax muscles in your head and neck. Indeed, Harvard Medical School research suggests it cuts tension headache pain by up to 60 percent. Acupressure involves applying pressure to certain areas of the body to stimulate key nerves. And experts say it may relieve painful cluster headaches (pain on one side of your head) when you press the fleshy area of your hand between your thumb and index finger. Simply press your right thumb on this area on your left hand (or vice versa—either works!), then firmly massage in a circular motion for two to three minutes until you feel relief. Scrolling on your smartphone forces your neck into a position that can cause head pain that radiates up from the base of your skull. For speed headache relief, lift your head straight, then gently 'trace' each letter of the alphabet in the air using your nose. This works like a massage from the inside out, loosening the muscles that connect the neck to the skull and erasing pain before you reach the letter Z. If you want to block head pain before it even starts, the National Headache Foundation suggests keeping a headache diary. Simply jot down how long a headache lasts, when it occurs and what happened leading up to it. This can help you spot patterns and triggers that may trigger your head pain, then make the appropriate lifestyle tweaks to reduce your risk of future flare-ups. More natural pain relief: Ozempic Headaches: Doctors Explain Causes and Cures Waking Up With Headaches? Experts Reveal the Causes and How to Prevent Head Pain in the Morning 5 Essential Oils for Colds That Ease Congestion, Headaches and Speed Recovery Naturally This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
Gizmodo
13-07-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
Why the Weather Is Literally Giving You a Headache
If you are one of the 39 million Americans in the U.S. living with migraines, there's a good chance an intense headache will begin when the weather shifts. You aren't alone. Studies find 30% to 50% of people with migraines identify some type of weather change as a trigger, making it the most commonly reported migraine source. Yet, it's also one of the most puzzling. As a neurologist and headache specialist practicing in Colorado, a place with frequent weather shifts, patients often tell me that weather is one of their biggest migraine triggers. The results can disrupt work, school and social plans, and create a sense of helplessness. Doctors still don't fully understand why some brains are more sensitive to environmental changes. What we do know is that people with migraines have especially sensitive nervous systems and that certain environmental changes—like shifts in air pressure, temperature, humidity, and air quality—can activate pathways in the brain that lead to pain. Weather triggers can vary from person to person, but there are a few common migraine culprits: Barometric pressure changes, or changes in atmospheric pressure, are among the most commonly cited triggers. When a storm system moves in, the air pressure drops. Some scientists believe this change may affect the pressure inside your head or how blood vessels in your brain dilate and constrict. One theory is that changes in barometric pressure may cause a small imbalance in the pressure between the inside of your skull and the outside environment. That might directly stimulate pain-sensitive nerves in the head, triggering inflammation and the start of a migraine. Others point to inflammation, the way the brain processes sensory input, and changes in serotonin levels – which play a key role in activating migraine. Temperature extremes, with very hot or very cold days, or sudden changes in temperature, can throw off the body's internal balance. High humidity or rapid shifts in moisture levels can have a similar effect. Air pollutants like ozone and nitrogen dioxide can cause inflammation in the nerves that play a role in migraines. Bright sunlight can also be especially bothersome, likely due to heightened sensitivity to light and an overactive visual processing system in the brain. Lightning and strong winds may also be linked to migraine attacks in certain individuals. In short, weather changes can act as stressors on a brain that's already wired to be more sensitive. The exact triggers and responses vary from person to person, but the research suggests that the interaction between weather and our biology plays a significant role for a subset of patients with migraines. You can't change the weather, but you can be proactive. Here are a few tips to help weatherproof your migraine routine: It's important to remember that while weather can be a trigger, it's rarely the only one. Migraine is usually the result of a perfect storm of factors: genetic susceptibility, hormones, stress, sleep, food, and, yes, the weather. That's why identifying your personal triggers and building a plan, if necessary, with the support of a medical provider, can make a big difference in managing migraines. Weather-related migraine can be one of the most frustrating triggers because it feels completely out of your hands. However, with knowledge, tracking, and the right treatment strategies, you can take back a sense of control. Danielle Wilhour, Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
‘Life-changing': Viral TikTok migraine hack that actually works
Migraines are a scourge that affect more than one billion people worldwide and because the cause isn't fully understood, treating them can be tricky, with sufferers often curling up in a dark, quiet room, waiting for the pain to pass. But one young woman has revealed the bizarre, unlikely hack that works for her — even when pain meds don't. And a neurologist told The New York Post her method actually makes sense. In a video which has had over 36 million views on TikTok, Tilly Walker (@toeatilly) lies in bed, face up, while balancing a full bottle of Evian water on her forehead. 'How I sleep, as no medicine helps my migraines, but balancing a water bottle on my head stops the pain,' she explained. She said figuring it out has been 'life-changing knowledge.' While this basic balancing act may seem like too simple a solution, experts say there's science to support it. 'There is a long history of using pressure on the forehead to relieve pain, from placing stones on the body to tying a handkerchief tight on the head,' Noah Rosen, MD, a neurologist and director of the Northwell Headache Center, told The Post. 'Some of the benefits from this may be Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Control where a strong stimulus may suppress another one, like rubbing around a paper cut. 'There have even been devices like the Nerivio patch, which try to use a stimulus on the arm to reduce headaches.' For Tilly, the pressure is key — she noted that the bottle has to be full for it to work. And commenters have pointed out how absolutely desperate she must have been when she stumbled upon the trick. 'This is the sort of thing that only a person with a migraine could think of trying,' wrote one. But she's not alone — several commenters have admitted to using the water bottle method as well. 'GIRL!!! I thought I was the only one doing it, it works so well,' one said. Rosen noted that the bottle may also function as a mindfulness tool, offering further relief. 'Focusing on the bottle rather than the pain may help to be in the moment rather than focusing on a discomforting abstraction,' he explained. Other commenters have chimed in to share their own weird recommendations for alleviating a severe headache, including consuming raw mimosa flowers, wearing an eye mask, applying potato slices to the forehead, submerging feet in hot water, and getting a daith or inner ear piercing. Other cures include the viral 'migraine meal', which consists of a large Coca-Cola and a large order of fries from McDonald's. One viral video with more than 3.8 million views shows a girl at the fast-food chain's drive-through with overlay text reading, 'Trying McDonald's chips and a Diet Coke because I've had a headache for 48 hours and TikTok said it would help.' Doctors say the caffeine in soda can operate as a nerve disrupter, a substance that affects nerve activity and blood flow to the brain. Sometimes, this disturbance works positively, but it's a roll of the dice or a draw of the straw, as caffeine consumption can also trigger migraines. In addition, the salt and sugar present in the 'migraine meal' can constrict blood vessels and also impact blood flow to the brain. Aside from fast food, experts have seen success in using magnesium to prevent migraines. For his part, Rosen says the water bottle hack is a generally safe choice for migraine sufferers so long as they take precautions. 'I would say if you do it, be careful and don't let it hurt your eyes, nose or spill on you!'
