Latest news with #migraines
Android Authority
24-05-2025
- Health
- Android Authority
My smartphone was giving me migraines, so I made these 5 changes
Megan Ellis / Android Authority Around 2022, I was diagnosed with chronic migraines. Unlike normal headaches, migraines come with a variety of neurological symptoms on top of the pain, such as nausea, light and sound sensitivity, and difficulty concentrating. As I took the time to figure out what my migraine triggers were, a few culprits stood out, including the time spent on my smartphone. The bright screen would often trigger migraines or worsen my existing symptoms — so I had to make a few changes to reduce the impact it had. Most of these changes also help reduce eye strain, so you can try them out even if you don't have migraines or headaches from screen use. Since changing these settings and features, I notice my eyes don't twitch after using my screen for long periods of time. But the biggest effect was on my migraine symptoms, with me experiencing fewer migraines triggered by screen use and ensuring I could still use my phone during mild migraines. What do you do to reduce migraines and eye strain from looking at your smartphone? 0 votes I set my phone to dark mode. NaN % I use a warm filter on my screen. NaN % I use a browser that forces dark mode. NaN % I reduce the brightness of my screen. NaN % Other (let us know in the comments!). NaN % 1. Enabling dark mode as the default Megan Ellis / Android Authority While there may be reasons why you might want to avoid dark mode, the feature is essential for me. I used to only use dark mode at night time when I was preparing for bed, but I've now made sure that dark mode is the default mode on all of my devices. In many ways, dark mode has become an accessibility feature for me. In many ways, dark mode has become an accessibility feature for me. Without it, I wouldn't be able to use my device without risking triggering a migraine or making an existing migraine worse. On my Oppo Reno 10 Pro+, I also have the option to set a dark mode style: Enhanced, Medium, or Gentle. Since Enhanced includes the most darkness, with a black background, I opted for this style. Switching over to dark mode on my phone also means that most of my apps are also in this mode. For the few that didn't switch over automatically, I manually toggled dark mode within the app settings. When I set up my S23 Ultra, dark mode was one of the first settings I enabled on my Samsung device. I also apply this mode, as well as other settings, to any device I review. 2. Switching to Eye Comfort mode Megan Ellis / Android Authority Eye Comfort, also known as Eye Protection or Night Light (depending on the exact OS you're using), is a blue light filter available on Android smartphones. I used to use a blue light filter app on my phone, but since Android introduced the ability to customize the filter setting, I can use the feature directly through my smartphone software. I also made sure to toggle Eye Comfort to the default setting, rather than limiting it to certain hours. Meanwhile, I always adjust the temperature to as warm as possible to improve my comfort when experiencing light sensitivity. Since my eyes adjust to this filter, it is not as distracting as it might seem. Since my eyes adjust to this filter, it is not as distracting as it might seem. However, the drawback is that it can affect the color accuracy of images you're viewing. But I prefer this caveat over the alternative of having my phone cause headaches and eye strain. 3. Switching out Chrome with Brave Megan Ellis / Android Authority I've been meaning to make the switch away from Chrome for a while now since I want to be less reliant on Google apps. But the lack of the ability to use my dark mode extension on Chrome's Android app was the final push I needed to stop using the app as my default mobile browser. Instead, I've switched to Brave, which allows me to force dark mode on web pages that use a light theme by default. While many websites support dark mode, there are still a few that only have a light theme. I noticed this the most when reading news or looking up recipes. The feature to force dark mode is available in Brave's Appearance settings, where you can choose to enable night mode.' So far, I haven't encountered any issues with getting sites to deliver a black background and white text, which has made the change to a different browser worthwhile. 4. Manually setting brightness Rushil Agrawal / Android Authority While Adaptive Brightness on Android is useful, I found that my light sensitivity often meant that the brightness my phone automatically set was simply too bright. This is especially a problem at night, when I set my screen to 0% brightness when I'm in bed. The main drawback of this is a slight loss of convenience. When I go outside, my phone screen doesn't automatically adjust, and I have to use muscle memory to turn the brightness back up. But the main benefit is that my phone doesn't automatically turn the brightness back up once I've turned it down. Manually adjusting the brightness has been worth the convenience trade-off. Sometimes I would be using my phone when I started to feel the familiar pain at the back of my eyes, and I'd realize my screen was too bright — but by this time it was already too late, the migraine cascade had started. So, manually adjusting the brightness has been worth the convenience trade-off. 5. Setting my phone to its maximum refresh rate Megan Ellis / Android Authority While most of my changes benefit eye strain in general, this one is a bit more specific to migraines. Motion sensitivity is a common symptom in migraines, and I find that certain motions on my smartphone can make my nausea worse. That's why I always ensure that my display refresh rate is set to my phone's maximum (120Hz). This higher refresh rate reduces stuttering on my screen while scrolling, which in turn helps me not feel as sick from the jittery motion. Of course, increasing my screen's refresh rate doesn't do anything when it comes to watching videos that trigger my motion sensitivity — like videos recorded with a shaky camera. But at least I can easily scroll through my phone's settings and Reddit threads without causing issues (as long as I don't scroll too fast). Making these changes not only reduced my eye strain and light sensitivity but also made my phone much less of a trigger for my migraines. When a migraine does hit, these changes allow me to still use my device when I'm stuck in bed and need to catch up on messages. If you find yourself having a similar experience or experiencing eye strain from screen use, I'd also suggest trying out different ways to reduce the impact of screen use — both on your smartphone and your computer.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Anastacia reveals the terrifying menopause symptoms that she thought were caused by a brain tumour
US pop star Anastacia has revealed the terrifying moment she thought she had a brain tumour. Speaking on The Project on Monday night, the singer, 56, said she was shocked to discover she was actually experiencing menopausal migraines. Anastacia went on to explain she had been self-diagnosing and had 'no idea' that her symptoms, which included exhaustion and brain fog, were 'hormone-related'. 'It was really really scary, but I'm not scared to talk about it... Menopause has not been easy,' the noughties icon told The Project hosts Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris on Monday. 'What's been the hardest thing?' Harris asked. 'Everything. I had every side effect that I had no idea that I had. I didn't really know what was wrong. My SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) came back. My heart palpitations,' she explained. The singer, 56, said she had no idea she was actually experiencing menopausal migraines 'I thought I had a brain tumour. I was not in a good place towards the end and then realised that I had no numbers. 'So I was like "Oh, okay. Well give me some numbers kids. Give me progastrin".' Anastasia joined the program to promote the upcoming Australian leg of her 25th anniversary tour of her debut album, Not That Kind. 'I am wearing my low rise jeans on tour,' Anastacia said as she explained her enduring commitment to Y2K fashion staples. 'You never know with my age and the mesopause situation, we might fluctuate between sizes on the tour. 'I went through a period of wanting to eat everything in the refrigerator and now I'm on bioidenticals girl, so you know how it is,' she told Sarah. Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) for menopause involves using hormones that are chemically identical to those naturally produced by the body. Sarah praised the singer's 'good attitude' about her health struggles, to which Anastacia replied: 'I don't like the side of winging and moaning.' Anastasia has previously suffered from an abnormal heart rhythm, and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 13. The pop icon was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, aged 34, and then again a decade later. Last month, Loose Women fans were left moved by Anastacia's two-word verdict on her cancer battle that involved 16 surgeries. While chatting to Christine Lampard, Brenda Edwards, Coleen Nolan and Jane Moore, her health came up. Anastacia said: 'When I got it the second time I decided to do the mastectomy, that means it's all gone. 'I made a very, very hard choice early and the minute the surgery was complete, I never worried about it again. 'I did have 15 more surgeries after that surgery to get to where I was complete, but who cares?' She poignantly signed off: 'I won!' Anastacia is heading Down Under for the time in a decade as part of a world tour celebrating 25 years of her hit debut album, Not That Kind. The noughties hitmaker will play shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in September, and advance tickets for the gigs will go on sale from March 28. Anastacia last toured Australia in 2015 as part of her Resurrection Tour.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Doctors issue heat warning to people with common issue – high temperatures can make it even worse
WITH temperatures in the UK rising into the summer, health experts have issued a warning to people with a particular ailment. While the warm weather may be welcome after the cold winter months, it's essential to take steps With many parts of the country experiencing high temperatures, peaking at 23C on Sunday and Monday, in the lead up to summer, it's important to prioritise your health in the sun. And with weather set to continue heating up into May and June, a medical expert warned that millions of patients will be left more vulnerable to migraines. While Brits tend to flock to the nearest parks and beer gardens to bask in the sunshine, many may be guilty of neglecting hydration. The risk of people with migraines suffering an attack is greatly heightened in these conditions. "People find that they get more migraines when it gets hot," Dr. Steve Allder, a neurologist, told the Daily Mail. Higher temperatures can cause blood vessels to constrict and expand. This fluctuation in blood flow to the brain can then contribute to migraines. Hotter weather also increases the risk of dehydration, which can make brain tissues shrink. They then pull away from your skull, putting pressure on nerves and increasing the risk of a migraine. Migraines affect an estimated 10 million people aged 15-69 in the UK — almost a quarter of the adult population. Urgent health alert as GP shares ways to combat illness with simple everyday task To reduce the chances of a heat-induced migraine, Dr. Deepali Misra-Sharp recommended staying in the shade, donning sunglasses, and maintaining hydration levels. She spoke to Surrey Live about the steps to take if you feel a migraine coming on in the sunshine. The expert suggested seeking out a cool quiet spot to take shade and recover. Dr. Allder also explained that those with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological condition that affects nerve function, may be affected by the high temperatures. He revealed these patients "will have far less resilience" to cope with temperature changes. How to keep cool in a heatwave Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS... Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. The medical expert added that MS symptoms can temporarily worsen in heat as an increased body temperature causes signals to slow down in already damaged nerves. This causes issues such as fatigue, vision problems, or weakness but these symptoms typically improve when the body cools down. Dr Mark Cox, who works in A&E, spoke to Metro about why the hot temperatures can make us feel more cranky. "Heat can amplify reactivity in the brain's emotion centre, the amygdala, and reduce the calming influence of the parasympathetic nervous system," he explained. "That makes people more prone to irritability, impulsiveness and even aggression." 2
