Can You Trust Your Doctor’s Recommendations?

trustdoctor While heart disease is among the most studied of illnesses, the Wall Street Journal reported that only 11% of more than 2,700 recommendations approved by conventional cardiologists for treating heart patients were supported by high-quality scientific testing.

Because treatment decisions are often made very forcefully by the doctor, the patient is convinced that the doctor knows what he/she is talking about.

According to Harlan Krumholz, a cardiologist at Yale University School of Medicine, doctors should disclose to patients the strength of the evidence behind the care they recommend.

Read this months Teplitz Subscriber Report

Migraines: Dilation/Constriction of Blood Vessels

A migraine begins when, for some reason, blood vessels in the brain constrict temporarily. When that happens, the amount of blood and oxygen flowing to the brain drops. So the brain sends a message: "Hey guys, we need some more blood and oxygen here!"

That causes other blood vessels to dilate. When those blood vessels expand, they become inflamed, throb, and cause the pounding pain. Because it involves changes in blood vessels, a migraine is a referred to as a vascular headache.

Vascular theory

Cortical_spreading_depression Migraines begin when blood vessels in the brain contract and expand inappropriately. This may start in the occipital lobe, in the back of the brain, as arteries spasm. The reduced flow of blood from the occipital lobe triggers the aura that some individuals who have migraines experience because the visual cortex is in the occipital area.

When the constriction stops and the blood vessels dilate, they become too wide. The once solid walls of the blood vessels become permeable and some fluid leaks out. This leakage is recognized by pain receptors in the blood vessels of surrounding tissue. In response, the body supplies the area with chemicals which cause inflammation. With each heart beat, blood passes through this sensitive area causing a throb of pain.

The vascular theory of migraines is now seen as secondary to brain dysfunction.

Serotonin and Blood Vessels

Serotonin is a type of neurotransmitter, or "communication chemical" which passes messages between nerve cells. It helps to control mood, pain sensation, sexual behavior, sleep, as well as dilation and constriction of the blood vessels among other things.

Low serotonin levels in the brain may lead to a process of constriction and dilation of the blood vessels which trigger a migraine. Triptans activate serotonin receptors to stop a migraine attack.

Neural theory

When certain nerves or an area in the brain stem become irritated, a migraine begins. In response to the irritation, the body releases chemicals which cause inflammation of the blood vessels.

These chemicals cause further irritation of the nerves and blood vessels and results in pain. Substance P is one of the substances released with first irritation. Pain then increases because substance P aids in sending pain signals to the brain.

Unifying theory

Both vascular and neural influences cause migraines.

  1. stress triggers changes in the brain
  2. these changes cause serotonin to be released
  3. blood vessels constrict and dilate
  4. chemicals including substance P irritate nerves and blood vessels causing pain

Magnesium is a dietary mineral that helps regulate blood vessel size, serotonin function, and nerve activity in the brain, among other functions.

Magnesium deficiency is thought to be at least one important factor in migraine attacks. Many studies suggest that magnesium might be a common denominator in both the vascular and the neural theories of migraine.

  • In support of the vascular theory, magnesium deficiency results in blood vessel constriction and adding magnesium to the diet leads to the opening (dilation) of blood vessels.
  • In support of the neural theory, magnesium deficiency has been linked with the production and release of substance P12-a biochemical that contributes to the inflammation of nerves and headache pain.

Recent studies indicate that having lower than normal levels of the mineral magnesium can influence serotonin and nitric oxide release, blood vessel size, and inflammation. It’s also thought that people with mitral valve prolaspe have lower than normal levels of magnesium.

Several studies have shown that magnesium depletion plays a critical role in blood vessel size. It seems not only to cause blood vessel constriction but to make blood vessels more sensitive to other chemicals that cause constriction and less sensitive to substances that cause blood vessels to dilate.

Studies have also shown that magnesium depletion seems to help release serotonin from its storage sites. It also helps make blood vessels in the brain more receptive to serotonin and thus clears the way for serotonin to cause constriction of blood vessels.

Replacing magnesium has been shown to have a very positive effect on migraine symptoms in some people.

So, it’s good to know the causes of your migraines (keep a migraine journal ! ), and find natural ways to deal with those issues. 
…continue...

Making Migraines a Thing of the Past
Migraine and Headache Relief with Shiatsu
References

Caffeine & Migraine Headaches: Cause or Treatment?

caffeine5 For those who suffer from migraines or headaches, especially frequent ones, it is important to understand just how caffeine can impact headache frequency and intensity. There is a great deal of debate among experts about the benefits and negative effects of caffeine and this can be confusing to sufferers.

How Does Caffeine Affect Your Body?

Caffeine has a range of effects on the body, one of which is the narrowing of blood vessels, which then restricts blood flow. Since blood vessels are thought to expand at the onset of migraines or headaches, it is thought that caffeine's vasoconstrictive property eases the pain. Caffeine is also believed to increase the effectiveness of many pain relievers, and is therefore added to various migraine and headache medications.

migrainetruthIt would then be logical to suggest that less pain reliever would be required to obtain the intended benefits of the medication.

Since some medications can cause gastrointestinal distress, a lower dose that is still effective would be particularly beneficial, and more so for chronic headache sufferers who require long-term medication use.

caffeinecheck Studies have suggested that over-the-counter medications may be as much as 40% more effective when caffeine is added. Generally, most individuals will find that they feel the effects of caffeine approximately half an hour after ingestion and these last for anywhere from three to five hours.

Caffeine can, however, also cause some unpleasant feelings such as restlessness, headaches, dizziness, shaking and insomnia.

In addition, caffeine stimulates the heart and raises metabolic rate. It is at higher doses that the unpleasant effects of caffeine are more likely to occur.

Caffeine Withdrawal
Withdrawal is commonly confused with addiction; it is rare for anyone to become addicted to caffeine, which involves a compulsive craving for the drug. Withdrawal, however, can occur from caffeine use and this involves physical symptoms that occur when caffeine use is halted or decreased. Generally, moderate consumption of caffeine is safe but since caffeine does slightly stimulate the nervous system, withdrawal effects can occur. Some of these include:
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Anxiety
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Agitation
  • Irritability
  • Non-specific muscle aches and pains

There is disagreement among experts regarding the exact amount of caffeine required to induce withdrawal symptoms. Your own personal tolerance can vary in comparison with someone else and age can also play a role, as metabolism of drugs changes as we age.

The average person can expect withdrawal symptoms to occur after consuming approximately 500mg of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to about five cups of coffee. Others may, however, still experience withdrawal from as little as 100mg of caffeine daily.

What is the Verdict?

Based on research to date, it would appear that mild to moderate doses of caffeine in medication are helpful in easing headache pain. If your medication doesn't contain caffeine, drinking coffee and consuming caffeine-containing foods or drinks in moderation shouldn't cause unpleasant symptoms or withdrawal effects.

If you are pregnant or on any other medications, your caffeine intake should be monitored more closely; and for everyone, it is wise to speak with your doctor if you have any doubts about how much caffeine you may safely consume as well as how caffeine consumption will affect your migraines and headaches.

The key to remember is that caffeine can be present in various foods such as chocolate, which is linked to migraines, so some caffeine rich foods may also have compounds that can exacerbate migraines.

For information on foods that affect migraine and headache pain, including other triggers and natural helpers, read more scientific research: Migraines Can Be a Thing of the Past: Why Migraines and Headaches Occur.

It's also important to monitor your daily intake of caffeine and to be aware of the differences in caffeine content between a cup of coffee brewed from one restaurant to another. Some 'coffee shops' will serve a cup of coffee that is double or triple the caffeine content of another one and you could be ingesting a lot more caffeine than you realize, resulting in headaches and uncomfortable shakes and stomach upset.

So a cup or two of coffee may help your headache but if you overdo it, you may be setting yourself up for more headaches than you started with.

Making Migraines a Thing of the Past
Migraine and Headache Relief with Shiatsu
Natural Migraine Treatment FAQ
References
 

New Orleans Fans Still Have Time to get their Tickets and a Road Map to SUPER BOWL XLIV

MIAMI AND SUPER BOWL XLIV IS
ONLY A CAR DRIVE AWAY !!!

superbowl 02.03.2010-Razorgator, the leader in Hard-To-Get  tickets for sports and entertainment events worldwide, helps New Orleans Saints fans find their way to Miami for Super Bowl Sunday.

For Super Bowl XLIV, many New Orleans Saints fans are choosing to make the 12-hour drive to Miami rather than hopping on a plane.

As the excitement builds and fans are getting ready for Sunday, there is still time to get last minute Super Bowl tickets before the game at Razorgator.com or on-site for guaranteed last minute orders, up until game time on Sunday.

“This is a very special moment for the New Orleans Saints and its fans”, said Brendan Ross, President &CEO at Razorgator.com. “We wanted to provide Saints fans with easy tips to help them navigate their way to Miami to take part in an unforgettable experience.”

Why fly when driving is so easy, you ask? Razorgator.com helps fans find their way to Miami:

1. It is only a 12-hour drive from New Orleans to Miami and the cost of fuel is only about $91. A flight will run about $800 non-stop according to Travelocity.com.

 

2. If you drive you can watch Burt Reynolds in The Longest Yard and swing by Palm Beach High School where he earned a football scholarship to Florida State.

 

3. You can listen to Carrie Underwood’s Cowboy Casanova in the car, a song that may or may not have been inspired by former beau Tony Romo. Carrie will beat her ex to the Super Bowl since she’ll be singing the National Anthem on Sunday.

 

4. Peyton Manning has thrown for over 50,000 yards in his career, which is about 1/30th of the way from his birthplace in New Orleans to Miami. You might not be able to break his passing records but you can bring a football in the car for the world?s longest game of catch on the drive to Miami.

 

5. Road trips always have better snacks than airplane food. Americans will consume almost 4,000 tons of popcorn, 15,000 tons of chips and 12 million pounds of avocado on Super Bowl Sunday. Flights do not even serve peanuts anymore.

 

6. Your car trunk does not charge you any baggage fees.

 

7. Swing by 7 Eleven on the way back. They sell 20% of their antacid for the year the day after the Super Bowl. At least Miami is 1 hour ahead of New Orleans, which gets you another hour of sleep when you get home!

Thanks RazorGator!