Signs of Pregnancy and How to React?

First learning that you are only 2 weeks pregnant is the beginning of a long adventure into motherhood that only begins with pregnancy. Each step of the way, there is something new to discover and feels like your experience is unique. Yet, when you share your stories, it seems like so many others can relate with similar experiences.

Early pregnancy affects women in so many different ways. It is probably safe to say that you will begin noticing changes in your body and how things fit sometime around when you are 4 weeks pregnant or into your second month of pregnancy. One of the first things women notice is a missed period. Another sign of early pregnancy can be morning sickness. It’s not always obvious though, and can be confused with symptoms of mild illness. The feelings of nausea are not always in the morning either!

Finding out you are pregnant is one of the most exciting times for a new mother-to-be. You will have many mixed feelings about the future and what will happen next. The first priority should be to find a good OB-GYN physician. They will insure you stay healthy throughout your pregnancy which is critical for the health of your baby. The doctor will put you on track with the proper diet and prenatal vitamins too.

Other concerns you will have is calculating a due date for your baby. How do you know if you are 2 weeks pregnant or if you are 4 weeks pregnant? Well, the doctor will know based on how well you kept track of your cycle. Then, you will begin to wonder about choosing the right baby name! This can take months to decide, so take your time. It’s an important decision to make.

Source: http://www.pregnancy-articles.com/

Finding Healthcare Information And Healthcare Professions

The Internet is a wealthy source of information and if you’re looking for healthcare information, the Internet can be a resourceful vehicle for you to find reliable and trustworthy guides and advice on healthcare products and supplies. It all depends on how you find the information and who is dispensing the healthcare information.
If used properly, the Internet allows us to find healthcare information quickly and easily. Many website owners provide free healthcare information on a wide range of topics like diseases, health conditions, therapies, medical products and symptoms of diseases, etc. Lists of healthcare providers and healthcare institutions can also be found online, if you go to the right website.

Some people contend that the healthcare information provided by website owners is not reliable. This is true, to a certain extent. The healthcare information found online can never be relied upon fully and the healthcare information printed out from websites cannot replace professional advice that your doctor or healthcare practitioner can give you. But the healthcare information found online can be used as a basis for your visits to your doctor. For instance, browsing through the healthcare information online prior to your visit to the doctor, you’re better prepared with information and questions that you might want to ask your doctor during the visit.

It’s either very difficult to verify, or almost impossible to verify the source of the healthcare information or advice available online. This is where reliability is in question. But most professional healthcare advice websites will give you the source of the advice, and with this, you can easily verify the source of the healthcare information.

Once you’re there, a good healthcare portal should have a list of their panel doctors listed. This way, you’ll know that whatever healthcare information that they disperse in the website is approved by a professional healthcare provider.

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Occupational therapists can find suitable placements in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, community healthcare centers, nursing homes, housing services, schools, clinics, rehab centers and long term acute care facilities. Various direct and contract occupational therapist job positions are available to be filled up with the right candidates. These job positions are available for full time and part time, long term and short term, temporary and permanent and travel assignments. Candidates who wish to work in traveling assignments can enjoy working in various destinations in the United States on long term or short term basis.

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Pregnancy Facts: Predicting the Sex of Your Baby: Old Wives’ Tales

Mums have always been curious about the sex of the child they are carrying. In the days before scans were available, women used all kinds of weird and wonderful methods of defining the sex of their child. Here are a few Old Wives’ Tales that I heard during my 26 months of pregnancy (no, I didn’t have a very long pregnancy, I’ve got 3 kids). Remember though, that they are ONLY for fun.

If your left breast is bigger than the right during pregnancy, you’re having a girl. If the right is bigger, it’ll be a boy. If they are the same size, you’re in for a surprise!

If you get moody during pregnancy you are more likely to have a girl. This is because all women are moody, and when carrying a girl you become doubly so.

If you carry the healthy baby out front (others can’t see your pregnancy from behind) then you will have a boy. If others can tell that you are pregnant when looking at you from behind, then you will have a girl.

Have the mum-to-be pick up a key. If she picks it up by the round end, it will be a boy. If she picks it up by the long end, it will be a girl. Should she pick it up at the middle, twins are on the way.

If the mother’s age at conception and the year of conception are both even or both odd, the baby is a girl. If one is even and one is odd, the baby is a boy.

Ask the mum-to-be to pick a number. Match the number with the corresponding letter of the alphabet (A=1, B=2 etc). Then ask her to choose a name beginning with that letter. If she chooses a boys name, it will be a boy. If she chooses a girls name, it will be a girl.

Hang a gold pendant (preferably one the mother wears often) over the palm of the mother’s hand. If the pendant moves in a circular motion, it will be a girl. If it swings back and forth, a boy is on the way.

If the mum-to-be was the more aggressive partner when the baby was conceived, it will be a boy. If the father was the more aggressive, the baby will be a girl.

If you suffer from acne during pregnancy, you will have a girl. What side does the mum-to-be lay on while she’s resting? If she lies on her left, it’s a boy; on her right, it’s a girl.  If young boys (pre-school age) show interest in you while you’re pregnant, it will be a girl. If they ignore you, expect a boy.

Ask the mum-to-be to show you her hands. If she shows them palms up, it’s a girl; palms down, a boy.

If you dream of girls, you will have a boy. If you dream of boys, you will have a girl.

Source: http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/

Reduce My Cholesterol Levels

When we speak about learning how to control your cholesterol levels, this could be the difference between living a healthier and longer life and suffering with multiple life threatening diseases. These life threatening diseases would include coronary artery diseases, stroke, and blood clots. Naturally, when you pay a visit to your physician and found out that you have high levels of cholesterol in your body, you will be advised to make necessary lifestyle modifications such as changing your diet and by having a regular routine exercise. You will permanently employ these lifestyle modifications in order to control the levels of cholesterol and maintain it within the normal range.

Actually, when it comes to controlling cholesterol levels, the most important thing is to change your diet. If you are fond of eating greasy or oily foods before, it is now the perfect time to stop eating those foods and replace it with healthier options such as foods that are high in fiber like fruits and vegetables.

Saturated fat and trans fat are the two components that are generally responsible for increasing the cholesterol levels in the blood. If you are going to cut down your consumption of these two fats, you will surely cause a decrease in the levels of your cholesterol.  Select lean and low fat foods because these foods can help in lowering the levels of cholesterol in the body.

If you are fond of frying your foods and using oils will generally increase the saturated fat and the trans fat contents of the foods that you are going to eat. Hence, if you would like to lower down your cholesterol levels, it would be better not to fry your foods. Steaming would be a better option.

When you are aiming to decrease the cholesterol levels in your blood, you will develop the skill of looking into nutritional labels because you have to check out the nutritional panel first to check the saturated fat content.

Aside from diet, another important part of reducing your blood cholesterol levels would be to have a regular routine exercise. Seek help from personal trainers Sydney to get more information about the best exercises and workouts that are suitable for you.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat like substance that is found in all tissues. It is also found in animals. Plant foods do not contain cholesterol. Cholesterol is found in all meats and dairy products. After all the bad things that you’ve heard about cholesterol you will probably be surprised to find out that you need a certain amount of cholesterol.

Cholesterol is essential for your cell membranes, nerves, and certain hormones. It also helps your liver to make bile acids which help to digest your food. The bad side is that if cholesterol builds up in your arteries it can cause plaque to form. This can cause a heart attack or stroke. Most people can lower their cholesterol by eating a diet low in fats. They can also be lowered by not smoking losing weight and exercise. Try to stay away from fatty foods. Read labels when you go shopping for food. If you buy meat , buy the less fatty meats. Most grocery stores have the meats labeled as to how much fat is in the meat.

Buy two percent milk. Try to eat no more than two eggs a week. If you like eggs a lot save your two eggs for Sunday breakfast. Instead of butter use a vegetable margarine.

Yeast Infections and Pregnancy Information And Treatment

Yeast infections are a commonly occurring vaginal infection that can effect a woman more so when she is pregnant. Yeast infections are also called monilial vaginitis, vaginal candidiasis or vaginal thrush. Yeast infections and pregnancy are related because of the higher levels of estrogen that develops during pregnancy. This estrogen level produces glycogen in the vagina which is the perfect climate for yeast to flourish and stick to the vagina walls.

Yeast Infections and Pregnancy Associated Symptoms

The symptoms you’ll suffer while pregnant are the same as those experienced if you weren’t pregnant. Symptoms include:

The primary symptom which will give you the most grief will be the itching, burning, redness and soreness. The irritation of those symptoms often causes the vagina and labia to swell.
An odorless vaginal discharge that is white in color and resembles cottage cheese
Pain during sexual intercourse
Burning sensation when urinating

How To Treat A Yeast Infection During Pregnancy

Visiting your doctor is the number one thing you should do to be one the safe side. This way your doctor can eliminate the possibility that your symptoms may be caused from a different bacterial infection that can produce similar symptoms.

If a yeast infection is diagnosed you can use an over the counter antifungal cream or suppository which will be suggested as they are safe during pregnancy. Oral antifungals should not be taken during pregnancy as they are not safe.

Creams and suppositories containing clotrimazole work better than the ones containing nystatin. These creams can take up to a week until they start working.

Can My Baby Get A Yeast Infection From me

If you’ve got a yeast infection during the delivery of your baby then there is a chance that you could pass it to your baby as she goes through the birth canal. Yeast infections in babies are known as thrush and are usually recognised by white patches on their tongues and sides and roof of the mouth. Thrush is not serious but you do need to treat it as it can be passed to the nipples causing irritation when breastfeeding. It is quite common for babies to have thrush. Babies can develop thrush even if you havn’t got a yeast infection.

How To Prevent Getting A Yeast Infection During Pregnancy

There’s a few things that might help reduce your chances of getting yeast infection. Taking acidophilus yogurt every day helps maintain a healthy level of bacteria in your gut. Wear only cotton underwear as it breathes and don’t wear skin tight clothing such as tight pants, jeans, pantyhose etc.

Change out of wet swimwear or sweaty workout gear straight away because yeast loves damp humid environments. Sleep without underwear to let the air get to the effected areas. Don’t use scented, perfumed soaps or vaginal hygiene products.

Don’t douche while pregnant, instead sit in a bath of warm water, when finished pat yourself dry, rubbing only irritates the area further.

Treatment of Yeast Infections

Commonly, women have been told to utilize a douche in order to get rid of vaginal odor. This is the most horrible move you could take because it is extremely unsafe. This is because it eliminates both good and bad bacteria existing inside the vagina. The rancid scent might disappear for several days, but it will return smelling even worse than it did.

It is indispensable to retain good bacteria so that you can fight of the yeast infection. Over the counter medications will not cure the actual infection; they just cover up your symptoms temporarily. Even if you acquire a prescription from you physician, these can be little more than an added strength kind of what is accessible on the drugstore shelf.

You ought to cure the yeast infection itself rather than merely the symptoms in order to really treat it. Numerous females have preferred to utilize home treatments to heal their yeast infections since traditional medications have not succeeded.

Treatment of yeast infection using plain ingredients found just about the house, have been shown to be up to ten times more efficient compared to commercial products, completely because they clear up not simply the horrible symptoms, but get rid of the infection itself also.

Skin Cancer: New Treatment and Evaluation

If you spend time in the sun it’s wise to check your body occasionally for signs of skin cancer. This is the number one cancer affecting millions of people each year. A at home self check is easy to do and early detection is the best way to prevent this cancer from spreading. You’ll learn a few different methods to do this as you keep reading.

What To Look For

The cancerous cells most commonly found on the neck, head, arms, hands and face are called Basal and squamous cell cancers.

Basal Cells – these cells have two distinctions, one can look flat and firm with small pale areas and the other can be raised.  They have a pinkish red color, a bit shiny and may tend to bleed. They also may have blood vessels that look abnormal, such as discoloration with blue, brown or black areas. You might also find enlarged basal cells with unusual crusted areas.

Squamous Cells - these cells are more distinguished by looking like growing lumps. These too have 2 appearances, one can be rough, scaly or crusted or they may look reddish and flat.

Commonly these cells start as flat blemishes that don’t look abnormal until you do a self exam and notice the changes. That’s the whole point to these self exams, knowing your body.

Over time your skin will have imperfections for various reasons and most times there is never any change, but skin cancer cells can change slowly. They can also spread and become a serious problem if you don’t do a periodical self exam.

What Kind Of Skin Cancers Can It Treat?

Actinic keratosis:

This cream was initially developed to treat genital warts. It was then approved for the treatment of actinic keratosis. These are red scaly precancerous spots usually in fair skinned people who have had a great deal of sun exposure over many years.

Basal cell cancer:

There are many subtypes of basal cell cancers. This cream has gained approval for the superficial type only as the atypical cells are close to the surface where the cream can readily penetrate. It is an exciting time when new ways of treatments are developed to challenge the conventional methods. With time and experience, such treatments might become commonplace, not just to treat skin cancers but perhaps to be applied to sun damaged skin in order to attempt to prevent new cancers.

Possible future indications:

Melanomas are the most serious types of skin cancers. The vast majority of these lesions are pigmented, only a small percentage are without a dark pigmentation. About ½ of these develop from preexisting moles and the others arise from normal, but usually sun damaged skin. Since the skin is visible, great efforts have been made to teach patients, the public, and all types of health professionals the features of melanomas. Melanomas that are treated early can be cured, so rapid diagnosis is best.

The New Evaluation:

The features of a lesion described as a typical and that should raise your suspicions are categorized as one of ABCD:

• A – Asymmetrical – the shape is uneven
• B – Border – the border is irregular
• C – Colour – the colour is dark brown or black
• D – Diameter – it should have a diameter of 0.6cm.
• There is a now an additional letter has been added:

• E – Evolving – the lesion is evolving or changing

The more complete the description the better, but we have to guard against making it too complicated. Another way of looking at these lesions could be:

• A – Atypical, out of step with other moles
• B – Black
• C – Colour variation within the lesion/changing mole
• D – Dark brown

What Is Urinary Incontinence? What Causes Urinary Incontinence?

What is urinary incontinence in women?

Millions of women experience involuntary loss of urine called urinary incontinence (UI). Some women may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing. Others may feel a strong, sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine. Many women experience both symptoms. UI can be slightly bothersome or totally debilitating. For some women, the risk of public embarrassment keeps them from enjoying many activities with their family and friends. Urine loss can also occur during sexual activity and cause tremendous emotional distress.

Women experience UI twice as often as men. Pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, and the structure of the female urinary tract account for this difference. But both women and men can become incontinent from neurologic injury, birth defects, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and physical problems associated with aging.

Older women experience UI more often than younger women. But incontinence is not inevitable with age. UI is a medical problem. Your doctor or nurse can help you find a solution. No single treatment works for everyone, but many women can find improvement without surgery.

Incontinence occurs because of problems with muscles and nerves that help to hold or release urine. The body stores urine — water and wastes removed by the kidneys — in the bladder, a balloon-like organ. The bladder connects to the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.
During urination, muscles in the wall of the bladder contract, forcing urine out of the bladder and into the urethra. At the same time, sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra relax, letting urine pass out of the body. Incontinence will occur if your bladder muscles suddenly contract or the sphincter muscles are not strong enough to hold back urine. Urine may escape with less pressure than usual if the muscles are damaged, causing a change in the position of the bladder. Obesity, which is associated with increased abdominal pressure, can worsen incontinence. Fortunately, weight loss can reduce its severity.

What are the signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence?

The main symptom is the release (leakage) of urine when you don’t want to. When and how this occurs will depend on the type of urinary incontinence.

Stress incontinence – this is the most common kind of urinary incontinence, especially among women who have given birth or have gone through the menopause. In this case stress refers to physical pressure, rather than mental stress. When the bladder and muscles involved in urinary control are placed under sudden extra pressure the person may urinate involuntarily.

The following actions may trigger stress incontinence:

• A sudden cough
• Sneezing
• Laughing
• Heavy lifting
• Exercise

The amount of urine that leaks out unwillingly depends on how full the bladder is and how affected the muscles are.

Urge incontinence (effort incontinence) -, also known as reflex incontinence. This is the second most common type of urinary incontinence. The bladder is either unstable or overactive. There is a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscular wall of the bladder (detrusor muscles) that causes urinary urgency – an urge to urinate that cannot be stopped. There is an involuntary loss of urine for no apparent reason while suddenly feeling the need or urge to urinate.

When the urge to urinate comes the person has a very short time before the urine is released regardless of what they try to do. The urge to urinate may be caused by:

• A sudden change in position
• The sound of running water (for some people)
• Sex (especially during orgasm)

People with urge incontinence tend to have to pass urine frequently; sometimes having to get up to go to the toilet during the night.

Bladder muscles can activate involuntarily because of damage to the nerves of the bladder, the nervous system, or to the muscles themselves.

Overflow incontinence – this type of urinary incontinence is more common in men with prostate gland problems, a damaged bladder, or a blocked urethra. The enlarged prostate gland obstructs the bladder; the person often only manages to urinate in small trickles and has to go frequently. He may feel that his bladder is never really completely emptied, even after trying hard.

Put simply, overflow incontinence is an inability to empty the bladder, the patient frequently dribbles urine. Some patients constantly dribble urine (as opposed to frequently).

Mixed incontinence – if a patient experiences both stress and urge incontinence he/she has mixed incontinence.

Functional incontinence – the person knows there is a need to urinate, but cannot make it to the bathroom in time due to a mobility problem. If a person has a disability they may not be able to get their pants down in time; this would be an example of functional incontinence. The amount of urine lost may be large. Common causes of functional incontinence include:

• Confusion
• Dementia
• Poor eyesight
• Poor mobility
• Poor dexterity (cannot unbutton pants in time)
• Depression, anxiety or anger (unwilling to go to the toilet)

People with functional incontinence may have difficulties in thinking, moving or communicating – these difficulties may prevent them from reaching a toilet.

Functional incontinence is more prevalent among elderly people, and is common in nursing homes.

Functional incontinence may occur when there is nothing physically wrong with the person. If you are on a long trip and dying to urinate but there are not toilets nearby.

Gross total incontinence – this either means the person leaks urine continuously all day and night, or has periodic uncontrollable leaking of large amounts of urine. The bladder is unable to store urine. The patient may have a congenital problem (was born with a defect), there may be an injury to the spinal cord, and injury to the urinary system, or there may be a fistula between the bladder and, for example the vagina.

Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/

Reducing Sibling Fighting for Children

term ’siblings’ refer to brothers and sisters. Parents, who have their biological child and want to adopt a second child, need to first prepare their own child for adoption much in advance. It is very important to prepare the older child for the arrival of a new child, in order to fight feelings of jealousy, sibling rivalry and loneliness. Sibling rivalry is a part of growing up. It means the competitive feelings and actions that often occur among children in a family. However, parents need not be stressed out to curtail the emotion as there are ways by which you can reduce sibling rivalry.

How do you respond to children’s squabbles and fights? Do you respond like a policeperson, trying to get to the bottom of the dispute? Do you see it as your job to keep law and order?

Do you respond like an escapee, getting away from the fighting? Do you leave kids to work out the dispute them selves?

Where does this competitiveness come from?

• Temperament plays a part. Some kids are just naturally more competitive and like to be the best. If they can’t be the best then they often won’t compete or do an activity.
• Gender impacts as well. Due to their physiology boys tend to be more competitive than girls. As many teachers know one way to get the best out of boys is to turn a simple learning activity into a quiz or game. Hey presto, they have turned on the learning switch by introducing a competitive element.
• Family position plays a part. You may notice that kids adjacent to each other in es tend to fight a little harder with each other for supremacy than they do with other kids. So two child families experience a lot of competition.
• Family atmosphere contributes to competition. Some families are more competitive by nature than others. Parents can unwittingly turn simple activities into competitions with statements such as “let’s see who the best at all.”
• Competitive role models impact as well. You may have to curb your competitive nature, and resist turning every game into a full-blown, ‘I’m gonna beat you’ affair!

The key to reducing sibling fighting lies in what you as a parent do when they don’t fight

Have fun as a family. It’s hard to fight when you’re having fun and enjoying each other’s company so look for ways to inject some fun and games into family life.

Have one-on-one time with each child. Kids like their parents one at a time and will often compete for parental attention. Set aside some regular time for each child and give them A-grade attention on your terms.

Expect kids to help each other. The key word in this sentence is ‘expect’. Parental expectations are potent. So get older kids hearing younger kids read. Get younger kids doing jobs for their older siblings. Get all kids helping you. Get the picture? The helping habit doesn’t rule out sibling rivalry but it helps establish a cooperative tone in your family.

Put kids in situations where they have to work together. Most homes are compromise free places. Kids rarely share bedrooms or televisions these days so they don’t learn how to compromise or negotiate. A simple way to do this is to ask kids to do jobs in pairs so they learn to work together.

Encourage more, praise less. High praise parents produce competitive kids, as they will compete with each other for parental approval. Use encouragement instead to get the best out of your kids and reduce one reason for kids competing. Encouragement focuses on the processes (effort, improvement and contribution) of what they do rather than the results. You can learn all about the wonderful art of encouragement in Bringing out your child’s CONFIDENCE.

Put children in the same boat when they misbehave. This principle always get          resistance when I mention it in talks. Basically, it means when one child messes around every child experience the consequence. For instance, if one child is ighting in the TV    room, then it goes off and every child misses out. Sounds unfair, but it actually reduces fighting over the long-term, as kids will gang up against you. It actually unites kids a lot of the time.

Conduct family meetings when the eldest is five. Family meetings give you an opportunity to focus on children’s relationships, providing a vehicle to teach kids to resolve conflict themselves. Some kids of the male variety need to be taught the skills of conflict resolution, and meetings provide a regular and safe format to do this in.

Health Facts: Top 5 adjustments for diabetes

If you feel tired all the time, chronically thirsty, have lost some weight, or visit the bathroom frequently during the night, you may need to be checked for diabetes. This is a medical condition that develops over time when the body fails to produce enough insulin to help break down and process blood sugar.

Following a test prescribed by your doctor with an interpretation of results that suggest you may be diabetic, chances are you will need to make some lifestyle modifications to avoid or control diabetes’ impact on your life. Here are some of more common adjustments that you may want to consider or the doctor may advise you to make:

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1. Check your blood sugar daily. You may be asked to do a finger stick check after each meal, or perhaps just once a day, to be sure your blood sugar levels remain where they’re supposed to. Don’t neglect this important self-check. If your blood sugar goes too high or too low, you could run into serious health issues, including in extreme conditions, a coma or even death. Get the appropriate unit from a medical supply dealer and report any abnormal readings to your doctor.

2. Exercise regularly. Everyone should get routine physical activity anyway, so ask your doctor about the best kind of exercise for you. It may be walking, jogging, swimming, or weight-lifting. Increasing your heart rate within safe levels and breaking a mild sweat can help to regulate your body’s metabolism. Losing extra pounds can help your circulation and bodily functions work more efficiently to restore and retain good health.

3. Don’t smoke, or quit if you do. Smoking tobacco products hampers the body’s ability to function in many ways. One serious effect is the hindrance to blood flow and circulation, which can complicate the impact of diabetes and lead to serious consequences. Someone who is beset by diabetes needs to become as healthy as possible to control the disease and prevent physical deterioration. Smoking gets in the way of healing and health, generally.

4. Check your feet regularly. Persons with diabetes sometimes lose feeling in their extremities over time. One possible concern stemming from this symptom is that injuries on the feet may not be noticed promptly, which then allows them to fester. Diabetics often become slow healers due to circulatory problems, so it is important to examine your toes and between them as well as the sole, heel, and other parts of both feet to be sure there are no wounds that need attention.

5. Eat a low-fat and sugar-controlled diet. Eating too much or too little sugar in the daily diet can lead to problems. Check with your doctor about the appropriate amount of sugar for you to eat each day, then measure each food item carefully, checking for “hidden” sugars like those found in processed foods such as white bread or pasta. Enjoy more fruits and vegetables, which can help to regulate blood sugar and promote better health overall.

Receiving a diagnosis of a chronic, life-changing condition may require a change in lifestyle. Addressing the above aspects of daily life can help to protect your health and control the effects of this systemic disease.

Source: http://www.essortment.com/

Migraine Headaches: Causes and Symptoms

It is estimated that 25 million people in the United States suffer from migraine headaches. If you are a frequent headache suffer, you may have wondered whether your headaches are indeed migraines. How do you differentiate between a common headache and a migraine? Migraine headaches are severe, and sometimes debilitating headaches that are identified by the following symptoms:

1. Your pain is severe, usually located on one side of your head

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2. Your pain is described as throbbing, pulsating pain that worsens with normal activity

3. You have nausea or vomiting

4. You have a loss of appetite

5. You become sensitive to light and sound

6. You experience flashing lights in front of your eyes or other vision changes

Migraine pain has been described by sufferers as intense, throbbing, or pounding. The pain may be felt in the forehead/temple area, ear, jaw, or around the eye. Migraines, usually, but not always, start on one side of the head and can eventually spread to the other side.

Migraine attacks can last anywhere from a few hours to days or even weeks. Sufferers can get repeat attacks as often as several times a week or as rarely as once every few years.

What causes migraines?

Though the exact cause is not known, doctors attribute migraines to several factors. Many doctors agree that migraines do seem to be hereditary, running in families. Statistics report that 70% of migraine sufferers have another family member that also suffer with them. A person born with a tendency to have migraines is susceptible to triggers that do not affect other people. Triggers such as stress, environmental/weather changes, bright light or sunlight, and certain foods can set off a migraine attack.

Some of the foods that doctors attribute to causing migraines include nuts, yogurt, chocolate, processed meat (hot dogs, bacon, salami), aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal), dairy products. There are many other trigger foods. Strangely, foods that bring on migraine attacks in some sufferers don’t affect other sufferers. Every person has their own triggers, whether it be foods or other factors.

If you are experiencing a migraine headache, there are a few things you can do to help yourself cope with the pain.

Lie down in a dark room

Since migraine sufferers experience sensitivity to light, being in a dark room may help. If you don’t have room-darkening curtains or blinds, hang a thick blanket over the window to block out all of the sunlight. Lying down also helps since normal migraines are intensified with any kind of activity.

Hold a cold or hot compress on your head

Some migraines sufferers claim that using an ice pack helps to relieve some of the pain, while others claim that a hot compress, such as a hot rag or heating pad, helps to lessen their pain. You may want to experiment with both to see which works best for you.

Applying pressure to your head

Sometimes, relief can be found by gently applying pressure to the part of the head that is in pain.

See your doctor

If over-the-counter medications do not help, see your doctor. There is no reason to suffer when there are so many medications that may help you.

Source: http://www.essortment.com/