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to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. | December 30, 2010 | |  |  | Surprising Foods That Trigger Migraines | | | The Hidden Truth About Bypass Surgery | | | Smartphone Apps: A Smart Way to Stay Healthy | | | Blood Pressure "Switch" Found on Human Body... | | | Don't Ignore This Heart Risk Warning | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | | Surprising Foods That Trigger Migraines My friend Nancy never indulges in red wine, cheese or chocolate. If you suffer from migraines, as Nancy does, you probably are well aware of these notorious headache-triggering foods. But did you know that many seemingly benign foods -- including citrus fruits, onions and yogurt -- may make your head throb? I was told by neurologist Alexander Mauskop, MD, director of the New York Headache Center, that almost any food can trigger a migraine in certain individuals, though what sets off a headache in one person may not affect another at all. Figuring out which foods to avoid can be an exercise in frustration. Reasons: You may react to a single bite (for instance, just one almond)... or you may get a headache only when you eat at least a full serving of that food. Also, a certain food may set off a cascade of pain every time... or you may react to that food only when some other factor comes into play -- for instance, when you’re sleep-deprived or stressed. To identify your problem foods, Dr. Mauskop recommended keeping a food diary and looking for patterns. Simplest: Make a list of everything that you consumed in the eight hours before a migraine began... and/or use the worksheet from the American Headache Society (www.AcheNet.org/tools/triggeravoidanceinformation.asp). More revealing: Keep a daily journal that tracks what and when you eat... exercise and sleep patterns... stress levels... menstrual cycle... weather... and anything else that you suspect might be linked to your migraines. Continue for two to three months if you typically get six or more headaches per month. For less frequent headaches, you may need to keep the journal longer to detect patterns. High-tech help: Download the free app Headache Relief Diary (for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch), developed by Dr. Mauskop, through the iTunes store. Researchers do not know the exact mechanism behind all dietary migraine triggers. But foods containing naturally occurring substances called amines, which dilate blood vessels, often play a part -- because for migraine-prone people, even tiny changes in blood vessel dilation can induce a headache. Particularly suspect are tyramine, phenylethylamine and histamine. Certain categories of amine-containing foods cause problems for many migraine sufferers. Here are some of the most common culprits... Nuts. Though Dr. Mauskop often prescribes magnesium supplements as a preventive measure for migraine patients (and nuts are chock-full of this mineral), he nonetheless cautions against nuts and nut butters because they can trigger headaches -- perhaps due to their tyramine content. Almonds and peanuts are particularly problematic. Your food diary can help you determine which nuts, if any, are safe for you. Fruits and fruit juices. The most likely offenders are citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges and tangerines... and tropical fruits, including avocados, mangoes, papayas, passion fruits and pineapples. These all contain tyramine and phenylethylamine... citrus fruits also release histamine. Dried fruits. Raisins, prunes and dried apricots (as well as red wine) all contain amines. Additional problem: Dried fruits also contain sulfites, a type of preservative known to provoke headaches in some people. Even organic versions of these foods can trigger headaches, Dr. Mauskop cautioned, because some sulfites occur naturally. Vegetables. Onions, snow peas and certain beans (broad, fava, lima) all contain tyramine. Fermented, aged or overripe foods. Fermented foods, such as yogurt, beer and breads made with yeast, contain histamine. Also, tyramine levels rise when food is aged (as with certain cheeses) or no longer fresh (which is why an overripe banana or avocado, for instance, can set off a migraine). Coffee and tea. These do have amines -- but that is only part of the problem. The other factor to consider is caffeine. Dr. Mauskop explained that many nonprescription and prescription headache medicines contain caffeine... and when used no more than twice weekly, caffeine often can relieve headaches. But: For some people, caffeine -- especially when consumed daily -- actually can make migraines more frequent, severe and difficult to treat. Whatever foods you end up needing to avoid, one thing to get plenty of is water. Dr. Mauskop said, "Dehydration is a known migraine inducer, so patients often get better when they drink more fluids. We call this the water cure." Source: Alexander Mauskop, MD, is an associate professor of neurology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and founder and director of the New York Headache Center in New York City. He is the author or coauthor of three books, including Migraine and Headache (Oxford), past president of the Eastern Pain Association, and developer of the nonprescription headache medication Migralex. www.NYHeadache.com
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 | | The Hidden Truth About Bypass Surgery Research shows that the majority of bypass, angioplasty and stent patients don’t live a day longer than folks who skip it... Meaning that over 800,000 Americans every year are risking their lives for nothing -- suffering hideous postsurgical pain and risking serious complications, for zero benefit. Even worse, according to Dr. Michael Ozner, MD, FACC, FAHA, medical director at the Center for Prevention & Wellness, Baptist Health South Florida, bypass surgery has been found to quadruple your stroke risk. What are the options? | |
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 | | Smartphone Apps: A Smart Way to Stay Healthy Health care used to be more of an episodic endeavor, meaning that we mostly dealt with it when we had to -- when we were sick. Now, computers and constant connectivity are supporting health care’s shift to being more of a continuous endeavor -- aided by thousands of consumer health applications, or "apps," that we can download to our smartphones. That’s the opinion of Harvard Medical School professor Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, founder and director of Partners HealthCare Center for Connected Health. (The term "connected health" refers to technology-enabled programs and potential new strategies in health-care delivery.) Of course, no app can substitute for regular care from your doctor, Dr. Kvedar said. But you can use health-related apps to motivate yourself to follow a healthy lifestyle... better manage your medical condition... and give your doctor more complete information on your health status. Currently, most apps are for iPhones, though Android, BlackBerry, Palm, iPod Touch and iPad also have their share -- and the universe of apps for all types of smartphones is expanding rapidly. So if the specific apps below are not available for your device, search your apps store for something similar. Apps can help you manage a chronic health condition... Allergy Alert provides a four-day forecast of allergy, asthma, cold-and-cough and ultraviolet index levels for your area. BP Buddy logs 60 days of home-monitored blood pressure readings (plus heart rate and stress levels) -- important info to share with your doctor. iHeadache allows you to do real-time headache tracking by inputting your symptoms, severity, possible triggers, medication usage and more. Then you can share this information with your doctor to help determine the most appropriate treatment. The app also helps classify the type of headache you have, such as a migraine or tension headache. OnTrack Diabetes tracks glucose levels, blood pressure, pulse, weight, exercise, diet and medications... and produces graphs or reports for your doctor. Pillbox helps you stay on schedule in taking all your medications and supplements. Also: You can search a database for medication information. Exercise apps make workouts more fun and more effective... RunKeeper Pro records your runs using your smartphone’s built-in GPS capabilities. Whether you jog, walk, cycle or ski, you can see your distance, pace, path traveled and calories burned... then later sync data to the www.RunKeeper.com Web site to track your progress. MoboVivo Workout provides a wide selection of exercise videos -- ballet, yoga, belly dancing and more -- that you can use to work out wherever you go. Weight-loss apps keep you motivated, connected and informed... WiScale is an app that uses the Withings Internet-connected body scale ($159 at www.Withings.com) to track your weight and body mass index and transfer the information automatically to your smartphone. It includes a social dimension -- you share information and motivation with a community, joining virtual forces to engage in healthier behaviors. "It’s like attending a weight-loss group without going in person," Dr. Kvedar said. Fast Food Calorie Counter lists calories, fat, carbs, fiber and protein content of thousands of menu items from dozens of popular restaurant chains (including some that you might not relegate to "fast food" status). Educational apps help you diagnose a problem or handle an emergency... uHear reveals whether your hearing is in the normal range. Emergency First Aid & Treatment Guide tells you what to do in case of burns, frostbite, seizures and more... and how to use emergency medical equipment, including a defibrillator. Many apps are free, while others typically cost from $1 to $10 -- so the financial damage is slight if you end up not liking an app that you have downloaded. But beware: The FDA does not regulate health-related apps, and some may be the modern equivalent of snake oil. (Do any of us really believe that the blue light generated by an iPhone can smooth away wrinkles?) As Dr. Kvedar pointed out, "With any app, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is." Source: Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, is founder and director of the Partners HealthCare Center for Connected Health in Boston, which develops ways to deliver quality patient care outside the traditional medical setting. He also is a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Read his blog at http://cHealthBlog.Connected-Health.org.
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| | | Don't Ignore This Heart Risk Warning An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures various heart functions, including QRS duration (QRSd), the time it takes an electrical signal to get through the pumping chambers. New finding: An increase in QRSd is linked to elevated risk for sudden cardiac death and suggests the need for additional heart testing and preventive treatment. Best: ECGs often are done during annual physical exams -- so ask your doctor about your QRSd results. Source: Peter Okin, MD, is a cardiologist and professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and senior author of an analysis of data from more than 9,000 people.
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 |  |  Tamara Eberlein, the editor of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line, has been a health journalist for nearly three decades. An award-winning author of four books, she is committed to helping other women in midlife and beyond live healthy, fulfilling lives. She is also the "chief health adviser" to her husband of 25 years, college-age twins and teenaged son. |  | | Bottom Line Publications | 281 Tresser Boulevard, 8th Floor | Stamford, CT 06901
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