Exercise as a Natural Treatment for Anxiety Associated with Chronic Illness

Researchers who reviewed existing research studies about curbing anxiety among people with chronic illnesses found evidence that exercise can help alleviate this burden.

Chronic Ailment Got You Anxious? Try Exercising

The lead researcher said anxiety is commonly associated with chronic illness, but is too often dismissed as having no role in the treatment of the primary illnesses. This is problematic because anxiety can derail disease management by making it harder for patients to stick to their treatment plans.

Exercise can also help with migraine prevention. A fairly recent study found a specific exercise program focusing on riding an exercise bike was helpful in reducing the frequency of study participants' migraine attacks (Specific Indoor Exercise Program May Help Migraineurs). Of course, exercise triggers migraines in other patients, so it's not always the slam dunk option we wish it could be.

Related Posts:
Exercise & Relaxation Improve Migraine Intensity, Depression in Female Migraine Patients
Specific Indoor Exercise Program May Help Migraineurs
Migraines & Exercise: May 2009 Headache Blog Carnival

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Defensive Medicine Not the Most Likely Culprit in Malpractice Premium Increases

Seventy-three percent of physicians say they have practiced defensive medicine in the past 12 months. But it may not be the scourge of the health care system some people want us to believe it is. Other researchers have determined that it is not malpractice awards causing increased medical malpractice premiums and that:

"The strongest effect of greater malpractice pressure is in increased use of imaging services, with somewhat smaller effects on the use of other discretionary, generally low-risk services such as physician visits and consultations, use of diagnostic tests and minor procedures."

Sources:
Doctors: 21 Percent of Medicine Defensive
Defensive Medicine & Disappearing Doctors

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Patients for a Moment Carnival at Getting Closer to Myself, Edition 18

The new edition (# 18) of the patient-centered blog carnival Patients for a Moment has been posted at Getting Closer to Myself. Another thought-provoking theme inspired some great submissions.

What’s Illness Got To Do With It?

What is your relationship to illness? Is there a particular time when you wish illness wasn’t in the picture? Or is there a time when you find it’s easy to forget about illness?

Patients for a Moment # 18

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

February 2010 Pain Blog Carnival

The February 2010 Pain Blog Carnival was posted today at the How to Cope with Pain Blog. Post topics include the fear and anxiety associated with living with a chronic health condition, mindfulness meditation, caring for caregivers and others. Check it out!

February Pain Blog Carnival

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

MS More Common in Women with Migraine Disease, But Still Rare

Although there seems to be an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis among women with migraine disease, researchers did not find a cause and effect relationship between the two. Further, the risk of developing multiple sclerosis is still exceedingly rare. Less than 99% of women with migraine disease will develop MS.

AAN: Migraine Linked to MS in Women

There have been very few studies looking at the development of MS among migraineurs. While this information likely won't have an impact on the treatment of patients with both migraine disease and multiple sclerosis, it may lead to future research to determine whether migraines affect the development and symptoms of MS.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Migraine & Headache Poetry Contest 2010

It's time once again for the Putting Our Heads Together Migraine & Headache Poetry Contest, sponsored by Health Central's My Migraine Connection, Help for Headaches and the National Headache Foundation.

Here are the rules:

• Subject must be headache or Migraine related, but may be metaphoric or abstract.

• Form: Rhymed, free-verse, any form of poetry, but not prose.

• Poetry must be original and written by you. Submission of poetry written by someone else will result in disqualification.

• All poems must be unpublished work, never before published anywhere.

• Length: Maximum of 60 lines, no more than 80 characters per line (including spaces and punctuation). Please make special note of the 80 characters per line. This means LINES, not paragraphs.

• Number of entries: Please limit entries to no more than three poems per person.

• Age: Poems written by persons under 18 years of age must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian.

• "Family-friendly" language required. No profanity or other potentially offensive language.

• Deadline: Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Submissions received after this date will be deleted.

• Decisions of the judges are final.

• You do not need to live in the U.S. to enter, but all poems must be written in English.

• Entries must be presented complete with spacing, punctuation and correct spelling. Do not enter in all caps. We cannot retype entries.

• We reserve the right to disqualify, without notification, any entry not complying with these rules.

Entries will be judged by the National Headache Foundation. Visit this link to enter the contest: Create a SharePost for the Poetry Contest.

If you're curious you can read entries from previous years by visiting this link: Putting Our Heads Together Poetry Contest.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

A&E Replays Intervention Episode Featuring Addict, Migraineur

Intervention re-aired the episode featuring migraineur and addict Danielle last night. I thought this was the perfect time to revisit the post I wrote about the episode.

Frustrated by 'Intervention' Episode Featuring Migraineur, Addict

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

President's Proposal: A Good Starting Place

The Obama health care proposal has been unveiled, and it actually seems really good. As Jennifer Jaff of Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness said, "it would be better with a public option, immediate lifting of lifetime and annual caps, etc. -- but a good, solid place to start."

The White House has put together an excellent overview of the proposal: Overview of the President's Proposal.

Jennifer also wrote up a great explanation of the key provisions: White House Proposal is Released.

Hopefully we'll start to get a better idea where this will go from here when Thursday's (bipartisan?) health care summit begins.

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DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Will Obama's Proposal Address the Important Issues?

President Obama and his administration are revealing their proposed health care reform legislation at 10 am today. Admittedly, we haven't seen it yet and truly have no idea what it contains, but I'm worried.

Obama to Urge Oversight of Insurers' Rate Increases

Based on this New York Times article, the proposal seems to focus mainly on the cost issue. This is undoubtedly important, but any legislation that fails to address pre-existing conditions and equal coverage for people with health challenges is a complete failure. Not to mention the issue of a public option, which I firmly support and am still fighting for. But maybe that's the problem with this entire reform discussion: too much focus on cost control and not enough on the people who can cannot obtain insurance at any price.

Even Democratic politicians made curiously little of the plight of the uninsured. Instead, they focused on cost control, so much so that you might have thought that covering the uninsured was a happy side effect of really throttling back the rate of growth in Medicare spending.

- Myth Diagnosis, The Atlantic Monthly

I'm trying to reserve judgment until we see what the proposal actually contains, but I'm afraid it's going to be a far cry from what we truly need. I hope Harry Reid will step up and get behind real reform by any means necessary, including reconciliation. For more on this, check out this post on Chronic Healing: Reid Says Reconciliation Likely on Health Reform.

Related Posts:
Comparing Health Care Proposals
RIP Senator Kennedy: Another Motivation to Fight for Health Care Reform
You Know You've Been Curious: My Thoughts on Health Care Reform
Obama Challenges Lies, But Lies Seem to Persist
The Far Left Side: 'Why the Public Option Sucks' Comic
Too Funny: Health Americans Against Reforming Medicine

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Facebook Page for Somebody Heal Me

Over the weekend I finally set up a Facebook page for Somebody Heal Me. Become a fan to follow along with events and articles from the convenience of your Facebook account. And please tell your friends!

Facebook - Somebody Heal Me: The Musings of a Chronic Migraineur

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Chronic Migraine is Burdensome, Disabling & Associated with Additional Health Problems

It's tempting to file this headline under "duh" and dismiss its importance. But the research that chronic migraineurs are worse off than episodic migraineurs supports the idea that it is necessary to treat chronic migraine as a distinct disorder with a distinct set of issues. This is especially true because it's not just that chronic migraineurs are more depressed or more fiscally challenged than episodic migraineurs: they are also more likely to suffer from other serious health problems.

Compared to Episodic Migraineurs, Chronic Migraineurs are Sicker, Poorer and More Depressed

These health problems included asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity. In addition, they were about 40 percent more likely to have heart disease and angina and 70 percent more likely to have had a stroke.

Furthermore, the researchers found that one in three chronic migraineurs receives inadequate treatment. This mirrors what experts in the field say: while episodic migraineurs can receive adequate treatment from their primary care physicians or just about any neurologist, chronic migraineurs need to be treated by headache specialists.

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DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

How My Pets Make Me Feel Needed

This is hard to say, but in this moment I think I'm alive because of my pets. They NEED me. They need me to feed them, cuddle them, care for them. Sometimes they're the only thing keeping me from doing something really irresponsible. I make decisions on how I will take my medication based on how it will affect them, not me. If there is no one else to let Maisy out I can't be so conked out that I can't get up and let her out. If I don't feed Felix the moment his bowl is empty he hops up on my chest and meows and cries to remind me. I'm needed. They need me. No one else really does. I take a whole lot more than I give in most of my relationships.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Announcing March 2010 Headache Blog Carnival

I have to come clean. I dropped the ball on the February 2010 edition of the Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival, so we're not having one. I didn't get any announcements made and as a result, didn't have any submissions. I'm so sorry for not getting things together on time.

We will just look forward to the March 2010 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival and (hopefully) make it extra great. The theme of the March carnival will be "Helping your loved ones understand what you go through and what you need from them." As always, feel free to interpret this topic however you like. I also welcome posts that don't fit the theme as long as they are of interest to people living with headaches and migraines.

Entries are due by midnight (the end of the day) on Friday, March 5, 2010. The carnival will be published right here on Somebody Heal Me on Monday, March 8, 2010.

For more information about the carnival please visit the main carnival page: Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival. Feel free to post comments or contact me to ask any questions you might have. Please spread the word to any migraine or headache bloggers you know and consider posting an announcement on your own blog if you have one.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Migraine Drugs Pose No Increased Risk of Birth Defects

A study of 70,000 pregnant women seems to demonstrate there is no increased risk of birth defects among children born to women who use triptans for migraine treatment during pregnancy. The triptan category includes the drugs Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Relpax and Axert.

Migraine Drugs Don't Up Birth Defects

The birth defect rate among women who used triptans during pregnancy was the same as for women who did not - 5 percent. The rate of major birth defects was 3 percent, which mirrors the rate of major birth defects among the general population.

However, women who used triptans during the second or third trimesters of their pregnancies were more likely to experience excessive bleeding after giving birth. This can be very dangerous and lead to death if doctors are unable to stop the bleeding.

These statistics were based on information provided to pregnancy registers that track information about women who use prescription drugs during their pregnancies. The researchers cautioned that while the results seem promising, independent confirmation of them is necessary.

The decision to take any medication while pregnant is a difficult one and should only be made after gathering information and discussing the issue candidly with your health care providers.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Patients for a Moment Blog Carnival at Oh My Aches & Pains

The latest edition of the patient-centered blog carnival Patients for a Moment has been posted at Oh My Aches & Pains. The theme of "Love? Hate? What are the four letter words you use to describe your life with chronic illness?" elicited many awesome responses.

Patients for a Moment # 16

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Migraine Sufferers at Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

This week's news that migraine sufferers are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the general population is important, but no reason for panic. A study published in the journal Neurology found migraineurs to be at greater risk of heart attack and stroke and more likely to have the key risk factors of cardiovascular disease (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol) than people who do not experience migraines.

The important take away message of this news is the need to start routinely screening migraine patients for the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. While migraineurs in the study were 50 percent more likely to have these risk factors, these issues can often be improved through lifestyle changes and medication. Furthermore, the risk of heart attack or stroke is still very low for migraineurs.

Previous research studies discovered an increased risk of stroke among people with migraine with aura. The increased risk of cardiovascular disease observed in this new study was found among migraineurs with aura and without aura. It is not known whether there may be any cause or effect relationship between migraine disorder and cardiovascular disease.

Sources:
Doctors Urged to Manage Cardiovascular Risks of Migraine Sufferers

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DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Lost: Chronic Pain Erased My Plans

Selena at Oh My Aches & Pains is hosting the Patients for a Moment Blog Carnival and asks:

Ah, February! Valentine's Day will soon be here and love is in the air. Or is it, if you are a patient for a moment? Is love still in your vocabulary or has it been replaced by other four letter words?

While love is absolutely still in my vocabulary, the four letter word that most seems to define my life now is lost. At present I'm unable to work or start a family, two things I always assumed would be huge parts of my life at 32. Wanting both and not knowing when, if ever, I'll have them has left me feeling directionless and purposeless.

Each day I come a tiny bit closer to accepting that I may never be able to practice law again. But what will my days look like for the next 50 years if that is the case? How will I challenge my mind? Where will I get the thrill and sense of accomplishment I once achieved through my work? How will I make a meaningful contribution to the world and make good use of all the knowledge I've been entrusted with?

I have been able to occasionally provide legal advice on an informal basis, and I do get a great deal of satisfaction from my work here on Somebody Heal Me. But it's not the same. I don't feel vital or important. I miss feeling like I make a contribution to worthwhile endeavors. I know it's possible to draw a new map for yourself when you've been thrown off course because other people do it all the time. I just don't have any idea what *my* map should look like. If I can't have what I want I don't know if I'll ever be satisfied with the meager alternatives.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.

Behavioral Pain Management Featured on KC News

A local news station did a nice segment on The Lemons Center for Behavioral Pain Management this weekend. The Lemons Center is the clinic where I participated in a comprehensive pain management program for six weeks this fall. The video will give you a good idea of what the clinic is like and how my time was spent there during those six weeks. You also get to meet the amazing Dr. Jim Lemons and learn more about his treatment philosophy.



You can learn more about The Lemons Center by visiting their website: The Lemons Center.

Related Posts:
Pain Tolerance: How Your Behavior Decreases or Increases It
Starting Behavioral Pain Management
Stop Retreating Into Myself: A New Plan for Living My Best Life

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Content by Diana E. Lee.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.