James

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Posts by James Cottrill:

25 March 2010

1% Thursday: Warm hands

Next time you’re having a migraine attack, try warming your hands.

It’s one of the oldest home remedies I ever came up with for migraine. Today, I know that a lot of researchers agree with the idea.

I would go and wash the dishes.

In other words, (having no dishwasher, of course), I would put my hands in hot water.

Today, the "warming of the hands" idea is one of the techniques in biofeedback.

But sometimes something as simple as putting your hands in warm to hot water can help. You could also try putting them in a warm pack like a hot water bottle (no, not in the bottle – you know what I mean).

This doesn’t do quite the same thing as biofeedback (more info in this podcast) – I recommend you try that as well if you haven’t. However, it may be just a little 1% difference that will keep your migraine attack symptoms manageable next time.

Give it a try – warm hands, and maybe a head that’s a little cooler.

What is 1% Thursday?

Every Thursday at Headache and Migraine News (weather permitting) we’ll talk about one measurable, practical thing we can do to make our lives just 1% better. Usually it will be something very easy, sometimes it will be a challenge. Let us know if you try it, or share an idea of your own – and maybe a year from now we’ll see that things have really changed for the better!

24 March 2010

Two Botox Studies Published (and it’s good news for Botox)

James Medications, News, Treatments 0

On March 17th 2010, the journal Cephalalgia published two studies on Botox from the PREEMPT 1 and 2 trials. These are both phase 3 studies, and it’s still looking good for Botox.

Both of the trials were for chronic migraine sufferers. The patients were given Botox injections every 12 weeks.

The PREEMPT 1 trial found a significant decrease in days with headache and migraine, hours of headache and moderate to severe headache days. Though actual number of attacks were not significantly lessened, the attacks were lessened quite a bit.

The PREEMPT 2 trial also found a significant decrease in headache days within a 28 day period.

More good news – very few patients had problems with the injections (ie side effects) that were significant enough that they stopped the trial.

One proponent for Botox use in migraine treatment is Dr. Alexander Mauskop of the New York Headache Center. He writes that he’s hoping to see FDA approval (in the USA, of course) for Botox before the end of the year.

Stay tuned.

23 March 2010

Highlights from the last 3 Months (March 2010 edition)

James Highlights 0

And here are the posts that have been popular with you, the readers, over the last three months. This week two 1% Thursdays made it onto the list – how about that? And obviously visual snow was a hot topic, with two posts on the topic making the top 10.

20 March 2010

My Polysomnography – Sleep Study (podcast)

James Information, Podcast 0

This is a less technical and more personal podcast about my own experience at a sleep clinic. I went for a sleep study (technically called a Polysomnography or PSG) and recorded my impressions from before the study until after I had received the results. Hopefully this will be a help to anyone considering having the study done.

For a text summary of what the sleep study is about, try the Mayo Clinic articles: Polysomnography (sleep study), or quick summary at UKHealthCentre with links to UK sleep clinics. Also, a summary from a clinic in Australia specializing in PSGs for children.

And now, the podcast:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

18 March 2010

1% Thursday: Drug Reference

James Resources 0

This week: invest in (and read) a good drug reference book.

Why would I need to buy a book when there’s so much information online nowadays? Well, speaking personally, I still appreciate my real-paper offline reference. Why?

I can find the information much more quickly in the book.
I know I’ll find consistent, reliable information. There can be quite a variety online, even on the same site.
The book I use gives me just the right information. Not pages and pages, and yet it still gives me the information I need to know about interactions, how to take the drug, what it is, et cetera.
It works when the power is off, when the internet is down, and when my computer crashes. In a situation when I need to check something quickly, it doesn’t let me down.

Of course, the downside is that it’s probably wise to buy an updated version of your reference every 2-3 years. However, the consumer versions of these books are not expensive – a few dollars every couple of years is worth the expense.

Look for a reference from a reliable source that is for sure not more than 5 years old. The book should have a large number of drugs in it, photos if possible, and key information about each drug.

My favourite is The Pill Book, which has been coming out with new editions quite regularly.

For the UK, you might want to try the BMA Concise Guide to Medicines and Drugs.

What is 1% Thursday?

Every Thursday at Headache and Migraine News (weather permitting) we’ll talk about one measurable, practical thing we can do to make our lives just 1% better. Usually it will be something very easy, sometimes it will be a challenge. Let us know if you try it, or share an idea of your own – and maybe a year from now we’ll see that things have really changed for the better!