Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Health Tips for September 16

Health Tip: Things That Trigger Migraines

While migraines and their causes vary from person to person, researchers have identified some common triggers.

The National Women's Health Information Center offers this list:

  • Too much sleep, or not enough shut-eye.
  • Missing meals.
  • Overstimulated senses, including noises that are too loud, scents that are too strong, or lights that are too bright.
  • Hormonal changes.
  • Stress.
  • Changes in the weather.
  • Drinking red wine or changes in caffeine intake.
  • Aspartame, an artificial sweetener.
  • Food additives such as tyramine, monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates.

Health Tip: What's Causing My Neck Pain?

There's nothing worse than a pain in the neck, lore has it.

Frequently, neck pain can be managed by taking a pain reliever, performing stretching exercises, and applying hot and cold therapy. But it's still important to know what's behind your neck pain.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists these common triggers:

  • Straining your neck muscles.
  • Prolonged sitting.
  • Having bad posture while engaged in activities such as reading, working or watching TV.
  • Straining to view an improperly placed computer monitor.
  • Sleeping in an unusual position.
  • Injuring the neck muscles during exercise.
  • Having health conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, a herniated disk, or, less frequently, meningitis.

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