Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource - May 21, 2002

Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Managing Migraine Pain

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Migraine pain can be debilitating, and women are three times more likely than men to suffer from it. Science has learned much in recent years about managing migraines; although, there is no known cure. And there are many medications now available - over-the- counter and by prescription - that can ease migraine pain or prevent the onset of these horrible headaches.

If you have migraines, the May issue of the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource recommends these techniques to lessen the pain:

• Try progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, yoga, meditation or hot baths. Do something each day to alleviate stress.
• Maintain good health habits. Exercise regularly, get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, avoid caffeine and don't smoke.
• Assess estrogen's effects. If you think estrogen may be a trigger, talk to your doctor about whether changing or stopping oral contraceptives or hormone therapy may be helpful.

Keep a diary of the times, duration and severity of your migraines. Take note of what you've eaten, any unusual stresses and whether any medications provided relief. You may find a pattern over time.

Common Painkiller May Hinder Aspirin's Effects

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Millions of people take baby aspirin every day to help prevent a heart attack. If you're one of them, and you use ibuprofen for pain relief, you may be blocking aspirin's heart benefits, according to the May issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.

A study in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine looked at the interactions between aspirin and other common painkillers. The study found that when one dose of ibuprofen (Advil™, Motrin™) was taken before aspirin, it reduced aspirin's ability to keep platelets from clumping - which is thought to help prevent heart attacks.

The other painkillers in the study - acetaminophen (Tylenol), rofecoxib (Vioxx) and diclofenac sodium - weren't found to have any effect on aspirin's effectiveness.

Researchers believe that taking an occasional ibuprofen tablet won't hinder aspirin's overall effects, especially if it's taken several hours after the aspirin. But if you take ibuprofen regularly for weeks or months at a time, talk to your doctor about switching to a different painkiller.

Steroids: The Good and the Bad

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Steroids often get a bad rap. There has been a lot of negative press about the side effects of anabolic steroids, sometimes used - and misused - by athletes or other people who want to bulk up. However, these medications do have a legitimate medical use for certain sexual and genetic disorders, the May issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource reports.

Futhermore, another class of steroids, called corticosteroids, can do wonders to relieve the symptoms of dozens of diseases and conditions. Corticosteroids alleviate the symptoms of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, osteoarthritis and allergic rashes. They can also prevent organ rejection in transplant patients.

But there is a downside; corticosteroids cause a variety of side effects, depending on the type of medication, the dose and how long you've been taking them. Weight gain, thinning skin, more frequent bruising, increased risk of infections, loss of calcium in bones, higher blood pressure, fluid retention, higher blood sugar, increased risk of cataracts and suppressed adrenal gland hormone production are just some of the problems that can result from corticosteroid use. Techniques such as using inhaled or injected medications can help reduce these side effects.

Corticosteroids have their pros and cons, like all drugs. They have both powerful healing properties and the potential for serious side effects. But with proper administration and monitoring, the benefits can outweigh the risks. .

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