General Health Articles

Cranial Pain Primer: Types of Headache

Uh oh, you can feel it coming- the throbbing ache, the sensitivity to light, the pain creeping its way deep into your skull- another headache is on its way and you just don't have time to deal. An estimated 3 to 5 percent of adults worldwide experience chronic daily headaches. Millions more suffer less frequent headaches, but we can all agree that one headache is one headache too many. Stay tuned my unfortunate headache-prone reader for an introduction on cranial pain, types of headache you may be suffering from and how to manage.

Most people have headaches from time to time. But if you have a headache more days than not, you may be suffering from chronic daily headaches. For headaches to be considered chronic they must occur more than 15 days per month and for more than 3 months. The unrelenting nature of chronic headaches make them particularly hard to deal with. But with aggressive initial treatment and steady, long-term management may reduce overall pain and lead to fewer headaches.

These types of headache can be divided into 4 main subcategories: Chronic migraine, Chronic tension-type headache, New daily persistent headache, and Hemicrania continua. Symptoms vary for each type of headache. If you're not sure which type of chronic headache that you're suffering from, below is a guide on headache symptoms according to the Mayo Clinic website.

Chronic migraine Usually evolves from episodic migraine without aura Includes at least two of the following — affects only one side of your head, pulsating or throbbing pain, moderate to severe intensity, aggravated by physical activity Includes at least one of the following — nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound

Chronic tension-type headache Usually evolves from episodic tension-type headaches Typically hurts on both sides of your head Mild to moderate pain, often described as pressing or tightening May include mild nausea or sensitivity to light or sound

New daily persistent headache Starts suddenly and occurs daily within three days of onset Hurts on both sides of your head Feels like a tightening or pressing sensation, not throbbing Mild to moderate intensity Sometimes includes one of the following — mild nausea, sensitivity to sound or sensitivity to light

Hemicrania continua Hurts on only one side of the head and pain never shifts sides Daily and consistent, with no pain-free periods Moderate intensity, interspersed with brief instances of severe pain Includes at least one of the following — tearing or redness of the eye on the affected side, nasal congestion or runny nose, swelling or drooping of the eyelid

Although it's not completely understood why these types of headache occur, doctors have narrowed down a few underlying conditions that may cause constant cranial pain:

Inflammation or other problems with the blood vessels in and around the brain Infections, such as meningitis Intracranial pressure that's either too high or too low Pinched nerves in the neck Brain tumor Traumatic brain injury

In most cases chronic daily head pain doesn't have an underlying physical cause. They may occur, though, if you develop a heightened response to pain signals or if the part of your brain that suppresses pain signals isn't working properly. Doctors also believe that people who take pain medication too frequently may suffer from constant cranial pain. If you are taking pain medications, even over the counter analgesics, more than two days a week then you're at risk of developing rebound headaches.

Whatever the reason that you may be suffering from chronic headaches, it is best not to self-diagnose. Make an appointment with your doctor today and find out what's really going on in your head. Your life is too busy and too precious to worry about constant cranial pain.

Summertime and Sunscreen Use

Swimming, picnics, green grass and lemonade-summer has officially arrived! The season of fun and sun is upon us. However, it's essential to also recognize the hazards associated with our favorite season. Sunscreen use is critical. If not protected, long and lazy sun-drenched days can quickly turn to uncomfortable burning, cracking, peeling or worse. Here are a few tips on sunscreen use that can help keep you and your family happy and protected this season.

When should I use sunscreen? The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that, regardless of skin type, sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays is water resistant and yields a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 should be used year round. Sunscreen should be applied every day to exposed skin, regardless of if you're in the sun or not. And don't let the clouds fool you either, up to 80 percent of the sun's ultraviolet rays can pass through the clouds. Alternately, sand reflects 25 percent of the sun's rays and snow reflects 80 percent of the sun's rays.

What are UVA and UVB rays? Two types of harmful rays are found in sunlight- ultraviolet A rays and ultraviolet B rays. UVA rays penetrate deeper into your skin and are known to lead to signs of premature aging of the skin causing wrinkling and age spots. UVA rays can also pass through window glass. Alternately, UVB rays cause sunburn and are blocked by standard window glass. However, excessive exposure to both UVA and UVB rays can lead to the development of skin cancer.

What is SPF? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Sunscreens are rated by the strength of their SPF. The SPF numbers found on sunscreen can range from 2 to 50. This number refers to the product's ability to deflect the sun's burning and harmful rays.

According to the AAD the SPF ranking is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to produce sunburn on sunscreen-protected skin to the amount of time needed to cause sunburn on unprotected skin. For example, if a sunscreen is rated SPF 2 and a person who would normally turn red after ten minutes of exposure in the sun uses it; it would take twenty minutes of exposure for the skin to turn red. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 would allow that person to multiply that initial burning time by 15, which means it would take 15 times longer to burn, or 150 minutes. Even with this protection, sunscreen rubs off with normal wear, so it needs to be reapplied at least every two hours.

How much and how often should sunscreen be applied? Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and make sure to smear generous amounts to all exposed areas, paying specific attention to your face, ears, hands and arms. And don't forget your lips! Put on lip balm that includes sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. A good rule of thumb is one ounce (equal to about one shots glass) is needed to adequately cover the exposed areas of the body. Reapply sunscreen every two hour, after swimming or sweating profusely. Water resistant sunscreens even lose their effectiveness after 40 minutes in the pool so it's important to remember to reapply. Sunscreen rubs off as well, so if you towel-dried at some point, you'll need to reapply afterward.

Other Easy Ways to Protect Yourself from the Sun

Wear protective clothing-Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when possible. Seek shade-Don't set up camp right in the sun, try the shade. And remember that the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade. Protect children-Play in the shade, wear protective clothing, and always apply sunscreen. Avoid tanning beds-Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer, wrinkling and premature aging. If you prefer a bronzed look try using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it. Regularly assess yourself-Take notice of anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin. If you see anything visit your doctor or dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.

More than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year. With just a little bit of knowledge and preparation, your summer can be care-free, burn-free and cancer-free.

Fitness for All “Fun-Sized” October Fitness Challenge

Every candy on the market seems to have a “fun-sized” version these days. And while it may seem “fun” and harmless, those candies still pack a powerful punch when it comes to calories.

This October, combat the extra calories of your favorite candies with these exercises. 

Snickers – 80 calories = 13 minutes of Pilates

Milky Way – 80 calories = 10 minutes of walking up stairs

Milk Duds – 40 calories = 5 minutes with an agility ladder

Peanut M&M’s – 90 calories = 11 minutes of running 5 MPH

Kit Kat – 70 calories = 13 minutes of gardening

Nestle Crunch – 60 calories = 12 minutes of Yoga

Sour Patch Kids – 105 calories = 10 minutes of kickboxing

Pay Day – 90 calories = 15 minutes of swimming

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup – 110 calories = 12 minutes of jumping rope

Butterfinger – 85 calories = 12 minutes on the elliptical

Snickers Peanut Butter – 130 calories = 15 minutes of burpees

Starbursts – 40 calories = 5 minutes of walking upstairs

Nerds – 50 calories = 11 minutes of sit ups

Skittles – 80 calories = 11 minutes on a stair master

Baby Ruth – 85 calories = 12 minutes of walking lunges

Twix – 80 calories = 10 minutes of moderate spinning

Atomic Fire Ball – 40 calories = 10 minutes of Zumba

Swedish Fish – 100 calories = 5 minutes of kettlebell swings

Hershey Chocolate Bar – 67 calories = 13 minutes of push-ups

Hershey Kiss – 22 calories = 5 minutes of jumping jacks

Food 101: Never Do This with Your Potatoes

Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables in Americans homes and a quick and easy item to have on hand for meals. But did you know that there are some things that you should never do with potatoes?

Here are what you shouldn’t be doing with your spuds:

Never store your potatoes with your apples- apples produce high amounts of ethylene gas, which causes potatoes to spoil prematurely.

Never store them in a cold, dry environment – instead, keep them in cool, dark place away from other fruits and vegetables.

Never store potatoes near bananas, melons, onions, pears, peaches, avocados, and tomatoes – these also produce high levels of ethylene gas and should be stored separately.

Healthy Living Foods that You Shouldn’t Keep in Your Refrigerator

Since 1913, refrigerators have been keeping our foods cold, but not everything stays fresher in the fridge!

Here are the top foods that you shouldn’t be keeping in your refrigerator, thereby keeping your foods fresher and freeing up some space on your shelves.

Avocados – they will reach their peak ripeness at room temperature.

Basil – best left at room temperature with stems submerged in water. (This is also true for many herbs.)

Bell peppers – the skin loses its crunch when kept at cold temperatures.

Cucumbers – keeping them in the fridge make them watery and pitted.

Pickles – they don’t need to be refrigerated because they are already preserved.

Onions – store them in a cool, dry place but never in a plastic bag or near potatoes.

Garlic – keep it in a cool, dry place so it doesn’t become rubbery.

Potatoes – best stored in a paper bag. The moisture in the fridge makes them gritty and sweet.

Tomatoes – store at room temperature for optimal flavor.

Bananas – need warmer temperatures to ripen.

Berries – stay fresher in room temperature, as the moisture will ruin them.

Citrus fruits – leave those on the counter and be sure to get rid of moldy ones, as the mold spreads quickly.

Melons – whole melons should be left at room temperature. Only refrigerate once they are cut.

Hot sauce – only creamy condiments should be refrigerated.

Soy sauce – thanks to fermentation, soy sauce can be left unrefrigerated for a year.