wcco-cbsminnesota

[wcco-cbsminnesota]

The True Pain of Migraine Misconceptions

Migraine is the third most prevalent and sixth most disabling medical illness in the world; in the U.S. alone, over 37 million men, women and children live with the burden of unpredictable episodes, and the stress of not knowing when a crippling migraine attack will hit. Yet despite the severity and pervasiveness of migraine, this invisible disease is widely misunderstood.

Misconceptions about migraine don’t just contribute to the shortage of medical professionals focused on migraine, but also have a real, human cost. People living with migraine may experience a lack of support offered by loved ones who don’t understand when they have to cancel plans or a lack of empathy from employers and colleagues when frequent migraine attacks prevent them from excelling at work. Here are some common misconceptions that people living with migraine face.

Migraine is just a headache

While “headache” might appear as a catch-all term for all sorts of head pain, migraine is distinct from headaches because of its duration, severity, and accompanying symptoms. Move Against Migraine members know first-hand that migraine symptoms go beyond head pain and can be just as draining. Member Toni shares that after the head pain subsides, she’s “physically exhausted and drained from the dizziness, nausea, vomiting, skin sensitivity, the lights, the smell, the sounds, and the inability to concentrate or think straight.”

The truth is that migraine is a complex neurological disease, illustrated by the graphic below. To help migraine patients and their loved ones better understand migraine and how it is different from a headache, the American Migraine Foundation broke down each phase of migraine and its common associated symptoms in this article and graphic.

Migraine is your fault

No one is at fault for a migraine attack. Dr. Thomas Berk, a headache specialist at NYU Langone Medical Center, named genetics the sole perpetrator of migraine when he busted common migraine myths for AMF. Many members reported that people accused them of “causing” their migraine attacks. Laura said the biggest misconception she faced about migraine was “That [she] has any and all control over it and that [she] exaggerates[s] how bad they are.” While migraine triggers may appear to be under your control, it’s impossible to manage all the factors that can trigger your attacks.

Dr. Berk said that the mystery surrounding migraine leads to misconceptions. “Sometimes it’s a difficult thing to open about,” he said, “It’s a very complex biological, neurological phenomenon.” He also encouraged the migraine community to use social media to bust migraine misconceptions and “to tell people who don’t otherwise know, ‘No migraine is not my fault.’”

Migraine isn’t as bad you say it is

Move Against Migraine members agreed that it was common for people around them to not believe the magnitude of the disability associated with attacks. Bridget shared with the group that migraine looks different for everyone and that “just because someone’s co-worker’s sister’s friend has migraine does not mean they have a clue of what migraine is really like.” She’s right and in situations like these, it’s important to express that there are different types of headache disorders and migraine in one person has no bearing on what migraine might look like in someone else. Like every disease, there is a spectrum of illnesses – some are more severely affected than others. Moreover, even in the same individual, the severity of attacks vary from one to the next – similar to other diseases such as asthma where one attack resolves within minutes without treatment while the next could put you in the emergency department or in the ICU on a ventilator.

To learn more about headache classifications or to determine what type of headache you’re experiencing, download the AMF guide to common types of headache. If you’re having difficulty explaining your disease to your loved ones or an unsympathetic boss or coworker, reading our free What to Do After a Migraine Diagnosis guide and Migraine at Work guide could help you lay the groundwork for a productive conversation.

Over-the-counter medications can stop migraine pain

While suggestions to take Tylenol, Excedrin or Ibuprofen may be made with good intentions, it’s unlikely that Tylenol will suffice for the vast majority of patients or for the vast majority of attacks in any given patient. Over-the-counter medication can sometimes ease symptoms and be taken for mild attacks, but it doesn’t address the needs of many patients who experience moderate or severe attacks. Another common misconception is that more medication is a viable solution.

Learn more about the basics of Migraine, View Source

[wcco-cbsminnesota]

Everything You Need to Know About Alzheimer’s Disease

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia. Dementia is a broader term for conditions caused by brain injuries or diseases that negatively affect memory, thinking, and behavior. These changes interfere with daily living.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Most people with the disease get a diagnosis after age 65. If it’s diagnosed before then, it’s generally referred to as early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments that can slow the progression of the disease.

Alzheimer’s facts

Although many people have heard of Alzheimer’s disease, some aren’t sure exactly what it is. Here are some facts about this condition:

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic ongoing condition.

Its symptoms come on gradually and the effects on the brain are degenerative, meaning they cause slow decline.

There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s but treatment can help slow the progression of the disease and may improve quality of life.

Anyone can get Alzheimer’s disease but certain people are at higher risk for it. This includes people over age 65 and those with a family history of the condition.

Alzheimer’s and dementia aren’t the same thing. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia.

There’s no single expected outcome for people with Alzheimer’s. Some people live a long time with mild cognitive damage, while others experience a more rapid onset of symptoms and quicker disease progression.

Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s

The terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” are sometimes used interchangeably. However, these two conditions aren’t the same. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia.

Dementia is a broader term for conditions with symptoms relating to memory loss such as forgetfulness and confusion. Dementia includes more specific conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and others, which can cause these symptoms.

Alzheimer’s disease causes and risk factors

Experts haven’t determined a single cause of Alzheimer’s disease but they have identified certain risk factors, including:

Age. Most people who develop Alzheimer’s disease are 65 years of age or older.

Family history. If you have an immediate family member who has developed the condition, you’re more likely to get it.

Genetics. Certain genes have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Having one or more of these risk factors doesn’t mean that you’ll develop Alzheimer’s disease. It simply raises your risk level.

Alzheimer’s and genetics

While there’s no one identifiable cause of Alzheimer’s, genetics may play a key role. One gene in particular is of interest to researchers. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a gene that’s been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms in older adults.

Blood tests can determine if you have this gene, which increases your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Keep in mind that even if someone has this gene, they may not get Alzheimer’s.

The opposite is also true: Someone may still get Alzheimer’s even if they don’t have the gene. There’s no way to tell for sure whether someone will develop Alzheimer’s.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

Everyone has episodes of forgetfulness from time to time. But people with Alzheimer’s disease display certain ongoing behaviors and symptoms that worsen over time. These can include:

memory loss affecting daily activities, such as an ability to keep appointments

trouble with familiar tasks, such as using a microwave

difficulties with problem-solving

trouble with speech or writing

becoming disoriented about times or places

decreased judgment

decreased personal hygiene

mood and personality changes

withdrawal from friends, family, and community

Learn more about the basics of Alzheimer’s disease, View Source