Health
'I feel a migraine coming on, what can I do right away?': Ask a doctor
People who suffer from migraines — one out of every seven people globally, statistics show — know that time is of the essence.
When the first signs and symptoms appear, taking quick action can help stop the headache in its tracks — while failing to take those steps can result in a potentially debilitating episode.
People who live with migraines often suffer from daily anxiety about when the next migraine will hit, or whether it will interrupt work or other plans, noted Dr. Robert Cuyler, a psychologist in Houston, Texas, who specializes in chronic headaches.
RED WINE HEADACHES COULD BE CAUSED BY THIS INTRIGUING CULPRIT, STUDY FINDS
“That anxiety can actually lead to worsened symptoms for people whose migraines are accelerated by heightened stress levels,” he said.
Experts agree that finding a calm, quiet and dark environment can be helpful.
One out of every seven people around the world suffers from migraines, statistics show. (iStock)
“This can help reduce the sensory overload, especially visual, that is often associated with migraine onset,” said Dr. Robert Cuyler, a psychologist in Houston, Texas, who specializes in chronic headache.
HEADS UP ON MIGRAINES AS EXPERT REVEALS TIPS FOR FINDING RELIEF FROM ‘DEBILITATING’ HEADACHES
Breathwork can also be helpful, he advised.
“Calming breathing exercises can be particularly beneficial in quieting the anxiety that frequently accompanies migraine pain,” said Cuyler, who is also chief clinical officer of Freespira, a Washington company that makes an FDA-cleared treatment for panic attacks and PTSD symptoms.
“This not only helps in immediate symptom management, but it can also have a direct impact on future situations.”
“Calming breathing exercises can be particularly beneficial in quieting the anxiety that frequently accompanies migraine pain,” an expert said. (iStock)
Other potentially helpful actions include applying temperature therapy with hot or cold compresses or sipping a caffeinated drink, according to Mayo Clinic.
ASK A DOCTOR: ‘IS IT DANGEROUS TO CRACK MY NECK OR BACK?’
While some people find relief in medications — including over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription drugs — Cuyler emphasized the power of the mind-body connection in controlling migraines.
“When a migraine strikes, people understandably run to the medicine cabinet — but it’s also essential to consider the emotional load of chronic headaches,” he said.
Finding a calm, quiet and dark environment can help alleviate migraine pain, experts said. (iStock)
“Addressing the psychological aspects of migraines is an often overlooked tool that can greatly help a person’s ability to cope with and potentially reduce the toll of these debilitating headaches.”
It can also be helpful to remind yourself that it’s just a temporary condition, according to Cuyler.
“The pain will eventually pass, and ordinary life will be possible again,” he said.
“This approach can help reduce that anxiety and promote a sense of control, which is vital when dealing with the often unpredictable nature of migraines.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Cuyler also recommended reflecting on the positive events or situations you’ve avoided out of fear of a migraine.
Anyone who suffers from severe or frequent migraines should contact a health care professional for diagnosis and treatment recommendations. (iStock)
“We know that avoidance can ‘shrink’ your life and increase isolation, loneliness and eventually even depression.”
It can also be helpful to keep a migraine diary, recording any potential triggers when headaches occur.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
Anyone who suffers from severe or frequent migraines should contact a health care professional for diagnosis and treatment recommendations, experts noted.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Scientists have linked eating leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli to better lung health.
There are two primary forms of vitamin K found in foods. The primary kind is vitamin K1, found mainly in vegetables, which plays a major role in the body’s blood-clotting process.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Vitamin K2 is found in fermented foods, certain dairy products, eggs and meats and helps regulate calcium in the body and supports bone health.
Researchers at Australia’s Edith Cowan University examined whether dietary intake of vitamins K1 and K2 was associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and lung function.
Leafy green vegetables are high in vitamin K1, a nutrient that researchers have observed conributes to improved lung health. (iStock)
“Chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, are among the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases worldwide and were the third leading cause of death in 2019, accounting for 4 million deaths and affecting 454.6 million individuals globally,” the scientists reported in the introduction to their study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
“Although asthma and COPD can be managed with available treatments, neither condition is curable, underscoring the need for effective prevention strategies,” they added.
The leading cause of COPD is smoking, the Mayo Clinic reported. Exposure to other irritants, such as dust, chemicals and pollution, can also cause it.
The researchers analyzed data from 179,062 participants over a 10-and-a-half-year period and concluded that, “Higher dietary vitamin K1 intake was associated with better lung function and a lower rate of COPD.”
Researchers found that people who increased their vitamin K1 intake were less likely to develop COPD. (iStock)
Participants who consumed the most vitamin K1 had a 16% lower likelihood of COPD, the researchers observed. The effects were more pronounced in smokers and participants with high-risk occupations.
Consumption of vitamin K2 did not result in lower COPD rates.
“No association was observed for vitamin K1 or vitamin K2 intakes and asthma,” the researchers also wrote.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Associate Professor Marc Sim, who was involved in the study, said that it’s likely Vitamin K activates a protein that may help keep lung tissue flexible and prevent damage.
Because the study was observational, it cannot prove that vitamin K1 directly reduces COPD risk, only that higher intake was associated with better lung health.
Researchers have associated higher consumption of leafy green vegetables with better lung function. (iStock)
Just one extra serving of leafy greens “is an achievable way to boost your vitamin K1 intake,” said Chengfeng Li, one of the study’s researchers.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Other foods rich in vitamin K1 include collard greens, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts and turnip greens.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Top stories
→ 8 common food preservatives linked to high blood pressure and heart disease
→ Study suggests latest COVID vaccine may have unexpected health benefit
→ Switching from cigarettes to vapes linked to higher risk of major eye diseases
Common food preservatives may contribute to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to a large French study. (iStock)
Health challenges
→ Former reality star opens up about new diagnosis after years-long health ordeal
→ Popular mommy blogger dies at 48 two years after devastating cancer diagnosis
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Easy improvements
→ Want to age better? Researchers say 4-minute routine may help prevent dangerous falls
→ One question may reveal whether your body is getting the rest it needs
Feeling older than your current age could be a sign that you’re not getting enough quality sleep, according to new research. (iStock)
Conversation starters
→ Dad jokes may be good for your brain in one surprising way, experts say
→ Measles-infected traveler may have exposed passengers at LAX and nearby hotel
→ No sex for 10 weeks? Championship team’s playoff strategy raises eyebrows
Health
Switching from cigarettes to vapes linked to higher risk of major eye diseases, large study finds
US cigarette smoking drops to record low, vaping and nicotine pouch use surges
Fox News medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses a New England Journal of Medicine study reporting US adult cigarette smoking rates dropped to a record low of 9.9% in 2024. Siegel warns about the addictive nature of vaping and nicotine pouches, which contain high levels of nicotine. He expresses concern over potential GI tract and heart issues, stressing social media’s role in promoting these products to younger generations.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Switching from cigarettes to electronic vapes is often seen as a healthier move, but a massive nationwide study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that smokeless alternatives could increase the risk of serious eye diseases compared to quitting nicotine altogether.
Researchers from the Korea University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, analyzed health data from a group of 179,273 adults through the Korean National Health Insurance Service, according to a press release.
All participants had smoked traditional cigarettes between 2011 and 2012 and then quit smoking by 2018 or 2019, they reported.
SINGLE WORKOUT CUTS CRAVINGS, OFFERING NEW HOPE FOR SMOKERS TRYING TO QUIT
To ensure a fair comparison, the researchers paired up participants who shared similar backgrounds, including their age, gender, medical history, existing health conditions and general lifestyle habits.
Switching from cigarettes to electronic vapes is often seen as a healthier move, but a large study suggests it could pose a risk to eye health. (iStock)
This process created a balanced group of 32,316 matched participants, who were divided into two categories: complete quitters who stopped using all nicotine products and those who transitioned to smokeless nicotine products, such as vapes.
The researchers followed the participants for an average of 4.6 years to determine whether they developed eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and focus-related eyesight disorders.
5 WAYS TO PRESERVE YOUR VISION AS YOU AGE, ACCORDING TO AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Over the tracking period, the group experienced a total of 6,328 major eye disease events. People who quit nicotine entirely had the lowest disease rate in the study, at 41.1 cases per 1,000 person-years (a measure that accounts for both the number of people in the study and how long they were followed).
In comparison, that rate rose to 44 cases for individuals who had switched over to smokeless alternatives like vapes.
The people included in the study were divided into two main categories: complete quitters who stopped using all nicotine products, and switchers who transitioned to smokeless tobacco or nicotine products, like vapes. (iStock)
Ultimately, the data showed that switching to alternative nicotine products carried a steady 7% increased risk of serious eye diseases compared to quitting nicotine completely.
FOOD CHOICES THAT CAN BOOST YOUR VISION AND PROTECT AGAINST EYE DISEASE
Most notably, those who switched faced a 24% higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Additionally, those who ditched cigarettes for vapes had a 7% higher risk of developing refractive and accommodation disorders, which affect the eye’s ability to focus clearly.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“These findings challenge the assumption that substituting noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products for conventional cigarettes is visually harmless,” the researchers noted.
“These findings challenge the assumption that substituting noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products for conventional cigarettes is visually harmless,” the researchers noted. (iStock)
The authors did point out a few limitations of the research. Because this was a study looking back at health insurance data, it cannot definitively prove that vaping directly causes eye damage.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Additionally, the study relied on people filling out questionnaires about their own smoking and vaping habits, which can sometimes lead to underreporting or simple memory errors.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Still, the researchers concluded the findings suggest that replacing cigarettes with alternative nicotine products may not eliminate the risk of certain eye diseases.
-
Politics4 minutes agoJeffries welcomes Democratic Socialists into the fold as critics warn party is revealing ‘exactly who it is’
-
Health7 minutes agoThese leafy greens could help protect your lungs, study suggests
-
Sports12 minutes agoKnicks hand Mamdani-backed candidate cease and desist letter for using team’s logo in campaign: report
-
Technology19 minutes agoEmpty envelopes in your mailbox? Do not scan that code
-
Business22 minutes agoTruck parking lot plans near Port of Los Angeles spark backlash among residents
-
Entertainment27 minutes agoReview: A mesmerizingly vulnerable Angelina Jolie fails to fully redeem ‘Couture’
-
Lifestyle34 minutes agoHe turned his one-bedroom West Hollywood apartment into an entertainer’s paradise
-
Politics37 minutes agoQuicker count, bigger turnout: L.A. County certifies 2026 primary election ballots
