Have you ever had a throbbing pain in your head accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to lights and sounds? Yes? Then you have experienced a migraine. Over 37 million people in the United States are diagnosed with migraines and 47 percent of American adults suffer from headaches annually, according to the National Headache Foundation.

June is National Headache and Migraine Awareness Month. The theme for 2013 is “Help Make Migraines Visible” and the goal this year is to raise awareness that migraines and headaches are not an isolated problem and sufferers are not alone.

We get headaches because the blood flow to our head changes (example: alcohol), inflammation occurs, triggering pain. The difference between headaches and migraines is that migraines are more severe and come with all the side effects listed above.

Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints, with one in six Americans suffering from chronic headaches each year.

According to health.howstuffworks.com, there are three types of headaches:
Migraine- reduced blood flow to the head and serotonin causes pain
Tension headache- muscular strains in the head and neck cause pain, emotional stress and eye strain are also big factors
Cluster headache- these repeat over a period of weeks or months on one side of the head and around the eye.

Even though over the counter medications such as Advil, Motrin, Tylenol, or Excedrin can help, Huffington Post Healthy Living published the following list of “15 Natural Cures to Migraines”

1. Feverfew- an herbal remedy used in tea or eaten raw
2. Butterbur- a toxic herb unless taken as processed supplement; chemicals relieve spasms and inflammation
3. Magnesium- studies show that daily supplements decreased migraines by 42 percent
4. Riboflavin- a B vitamin found in milk, meat, nuts, and green veggies
5. Omega 3s- fight inflammation; found in flax seeds, salmon, and fish oil supplements
6. Peppermint- the smell reduces pain
7. Ginger- is anti-inflammatory, eases pain
8. Rubbing temples- just feels good, people’s instinct when headaches form
9. Massage- study shows frequent sufferers has fewer migraines following six weekly massage sessions
10. Meditation- reduces stress factor
11. Drink more water- prevents dehydration, a main cause of headaches and migraines
12. Acupuncture- needles trigger pain reducing chemicals in the body
13. Caffeine- too much or too little can cause headaches, in small doses, caffeine can reduce the pain
14. Regular exercise- relaxes and releases endorphins
15. Cool down and warm up- use an ice pack to cool your head and a warm bath to warm up your body; this dilates blood vessels in the body

Every day 430,000 people can’t go to work because of a migraine. National Headache and Migraine Awareness Month encourages people to wear purple during June to raise awareness of this issue.

A4M is hosting a BHRT symposium and FAARM Modules conference in Boston, MA September 18-21, 2013. Some objectives for Module IV- Nutrition and Metabolism include the action of Butterbur as a remedy, treatment plans and options for the migraine patient, vitamin deficiencies, and symptoms of headaches, as well as several others. For more information on this event, please visit http://www.a4m.com/anti-aging-conference-boston-2013-sep.html.

With summer right around the corner, people are going far lengths to burn those extra calories and get “swim suit ready.” What if it was much easier than paying hundreds of dollars on a gym membership and “healthy” diet food from a box? According to various health and nutrition websites such as sheknows.com, WebMD, and care2.com, your daily chores and routine can burn hundreds of calories.

Cleaning:

Sweeping- 118 calories
Mopping- 129 calories
Grocery shopping- 82 calories
Mowing the lawn- 197 calories
Gardening- 143 calories
Raking the leaves- 154 calories
Making your bed- 72 calories
Shoveling snow- 400-600 calories per hour
Heavy yard work- 400-600 calories per hour

Exercise (because it is still necessary to effectively lose the pounds):

30 minutes of jogging in place- 251 calories
30 minutes of walking up hills- 251 calories
30 minutes of standing- 72 calories
30 minutes of playing Frisbee- 107 calories

Research also proves that child care burns about 300-600 calories per hour. Other helpful hints to work into your everyday routine are walking the dog when you wake up in the morning, take the stairs everywhere you go- no elevators or escalators, park far away and walk as much as possible, limit television time and replace that time with gardening or chores or any outside activity.

Along with these activities, incorporate a serving of fruits and veggies in every meal. Have some berries with your oatmeal at breakfast, a salad at lunch, and a side of broccoli instead of French fries at dinner. Taking the small steps with consistency will ensure a healthier lifestyle and a bikini body to brag about this summer.

June is Men’s Health Month which raises awareness for men’s health issues. The official goal of the awareness campaign as stated by Men’sHealthMonth.org, is to encourage early detection and treatment of diseases in men and boys. Throughout the month of June, there will be health screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and health education opportunities for men and their families in communities nationwide.

Most of these targeted issues are preventable and can be taken care of with a simple health screening. According to the men’s health department at NYU, 63 percent of men do not go to the doctor unless they are bleeding or are in serious pain. In addition, one- third of men claim that they are motivated by their wife or significant other to visit the doctor. Heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, kidney, and liver disease are all among the top causes of death for Americans; which men are more likely to die faster from than women. Today, on average, women outlive men by five years. Also, “the biggest problem that men have is not so much a specific disease…but the diseases are the result of lack of health care monitoring earlier in life,” WebMD says.

A common health problem in men is low testosterone. This is related to being overweight, having high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine’s BHRT symposium in Boston this September will feature discussions on Andropause- testosterone monitoring and treatment, hormone therapies, and hormones and the brain.