Robbins Headache Clinic Blog
Men With Migraine Less Likely Than Women to Be Diagnosed and Treated
Although often considered a women's disease, migraine affects a substantial portion of men, yet is diagnosed and treated less often than in women, according to results from a large online survey presented at the annual meeting of the American Headache Society in June,...
Using a Smartphone In the Dark
Two women went temporarily blind from constantly checking their phones in the dark, say doctors who are now alerting others to the unusual phenomenon. The solution: Make sure to use both eyes when looking at your smartphone screen in the dark. In a recent article...
Cinnamon: Can It Make Us Better Learners?
Cinnamon is a warm, sweet spice that you can sprinkle on top of your latte while eating a cinnamon roll. In addition to tantalizing your taste buds, cinnamon may improve your ability to learn, new research says. The study, published in the journal Neuroimmune...
“The Doctor-Patient Relationship is Alive and Well”
It's 2:20 p.m. and Ms. M. is precisely on time for her appointment. She's brought her hand-printed list of questions, her sack of medications that need renewal, her mordant observations about her newest home attendant, and a box of chocolates that she will press upon...
“Is Group Acupuncture Effective for Chronic Pain?”
Part of an article written by Benjamin Kligler, MD, MPH In the fall of 2014, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute funded a new study comparing the effectiveness of individual versus group acupuncture therapy for the treatment of chronic pain, specifically...
“A Medical Mystery of the Best Kind: Major Diseases are in Decline”
Something strange is going on in medicine. Major diseases, like colon cancer, dementia and heart disease, are waning in wealthy countries, and improved diagnosis and treatment cannot fully explain it. Scientists marvel at this good news, a medical mystery of the best...
Is It Really a Migraine?
According to the American Headache Society, nearly 90% of self-diagnosed "sinus headaches" are actually migraines. And, there's a difference between episodic and chronic migraine. Why does that matter? Treatments vary depending on the cause of your head pain. So if...
Giving the ‘Green Light’ to Migraine Relief
A new study sheds light - literally - on a potential means of easing migraine pain. Researchers in Boston exposed 69 migraine patients to different colors of light. They found that while blue light exacerbated headache pain, a narrow spectrum of low-intensity green...
“Get Moving: It Will Save Your Life”
"Left uppercut! Left uppercut!" yells Joey DeMalavez, Philly tough guy and former pro boxer, as seven neophyte pugilists advance, slicing the air with gloved fists at Joltin' Jabs, the trainer's Main Street Manayunk Gym. Their opponents: in the mirrors in front of...
Text Messaging Triggers a New Type of Brain Rhythm
Sending text messages on a smartphone can change the rhythm of brain waves, according to a new study published in Epilepsy & Behavior. People communicate increasingly via test messaging, though little is known on the neurological effects of smartphone use. To find...