Health line: New treatments for headache under research

By Times Staff and Wire
Published February 12, 2008

The National Headache Foundation reports that more than 20 companies are researching drugs or devices to address headaches and migraines. Among these products:

- An inhalation device that uses heat to vaporize a drug into an odorless mist that passes through the lungs into the bloodstream. The goal is to provide relief within 60 seconds.

- A skin patch containing a medication and a small battery-powered electronic controller that precisely dispenses the drug.

- A nasal spray that uses capsaicin, the ingredient in cayenne pepper that gives it its spicy taste, to destroy a chemical carrying pain messages to the brain.

Women, tend to your heart's health

A reminder for Women's Heart Health Month: Though surveys indicate that only 13 percent of women consider heart disease to be their greatest health risk, this illness kills more women than the next six causes of death in women combined. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or pressure; pain or discomfort in one or both arms, along the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath or trouble breathing; breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

The subconscious 'sees' drug images

Scientists have discovered that cocaine-related images trigger the emotional centers of the brains of patients addicted to drugs - even when the subjects are unaware they've seen anything. A team of researchers showed cocaine patients photos of crack pipes and chunks of cocaine. The images flashed by too quickly for the subjects to be consciously aware of them. Yet the images stimulated activity in the part of the brain involved in emotion and reward, implicated in drug-seeking and craving. The brain regions activated by drug images overlapped with those activated by sexual images.

By the numbers

64 -- percent of boomers who claim they feel, on average, 11 years younger than their actual age.

67 -- percent who suffer from muscle or joint pain.

52 -- percent who prefer homeopathic remedies or natural solutions rather than medication.

Source: ThermaCare Arthritis HeatWraps

New genes added as lupus factors

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own cells, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. No satisfactory treatment or cure exists for lupus, which affects more than 1.5-million Americans. There is a strong genetic component to lupus and, according to studies published recently in two medical journals, teams of scientists have identified four genes newly associated with lupus and 10 others that are possible risk factors. By identifying genes that contribute to the risk, it may be possible to develop new treatments aimed at the illness instead of just at its symptoms. For more information, contact the Greater Florida Chapter of the Lupus Foundation, info@lupusflorida.org or 727 447-7075.

[Last modified February 11, 2008, 17:43:44]