Faces of Sepsis

22-year-old JonyRose Filip died of sepsis following a urinary tract infection.

Read her story on the Faces of Sepsis.

Migraine Rates Rising?

Could it be that more people are experiencing migraines than ever before? If a recent study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is right, then it's true: migraine sufferers are becoming more numerous.

According a press release discussing the study, there was a 1% increase in people who reported having migraines - now 12%, up from 11%. The issue that seemed to puzzle researchers the most was why the increase occurred. They couldn't find one particular cause for the rise.

What is the difference between migraines and headaches? Here is a video that does a good job of explaining the difference.

In a previous blog post about migraines, I gave some basic information about migraines:

Migraines are very common. According to statistics, up to 17% of women and 6% of men have had at least one migraine. Some people have occasional migraines, but some experience chronic migraines. These, according to the MayoClinic.com, are migraines that occur 15 or more days per month. The National Headache Foundation reports that 80% of migraines are severe and up to 24% of people with migraines have had to go to the emergency room.

What causes migraines? We don’t really know but we do know that there are many triggers. The most well-known ones are migraines that occur with a woman’s menstrual cycle or the ones that occur when some people drink red wine or eat chocolate. Other triggers can be:

- Alcohol
- Allergies
- Bright lights
- Changes in weather patterns
- Lack of or too much sleep
- Loud noises
- Skipping meals
- Stress (physical or emotional)
- Strong odours

Do you have migraines? What do you do about them?