Sunday, January 30, 2011

FEVER

FEVER
What is Fever?

Fever, or pyrexia or controlled hyperthermia is when the human's body temperature goes above the normal range of 36-37C (98-100F) - it is a common medical sign. As the individual's body temperature goes up, there may be a sensation of cold until the temperature plateaus (stops rising).

An elevated body temperature (fever) is one of the ways our immune system attempts combat an infection. Usually the rise in body temperature helps the individual resolve an infection. However, sometimes it may rise too high, in which case the fever can be serious and lead to complications.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

MIGRAINE

What Is a Migraine?
A migraine is a headache with throbbing pain that is usually worse on one side of the head. The pain is often severe enough to hamper daily activities and may last from four hours to three days if untreated. More than one in 10 Americans, including one in 6 women, have migraines, but many have been told mistakenly that they have a sinus or tension headache. Foods, stress, and hormones can be migraine triggers.

Migraine Symptoms
Throbbing pain typically occurs on one side near the temples, forehead, and eyes. Migraines can make you very sensitive to light, sound, or mild exertion, such as climbing the stairs. Many people have nausea, vomiting, or vision problems. The pain can be disabling, forcing people to miss work or other activities.