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Effect of stress is not limited to mind. It has serious effects on the body. It affects blood circulation and the heart. It puts pressure on the nerves. It also alters the blood sugar level.

Hearing that a person is HIV positive instantly makes us wary of him or her and unconsciously we may begin avoiding social interactions with them. However, HIV does not spread through the air or by water health and hence there is no reason to ostracize HIV positive people.

If you are diabetic, you must have been going for empty stomach blood cholesterol tests to know the sugar level in your body. If this is true, you should be worried as a new study claims that this habit causes more harm than good.

Diabetic people have a higher level of bad cholesterol in their bodies, which leads to excessive fat in the arteries. Due to the same reason, doctors suggest the patients to go for regular blood cholesterol tests.

As per the orthodox guidelines, the patients are recommended not to consume anything except water, as it may affect the results. The new study, however, claims that this is not necessary and may be harmful in some cases.

The study conducted by specialists at Michigan State University in East Lansing claims that fasting before a blood cholesterol test may boost the blood sugar level, or hypoglycemia, in the patients who take insulin.

Fasting leads to FEEHD:

The study was conducted on over 500 diabetes patients in Michigan. In the study, the specialists found out that the people with diabetes were more prone to face fasting-evoked en route hypoglycemia (FEEHD) if they fasted before going for blood cholesterol test.

In this condition, the blood sugar levels become very low, which leads to faintness, confusion and dizziness. These problems become so severe that people can experience life-threatening conditions when outside their home.

Updating of guidelines:

The experts at the Michigan State University say that fasting before the blood cholesterol test is a guideline which was set back in the 1970s, and the doctors in Canada and most European countries no longer use it.

It is time for Indian doctors too to amend the guidelines before a blood cholesterol test while suffering from diabetes to ensure good health of their patients.

For people recovering from a back surgery, constipation is quite common and causes discomfort or pain. There are several aspects of a back surgery which may lead to constipation. They include anaesthesia, changes in diet, stress and the use of some pain relieving medicines.

Symptoms:

1. The symptoms of constipation are:
2. Pain and bloating in the abdomen.
3. Nausea and vomiting.
4. Hard stools and the inability of bowel movement.

Ways to prevent constipation:

Here are several simple ways by which you can prevent or minimize pain or discomfort due to constipation after a back surgery.

1. You should increase your daily activities as early as possible after a back surgery. You should walk regularly.
2. You must reduce the use of narcotic medicines and use only what is needed for controlling pain. Narcotic medicines slow bowel movement and cause constipation. Use non-narcotic pain relieving medicines to prevent constipation.
3. You can use fiber laxatives, stool softeners or combination products after a back surgery to prevent constipation.
4. Drinking a lot of water and non caffeinated fluids is very important. You should also have apple cider juice and prune juice, which are effective natural laxatives.
5. You should eat natural fiber-rich food for intestinal stimulation. These include whole grains, cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables. It is best to avoid cheese, meat and processed food. Instead of large meals, you must have frequent, small meals throughout the day.

Medicines for constipation:

Non prescription medicines can be taken for preventing or treating constipation after a back surgery.

Here is a list of some effective medicines that relieve constipation:

1. Bulk fiber laxatives, which add bulk to stool and encourage water to stay in the colon. These medicines need up to three days to show effect.
2. Stool softeners or emollient laxatives help in softening stool by making fluids mix with them.
3. Stimulant laxatives take action by stimulation of bowel contractions for moving stool out. They are effective and start working very quickly.
4. Combination laxatives perform the functions of laxatives and stool softeners together.
5. Suppositories also perform the dual function of stool softening and acting as laxatives. The colon gets contracted, and stool is pushed out and as the stool gets softer, it can pass easily.
6. Enemas perform the function of bowel movement stimulation. Liquids are injected into the rectum, up into the colon. This stimulates the colon, and stool is passed.

Constipation occurs commonly in patients after undergoing a back surgery. This may cause utter discomfort and pain. You should take proper precautions and remedies in case of constipation after a back surgery.

Menstrual Migraine can be termed as an extremely persistent headache that can happen just before, during or right after menstruation. Often, the feeling of nausea also keeps on lingering. The cause which triggers this type of migraine can be the fluctuating levels of oestrogen that a woman’s body experiences when she is on her periods.

What can be the possible treatment?

1. Application of ice pack or simply rubbing ice on your forehead can help lessen the pain a bit.

2. Relaxation exercises can be practiced to reduce the tension of the muscles.

3. Acupuncture therapy can also be done to improve the headache and it can further aid in relaxation of the muscles.

4. Over the counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can be taken for immediate relief.

5. Your doctor can also administer TRIPTAN (specific drugs used to treat the symptoms of migraine which work on the chemical receptors within the brain) if the pain is unbearable.

6. Do not experiment much with hormonal contraception methods after unsafe sexual intercourse. It just might worsen the pain.

7. NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) can also be administered, only if they have been prescribed by the doctor, as the harmful effects of those drugs are aplenty.

8. Magnesium deficiency in the body is one of the most important causes for menstrual migraines. Thus, eating foods rich in magnesium such as dark leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, avocados, bananas, etc. and taking magnesium supplements or vitamins are advisable.

9. There are certain foods which can even trigger such attacks. They include foods packed with monosodium glutamate (MSG), aged cheese and caffeine. Such foods should be strictly avoided. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Gynaecologist.

Headaches and migraines can vary drastically depending on their duration, specific symptoms and the person they are affecting. The more you know about your specific type of headache or migraine, the better prepared you will be to treat them—and possibly even prevent them. The two types of migraine are- 

1. Migraine without aura: The majority of migraine sufferers have Migraine without Aura. 
2. Migraine with aura: Migraine with Aura refers to a range of neurological disturbances that occur before the headache begins, usually lasting about 20-60 minutes.

Symptoms of migraine vary and also depend on the type of migraine. A migraine has four stages: prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome. But it is not necessary that all the migraine sufferers experience all the four stages.

Prodrome: The signs of this begin to appear a day or two days before the headache starts. The signs include depression, constipation, food cravings, irritability, uncontrollable yawning, neck stiffness and hyperactivity.
Migraine Aura: Auras are a range of symptoms of the central nervous system. These might occur much before or during the migraine, but most people get a migraine without an aura. Auras usually begin gradually and increase in intensity. They last for an hour or even longer and are 

• Visual: Seeing bright spots, various shapes, experiencing vision loss, and flashes of light
• Sensory: Present in the form of touch sensations like feeling of pins and needles in the arms and legs
• Motor: Usually related with the movement problems like the limb weakness
• Verbal: It is related with the speech problems

Headache: In case of a migraine attack one might experience:

• Pain on both sides or one side of the head
• Pain is throbbing in nature
• Vomiting and nausea
• Sensitivity to smells, sound and light
• Vision is blurred
• Fainting and lightheadedness

Postdrome: This is the final phase of the migraine. During this phase one might feel fatigued, though some people feel euphoric.

Red flags that the patient may be having underlying serious disorder not migraine

1. Onset of headaches >50 years 
2. Thunderclap headache - subarachnoid haemorrhage 
3. Neurological symptoms or signs 
4. Meningism 
5. Immunosuppression or malignancy 
6. Red eye and haloes around lights - acute angle closure glaucoma 
7. Worsening symptoms 
8. Symptoms of temporal arteritis

These patients require CT scan / MRI or CSF examination. Most Migraine patients do not need these tests. 

Diagnosis of Migraine: Usually migraines go undiagnosed and thus are untreated. In case you experience the symptoms regularly then talk to the doctor, who evaluates the symptoms and can start a treatment. You can also be referred to a neurologist who is trained to treat the migraines and other conditions. During the appointment the neurologist usually asks about the family history of headaches and migraines along with your symptoms and medical history.

The doctor might advise for some tests like:

1. Blood Tests: These reveal problems with the blood vessel like an infection in the spinal cord and brain.
2. CT scan: Used to diagnose the infections, tumors, brain damage, and bleeding that cause the migraines.
3. MRI: This helps to diagnose the tumors bleeding infections, neurological conditions, and strokes.
4. Lumbar Puncture: For analyzing infections and neurological damages. In lumbar puncture a thin needle is inserted between the two vertebrae to remove a sample of the cerebrospinal fluid for analysis.

Treatments

Migraine treatments can help stop symptoms and prevent future attacks.

Many medications have been designed to treat migraines. Some drugs often used to treat other conditions also may help relieve or prevent migraines. Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad categories:

• Pain-relieving medications. Also known as acute or abortive treatment, these types of drugs are taken during migraine attacks and are designed to stop symptoms.
• Preventive medications. These types of drugs are taken regularly, often on a daily basis, to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines.

Your treatment strategy depends on the frequency and severity of your headaches, the degree of disability your headaches cause, and your other medical conditions.

Some medications aren't recommended if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. Some medications aren't given to children. Your doctor can help find the right medication for you.