One Minute Health Checks for:

• Sleeping Well
• Migraines
• Stroke
• PCOS
• PMS
• Blood Pressure (prehypertensive)

See Also: Health Notes:

An Onion, a Tomato and a Pomegranate a Day Keep the Doctor Away

Yoga for Stress Reduction

Take this one minute quiz to discover if you suffer from undiagnosed migraines.

1. Has a headache limited your activities for a day or more in the last
   three months?
2. Are you nauseated or sick to your stomach when you have a headache?
3. Does light bother you when you have a headache?
   

If you answered yes to 2 or more questions, you should be seen by a migraine specialist, according to a study in the August issue of Neurology. According to the lead author, Richard B. Lipton, M.D. Professor and Vice Chair of Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, ID. Migraine
should be used in a primary care setting, where many patients with migraine may go undiagnosed. About 28 million Americans are estimated to suffer from migraine, but less than half have ever been diagnosed by a doctor, and may be frustrated because they can't find effective treatment.
Migraine is more common than diabetes (16 million) and asthma (10.6 million). It is more prevalent in women: almost one in five women and one in 15 men suffer from migraine. The prevalence of migraine peaks at approximately 40 years of age, making it most common during the peak productive years of 25 to 55.

12 tips for sleeping well

1. Keep a regular schedule - Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the
   same time every morning.
2. Exercise - Exercise is best in the late afternoon, but at least three hours before bedtime.
3. Take a walk - Walking increases exposure to light, and it's good exercise.
4. Take one short nap a day - Limit naps to one per day for no more than 20-30 minutes.
5. Check the side effects of medications - Some medications act as stimulants.
6. Avoid alcohol - Alcoholic beverages can disrupt sleep.
7. Avoid nicotine - Nicotine is a stimulant and can cause nightmares.
8. Avoid overeating - A heavy meal in the evening can make it difficult to sleep. But don't go to bed hungry. Eat a light snack.
9. Limit liquid intake in the evening - Cut down on liquids to avoid waking up to use the bathroom.
10. Relax before going to sleep - Create a relaxing routine and avoid activities that are anxiety provoking.
11. Get up after 15 minutes of sleeplessness - Leave the bed and engage in a relaxing activity. However, daytime sleepiness and napping seem to point to poor health.
12. Better sleep during the night would help to prevent sleepiness during the day.

Creating a sleep-friendly environment
A room that is cool, quiet, and dark is conducive to sleep. A cooler body temperature signals the body that it is time to sleep. Avoid extremes of dryness and humidity. Avoid extremes of hot or cold.
Make sure the mattress is comfortable and supportive. Diminish anxiety by keeping a "to-do" book for jotting down ideas.
Use the bed only for sleep and sex, to strengthen the mind's association between bed and sleep.

This three-part test can be used to diagnose most strokes.

1. Smile: (patient shows teeth or smiles)
Normal - both sides of face move equally
Abnormal - one side of face does not move as well as the other side

2. Arm Drift (patient closes eyes and holds
both arms straight out for 10 seconds):
Normal - both arms move the same or both arms do not move at all
Abnormal - one arm does not move or one
arm drifts down compared with the other.

3. Abnormal Speech (have patient say
"you can't teach an old dog new tricks"):
Normal - correct words with no slurring
Abnormal - slurred words, wrong words or
is unable to speak.

If any 1 of these 3 signs is abnormal, the probability of a stroke is 72%.

Source: Cincinnati Pre-hospital Stroke Scale (CHSS) (Kothari R, etal. Acad Emerg Med. 1997:4:986-990.)

1. You have a family history of infertility or irregular periods
   
2. You are of Hispanic descent
   
3. Your first period started before the age of eleven
   
4. You have been treated with antidepressants, anti-seizure medication for long periods at a time
   
5. You've acquired a spider body…thin arms and legs and a Buddha Belly
   
6. You've started losing hair just like a man
   
7. You thought you might be in menopause because you haven’t had a period in a long time
   
8. You've developed guerrilla hair growth around your mouth, back, nipples, and chest, along with acne
   
9. Your sex drive…again…what sex drive?

1. You start looking for your shotgun because all men are stupid
   
2. Your children find you huddled in the closet with chocolate smears on your face
   
3. You wear pie plate bras to protect your sensitive, swollen breasts
   
4. You weep at the sight of baby animals, your teenager’s haircut or the price of avocados in the store
   
5. You feel so tired you can’t keep your eyes open
   
6. You feel overwhelmed, depressed
   
7. String draw pants become your new daily uniform

Diastolic

<80
80-89
90-99
100+