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Headaches are a common symptom of a stressful lifestyle, your body not feeling well and other issues. While headaches can be dealt with easily, migraines are not so easy to handle. Migraines are a type of headache that feels like severe throbbing and pulsing sensation, almost like you are hearing your own heartbeat in your brain, usually on one side of the brain. Many people believe that migraines are not that big of a deal because you just have to deal with the pain, but that is not all migraine is, some people find it very difficult to do their daily tasks as they experience dizzying spells, nausea and extreme sensitivity to light and sound! These attacks can last hours and make it difficult for people to go about their daily lives as well. While there are medications available for migraine patients, these medications need time to take effect, so you may be in a lot of pain, but there are not many quick reliefs you can have in place other than learning the symptoms of a migraine attack and taking medication before it happens. But a new approval by the FDA may change this!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Symbravo, a new medicine to treat acute migraine attacks in adults. This means adults can now use Symbravo to get relief from their migraine symptoms. The FDA's decision was based on the results of three big studies, called Phase 3 trials. These trials involved over 21,000 migraine attacks, so the FDA has a lot of information about how well Symbravo works and how safe it is. The FDA only approves medicines that have been shown to be both safe and effective through a thorough testing process.
"Migraine attacks can happen suddenly and really mess up people's lives. It's estimated that over 39 million people in the U.S. alone get migraines," said Herriot Tabuteau, M.D., CEO of Axsome Therapeutics told US News. This shows how common migraines are and how important it is to have good treatments. "Symbravo gives patients and doctors a new option that can quickly stop a migraine attack, keep it away, and let people get back to their normal activities, all with just one dose." Having a medicine that can give fast and long-lasting relief from migraine pain is a big deal for millions of people. This new treatment is a real step forward in how we treat migraines.
The trials took place in 3 steps, the Momentum trial study focused on people whose migraines had moderate to severe pain. The results showed that a lot more people taking Symbravo felt pain-free two hours after taking the medicine compared to those who took a placebo which is a dummy pill. Even better, many people felt relief for up to 24 and even 48 hours after just one dose. This long-lasting relief is really important for people with migraines because it means they can get back to their normal lives without worrying about the pain coming back. The study also looked at how many people were free from their worst symptom, like sensitivity to light or sound, or nausea. Symbravo worked better than the placebo in this area too.
While the intercept trial looked at people who took Symbravo when their migraine pain was still mild. Even when the pain was just starting, Symbravo was effective. The results were similar to the MOMENTUM trial, with many people getting pain relief and relief from their worst symptoms. Treating migraines early is often better because it can stop the pain from getting really bad.
And lastly the Movement trial which was to see how safe the medication is when people take it regularly. This study followed 706 people who had at least two migraines a month. The most common side effects people experienced were sleepiness and dizziness. While these side effects are important to know about, the study showed that Symbravo is generally safe for people to use on a regular basis.
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Florida aims to become the first US state to strike vaccine mandates from its laws, including long-standing childhood immunisation rules that cover conditions such as polio for entry into public schools.
The proposal drew sharp criticism across the country, prompting the DeSantis administration to slow its plans. After calling for vaccine requirements to be removed from Florida statutes, officials announced that a public meeting will be held in Northwest Florida so residents can respond.
The state’s Department of Health has organised a three-hour session in Panama City Beach on 12 December to review possible changes to the rule governing vaccination requirements for public and private schools. The discussion will cover preschools, grades K-12 and adult education programmes, as per BBC.
Officials have not yet explained what revisions they are considering. In September, Surgeon General Dr Joseph Ladapo said he intended to withdraw the vaccines under his department’s jurisdiction. These include shots for Hepatitis B, varicella, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal disease. Other vaccines, such as those for polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps and tetanus, can only be repealed by the state Legislature. As of 26 November, no bill seeking to overturn vaccination requirements had been introduced.
During a 3 September press event in Valrico, Hillsborough County, Ladapo appeared alongside Governor Ron DeSantis, Lt Governor Jay Collins and other state leaders, including Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas. They declared their intention to remove all vaccine mandates in Florida, as per BBC.
“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” Ladapo said at the time.
The announcement accompanied the launch of a state version of the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, which will be led by First Lady Casey DeSantis. At the national level, the MAHA programme is overseen by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has been assigned to study chronic illness and develop an action plan for reducing childhood diseases, as per Kennedy has previously been linked to vaccine misinformation.
Casey DeSantis expressed her support at the same press conference. “A lot of these drugs, you don’t need them if you live a healthy lifestyle. If you’re eating fruits and vegetables, you can reverse a lot of these chronic conditions,” she said.
The announcement drew immediate criticism from national medical bodies and clinicians throughout the United States.
“We are concerned that today’s announcement by Gov DeSantis will put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick, and have ripple effects across their community,” said Dr Susan J Kressly, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, speaking on behalf of the American Medical Association, urged the state to reconsider. “While there is still time, we urge Florida to reconsider this change to help prevent a rise of infectious disease outbreaks that put health and lives at risk,” she said.
Florida’s kindergarten vaccination rate dropped to 90.6 percent in 2024, the lowest level in more than ten years. Public health experts say that for highly contagious infections such as measles, communities require a rate of at least 95 percent to prevent outbreaks.
Cases of whooping cough have increased sharply. From 1 January to 15 November 2025, the state recorded 1,415 cases, compared with 577 in the same period the previous year, according to the Department of Health’s Reportable Diseases Frequency Report.
Children entering public schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade are currently required to have at least four doses of the TDAP vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Religious exemptions are permitted if a family states that immunisation conflicts with their beliefs, as per Herald Tribune.
As of April 2025, the Department of Health estimated that 6.39 percent of children aged five to seventeen held religious exemptions. The true figure may be higher, since parents may withhold data from the Florida SHOTS system, the state’s secure online immunisation database used by healthcare providers.
Credits: Tini Younger Instagram/Canva
Tineke “Tini” Younger shared some devastating news on Wednesday, November 26. The 24-year-old TikTok chef and Next Level Chef alum revealed that one of her twin daughters with husband Antoine Wright Jr. had tragically passed away.
Younger said that their daughter Arya, known as Baby A, died just before reaching 36 weeks of pregnancy. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she wrote, "This isn’t the post I ever imagined I would share once the twins arrived. Unfortunately, earlier this week we lost our sweet girl Arya." She explained that despite being so close to full term, she experienced a placental abruption that caused the loss of her baby.
The surviving twin was born safely and is reportedly breathing independently, according to Younger. She has not shared the name of the second daughter.
Placental abruption, medically referred to as abruptio placentae, is an uncommon yet serious complication during pregnancy. The placenta develops inside the uterus and attaches to its wall, providing essential oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby.
Placental abruption happens when the placenta partially or fully detaches from the uterine wall before delivery. This separation can restrict or completely cut off the baby’s supply of oxygen and nutrients while also causing significant bleeding in the mother. According to the Mayo Clinic, the placenta is an organ that forms in the uterus during pregnancy. When placental abruption occurs, the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before birth, which can deprive the baby of vital oxygen and nutrients and lead to heavy maternal bleeding. In some situations, early delivery may be required to protect both mother and child.
Placental abruption often appears suddenly, and if it is not treated promptly, it can pose serious risks to both the mother and the baby.
Placental abruption is most likely to develop in the last trimester of pregnancy, particularly in the final few weeks before delivery. Signs and symptoms may include:
Abdominal and back pain often start suddenly. The amount of vaginal bleeding can vary widely and does not necessarily reflect how much of the placenta has detached from the uterus. Blood may become trapped inside the uterus, so even in severe cases of placental abruption, there might not be any visible bleeding.
In some instances, placental abruption develops gradually, referred to as chronic abruption. This may cause light, intermittent vaginal bleeding. Babies might grow more slowly than expected, and there could be other complications, such as low amniotic fluid or additional issues affecting fetal development.
The precise cause of placental abruption is often unknown. Healthcare professionals can, however, identify certain factors that increase the risk. For example, abdominal trauma, including falls or accidents, can raise the chances of experiencing a placental abruption.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it is strongly recommended to seek medical care immediately to ensure both your safety and your baby’s.
Credits: Canva
A college in Devon, UK, has issued a public health notice after confirming an outbreak of a disease often tied to the Victorian era. It is not something most people come across today, yet reports show that this old skin condition is appearing more often in modern settings. Although it is usually linked with unclean surroundings, anyone can get it, no matter how carefully they maintain personal or household hygiene.
One woman described her nine-month struggle with the illness. At first she dismissed it as an allergy but soon noticed her son had developed a similar rash and persistent itching. Amanda Rushton from Accrington in Lancashire told The Daily Mail she felt as if her “skin was crawling” once she learnt what she was dealing with.
In the UK, 'Victorian diseases' refers to illnesses that were widespread during the 19th century and are now returning due to factors such as poverty and limited access to care. These include tuberculosis, cholera, scarlet fever, and scurvy. Many of these conditions are tied to poor sanitation or nutrition.
Tuberculosis was once known as “consumption,” and infections like scabies and measles have also been seen more frequently in recent years, according to the official UK government website.
Specialists have raised concerns that more parents choosing to skip routine childhood vaccinations are placing infants and other high-risk groups in danger. The illness circulating at the Devon college is scabies.
“We have been notified of seven confirmed cases of scabies amongst our student community,” read an email from South Devon College in Paignton, reported by DevonLive. “These cases have been diagnosed by a health professional.”
Scabies is a very itchy skin infestation caused by tiny mites known as Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites burrow into the upper layers of the skin to feed and lay eggs. The body reacts to this by producing a rash of small bumps and intense itching, which often becomes worse at night. The condition spreads easily through close and prolonged skin contact and can also pass indirectly through contaminated clothing, bedding, or towels, according to Mayo Clinic.
Scabies tends to spread faster in crowded environments or shared living spaces such as child-care centres or nursing homes. Pets cannot give scabies to humans, as animals carry a different type of mite that causes mange, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic.
The most common sign of scabies is a fierce, unrelenting itch that worsens at night, along with a rash. You may also notice thin, raised, curved lines called burrows and small bumps or blisters. These usually appear in warm or folded areas of the skin, such as between the fingers and toes. Continuous scratching can break the skin, causing sores or scabs.
Intense itching: This is the leading symptom and often disturbs sleep because of how severe it becomes at night.
Rash: The rash may look like small bumps, pimples, or tiny blisters.
Burrows: These appear as narrow, winding lines created by female mites as they tunnel through the skin to lay eggs.
Sores: Scratching can result in broken skin and crusts.
Common Locations For The Rash
London saw a noticeable increase in scabies toward the end of last year, and similar spikes were reported across northern England, especially in care facilities, nursing homes, and university housing. With cases climbing, doctors are urging people to stay alert to common signs.
Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, explained to Women’s Health last month that although there is no single clear cause for the rise, several factors may be contributing. He told The Independent that this period of the year allows scabies to spread more easily, with children returning to school and students moving into shared accommodation, both of which involve frequent close contact.
He added that scabies is often confused with other skin problems, especially eczema or allergic reactions.
Doctors note that the condition is usually not dangerous, but it must be treated because it passes from person to person so easily. Symptoms may take up to eight weeks to appear after the mites enter the skin. Anyone who suspects they might have scabies should speak to a pharmacist. Every person in the household needs treatment at the same time, even if they do not have visible symptoms.
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