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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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An 8-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, the rare “brain-eating amoeba” infection believed to have been acquired while swimming in Lake Claiborne.
The girl, identified by her family as Lillian Smart of Ruston, died on August 22, just one day after her eighth birthday. She had been hospitalised since August 15 after developing the infection.
The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the case on August 19 but has not publicly identified the child. The tragedy has renewed attention on an extremely rare and fatal infection.
The amoeba then can travel along the olfactory nerves through the nasal cavity and reach the brain, where it causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Also, swallowing contaminated water does not cause PAM, and the infection does not spread from person to person. PAM causes severe inflammation and destruction of brain tissue.
The illness can initially resemble other infections, with symptoms including headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. As the disease progresses, patients may develop advanced symptoms like stiff neck, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and eventually coma.
One of the biggest challenges is the speed at which the infection progresses. According to recent CDC data cited in coverage of the Louisiana case, 173 Naegleria fowleri infections were documented in the US between 1937 and 2025, with only four known survivors. That puts the fatality rate at roughly 97%.
The initial symptoms of PAM can look like bacterial or viral meningitis, which can make the infection difficult to recognise immediately. An individual may initially experience fever, headache, nausea and vomiting before developing neurological symptoms.
By the time the amoeba is identified, significant brain inflammation may already have occurred. Diagnosis can involve testing cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue for the organism. So, rare early symptoms and rapid progression makes early diagnosis of this infection particularly difficult.
There is no single drug that reliably cures PAM. Because so few cases occur, there have been no large clinical trials establishing a standard treatment regimen.
Doctors have used combinations of antimicrobial and antifungal medicines in survivors and severe cases, with treatment often including drugs such as amphotericin B and miltefosine, alongside intensive supportive care.
The CDC notes that successful treatment has involved combinations of several medicines, but outcomes remain poor.
The CDC recommends avoiding activities in warm freshwater, particularly when water temperatures are high. For people who do enter such water, precautions include:
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Actor Michael Wright, best known for playing Eddie King Jr. in the 1991 musical drama The Five Heartbeats, has died at the age of 70 in Los Angeles. According to his kin, Wright died on August 19. His death was linked to heart failure along with complications from Marchiafava-Bignami disease, a rare degenerative neurological condition.
His wife, Susan Wright, announced his death in a social media post, “It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” Susan wrote, remembering the actor as a “loved one, a friend, and an extraordinary artist whose work touched generations.”
According to a statement from Wright’s family, he suffered heart failure together with complications from Marchiafava-Bignami disease. MBD is a rare neurological disorder that primarily affects the corpus callosum, the thick bundle of nerve fibres connecting the brain’s two hemispheres.
It is most commonly associated with severe alcohol use disorder and nutritional deficiencies, although it can occur in other circumstances.
The condition can cause symptoms including confusion, impaired consciousness, problems with movement, seizures and changes in cognitive function. As MBD is extremely rare, doctors may have difficulty recognising it, particularly in its early stages.
Wright's cause of death was heart failure due to the neurological disease. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Depending on the type and severity, this can lead to breathlessness, fatigue, swelling in the legs, rapid heartbeat and reduced ability to perform everyday activities.
Heart failure can develop because of conditions including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks, cardiomyopathy and abnormal heart rhythms. In Wright's case, his family said heart failure occurred alongside complications from MBD. They did not publicly provide further details about what caused his heart failure.
Also read: How Genetic and Genomic Testing Can Help Women Make Smarter Cancer Decisions
His most memorable performance came in The Five Heartbeats, where he played Eddie King Jr., the troubled lead singer of a fictional R&B group. He also appeared in television series including V and HBO's Oz.
Wright's career continued into later years, with his final credited appearances including the television series Black Lightning and the 2025 film Dope King.
Susan Wright said the family has requested privacy while grieving and said further details about his life and legacy would be shared later. She said she was experiencing “profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness” following his death.
She remembered her husband not only for his acting career but also as a loved one, friend and artist whose work had reached generations of audiences. Wright is survived by his wife, daughter, stepchildren and other family members.
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US President Donald Trump’s recent weight gain has drawn renewed attention from doctors, who say carrying excess weight can increase the risk of several serious health problems, particularly as he ages.
Trump weighed 238 pounds (108 kg) at his medical examination in May, according to a White House medical report. That was 14 pounds more than the previous year and about 23 pounds more than the 215 pounds recorded in 2023. At a height of 6 feet 3 inches, his BMI is around 29.7, just below the threshold of 30 used to classify obesity.
The concern comes as Trump, 80, has previously been advised by his physicians to improve his diet, exercise more and lose weight.
Excess body weight is associated with a higher risk of conditions including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, certain cancers and osteoarthritis.
Doctors also point to visceral fat, the fat stored around internal organs, as particularly concerning because it can contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance.
Dr. Scott Kahan, the director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness, told the Post, “We know that obesity is a strong risk factor for numerous health issues — as well as premature disability and death.”
He added thar addressing obesity should be a priority for protecting the president’s health. He said, “Addressing obesity to protect the president’s health should be a priority similar to ensuring Secret Service protections for his life.”
In a podcast with Katie Miller, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that that Trump’s dietary habits were not ideal.
“The interesting thing about the president is that he eats really bad food, which is McDonald’s, and, you then know, candy and Diet Coke. He drinks Diet Coke at all times. He has the constitution of a deity. I don’t know how he’s alive, but he is,” Kennedy said.
Also read: Meet Heidi Overton: Trump Set to Nominate White House Adviser to Lead FDA
Although Trump's BMI is close to the obesity threshold, doctors caution that BMI is a screening tool, not a complete measure of health. For older adults, physicians also consider muscle mass, body-fat distribution, waist circumference, physical function, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Dr Gitanjali Srivastava, an obesity specialist who treats older adults, told The Post that at this age, the focus should be less on a single number and more on “what is the percent body fat?”
David Kessler, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, put focus on where the body stores fat. He pointed to visceral adiposity, describing it as fat around organs such as the liver, pancreas and heart where it can contribute to disease. It is associated with metabolic problems like insulin resistance and abnormal cholesterol levels, which can increase cardiovascular risk.
He later appeared thinner during his 2023 presidential campaign, with his campaign saying he had reduced his weight through an improved diet and daily physical activity.
His most recent reported weight therefore represents a substantial increase from the 215-pound figure recorded in 2023. The White House has defended Trump's overall health, pointing to his energy, stamina and cognitive fitness. A spokesperson said he remains highly active and described him as working continuously.
Trump's physicians have advised him to make changes to his diet and increase physical activity. Former White House physician Ronny Jackson wrote in a 2022 memoir that he had advised Trump that he would be “a little healthier” if he improved his diet, exercised and lost some weight. In 2018, Jackson said a reasonable goal would be for Trump to lose 10 to 15 pounds.
Trump himself has acknowledged concerns about his weight over the years. In a recent podcast appearance, he joked about not wanting to surpass former President William Howard Taft, who weighed more than 300 pounds.
Trump joked, “He was our heaviest president, and I have to be careful because I don’t want to supersede his record."
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