Students getting the case of the migraines

The end of the semester is coming and headaches are spreading around the campus.

Most students might not know whether they have just a regular headache or a migraine.

Some more obvious signs of a migraine include:
- throbbing pain in one or both sides of the head,
- eye pain,
- neck pain,
- numbness or tingling,
- nausea or vomiting,
- light, noise, and smell triggers the pain,
- activity worsens the pain and
- dizziness, double vision, or loss of vision.

But according to a Health.com article, there are some other signs of a migraine.

Mood changes like depression, irritability and excitement can be a sign of a migraine. Even things like cravings (like chocolate), frequent urination and excessive yawning can be signs of a migraine.

A post in Health Blog says, "As many as one-third of migraine sufferers with aura experience forewarning symptoms even the day before a migraine attack that might create an opportunity for intervention and prevention."

Healthy fast food breakfast

Students go to school full-time and work full-time.

That leaves very little time to sit down at home to have a good meal.

Everyone knows that the Sausage McMuffin isn't the ideal breakfast, but there are actually healthy breakfast items on fast food menus.

Health.com had a bigger list of foods, but here are the healthy items that are good for on-the-go and can be found all over Southern California.

Starbucks's Protein Artisan Snack Plate is a good source of grain, produce and fiber.

Jamba Juice's Berry Topper Ideal Meal is packed with vitamin C, D and calcium.

McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal will help you watch cholesterol and control blood sugar.

Subway's Western Egg White & Cheese Muffin Melt has 680mg of sodium, but is otherwise healthy.

Free HIV testing every other Thursday

Starting March 8, the CSULB Health Center set up a Mobile Clinic to provide students with free confidential HIV testing.

The next time the Mobile Clinic should be available is March 22.

According to the HRC's Facebook page, the test involves an oral swab and results are provided in a half hour. No blood work is needhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifed.

Caffeinated students on campus

Midterms are coming and going, and CSULB students are turning to coffee and energy drinks more often than not.

Health.com suggests these ways to cut back on caffeine:
- gradually cut back,
- find another drink to go,
- take a Tylenol to ease the headache symptoms of caffeine withdrawal,
- drink more water,
- exercise,
- eat healthier,
- have consistent meals (one every four hours),
- sleep more and
- try things like yoga or meditation.

Movies influencing alchoholism

Twenty-seven percent of adolescents, 10-19 years old, in a survey conducted by the journal, Pediatrics, said that they had consumed at five or more drinks on at least one occasion, according to an article on Health.com.

With the number of students going to CSULB that are under 21, this is a cause of concern.

Dr. Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, told HealthDay News that these individuals are vulnerable to suggestion because they're seeking identity and role models.

According to this study, 86 percent of 655 movies included at least one alcohol scene.

Monday Campaigns

The Health Resource Center planned to take action in participating in the Monday Campaigns, according to a Daily 49er article in September.

The Monday Campaigns are a series of healthy goals people can make for themselves to do every Monday.

The different Mondays are:
- Meatless Monday,
- Quit & Stay Quit Monday (to quit smoking),
- The Kids Cook Monday (letting the kids participate on preparing meals),
- Move It Monday (exercise),
- Man Up Monday (men to observe any health issues they may have),
- Healthy Monday (uniting all of the above Mondays into one) and
- Caregivers Monday (give caregivers a chance to take care of themselves).

However, information about the Monday Campaigns isn't present on the front page of the Health Resource Center's website.

More students get HPV vaccine from Health Center

According to a recent article in the Daily 49er, more students are going to the Student Health Center for the HPV vaccine.

The Student Health Resource Center had conducted a survey. The results showed that 213 students received the vaccine in the last academic year.

That is an increase from the 2009-10 academic year, where 118 students received it.

The Gardasil HPV vaccine is a three-shot series. The cost is $145 per shot, but private insurers may cover it. An appointment is required.