THE PRESCRITION

MARCH 2015

VOLUME 39 ISSUE 3

March 2015

THE PRESCRIPTION
VOLUME 39

ISSUE 3
Table of Contents

Presidents Message
I hope that everyone has enjoyed all the snow that we have had and
has stayed safe during all the ice. They are calling for more snow on
Thursday night, the night of our meeting. Hopefully not, I know
everyone is ready for spring to come.
Thank you Sara for the wonderful speaker we had at last months
meeting and I am looking forward to hearing our speaker for this
months meeting. I would also like to thank our members that have
agreed to serve on our committee's for the rest of this year.
The NCSMA Convention is scheduled for April 30 - May 03, 2015 in
Greensboro, NC. If you are planning on attending please let Rebecca
know.
Have a great week and I am looking forward to see each of you on
Thursday night. Please ask your friends and co - workers if they
would like to join us!
Deborah Lareva, CMA AAMA
Albemarle Area President of 2015

Page 1- Presidents Message

and Next Meetings
Information
Page 2-3
Page 4-5 Previous Meetings
Minutes

Next Meeting Information

Place:
Owens Center Room 117
Date:
March , 2015
Time:
7:00 PM
Speaker:
John Carvalho
Topic:
Migraines and Migraine
Prevention
Door Prize Volunteer:
Debbie Anderson
If you know of a member that
needs to be remembered, please
inform our chaplain;
Mary Cullipher, CMA (AAMA)
mgcullipher@embarqmail.com

Sara VanHorn (252)312-5156 smvavrek@gmail.com

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THE PRESCRITION

MARCH 2015

VOLUME 39 ISSUE 3

Migraines and Headaches

Migraines are painful headaches often accompanied by nausea,
vomiting, and sensitivity to light.

Who gets migraines?

More women than men get migraines and a quarter of all women with
migraines suffer four or more attacks a month; 35% experience one to four
severe attacks a month, and 40% experience one or less than one severe
attack a month. Each migraine can last from four hours to three days.

What Causes Migraines?

People with migraines may inherit the tendency to be affected by certain
migraine triggers, such as fatigue, bright lights, weather changes, and
others.
For many years, scientists believed that migraines were linked to expanding
and constricting blood vessels on the brain's surface. However, it is now
believed that migraines are caused by inherited abnormalities in certain
areas of the brain.
There is a migraine "pain center" or generator in the brain. A migraine
begins when hyperactive nerve cells send out impulses to the blood
vessels, causing them to clamp down or constrict, followed by dilation and
the release of prostaglandins, serotonin, and other inflammatory
substances that cause the pulsation to be painful.

What Triggers Migraines?

Many migraines seem to be triggered by external factors. Possible triggers
include:

Emotional Stress.
Sensitivity to specific chemicals and preservatives in foods.
Caffeine.
Changing weather conditions.
Menstrual periods.
Excessive fatigue.
Skipping meals.
Changes in normal sleep pattern.

It is a very remarkable and

significant fact that though no
man is quite well or healthy
yet every one believes
practically that health is the
rule & disease the exception.
Henry David Thoreau

There is nothing healthier for

a man than to walk on his
own two legs
Jos Saramago

By the deficits we may know

the talents, by the
exceptions we may know the
rules, by studying patholgoy
we may construct a model
of health.
Laurence Miller

(continued on page 3)

Sara VanHorn (252)312-5156 smvavrek@gmail.com

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THE PRESCRITION

MARCH 2015

VOLUME 39 ISSUE 3

Migraines and Associated Conditions

There are some medical conditions that are more commonly
associated with migraines, including:
Asthma
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Hypertension
Raynaud's phenomenon (occurs when blood vessels narrow
causing pain and discoloration usually in the fingers)
Stroke
Sleep Disorders
What Are the Symptoms of Migraines?

Be not sick too late, nor well

too soon
Benjamin Franklin

Health and disease are the

same thingvital action
intended to preserve,
maintain, and protect the
body. There is no more reason
for treating disease than there
is for treating health.
Herbert M. Shelton

Health is more than the

absence of disease. Health is
about jobs and employment,
education, the environment,
and all of those things that go
into making us healthy.
Joycelyn Elders

The symptoms of migraine headaches can occur in various

combinations and include:
A pounding or throbbing headache that often begins as a dull
ache and develops into throbbing pain. The pain is usually
aggravated by physical activity. The pain can shift from one side of
the head to the other, or it can affect the front of the head or feel
like it's affecting the whole head.
Sensitivity to light, noise, and odors
Nausea and vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Sensations of being very warm or cold
Paleness
Fatigue
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Diarrhea
Fever (rare)
Most migraines last about four hours although severe ones can last
up to a week. The frequency of migraines varies widely among
individuals. It is common for a migraine sufferer to get two to four
headaches per month.

How Are Migraines Treated?

Pain relief
Anti-Nausea medication
Biofeedback
Magnetic Stimulation

Sara VanHorn (252)312-5156 smvavrek@gmail.com

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THE PRESCRITION

MARCH 2015

VOLUME 39 ISSUE 3

MEETING MINUTES
February 2015
The Albemarle Area Medical Assistants February meeting was held on February 5 at the College of
the Albemarle Owens Center in Room OC117. The meeting was called to order by President Sharon
Godfrey at 7:00 PM.
Chapter Chaplain Mary Cullipher, CMA (AAMA) gave the invocation.
Parliamentarian Grace Overton, LPN, CMA-C (AAMA) declared there was a quorum.
Sara VanHorn introduced the speaker, Linda Brower, RN, PA-C. Ms. Brower spoke on EKG
Observations.
A motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes was made by Stella Gallop and was
seconded by Betty Lilly. Motion was carried. Minutes were filed as presented with corrections.
The Treasurers Report for February was not available.
Appointed Officer Reports:
Chaplain [Mary Cullipher, CMA (AAMA)]: No report.
Parliamentarian [Grace Overton, LPN, CMA-C (AAMA)]: No report
Committee Reports:
Budget and Finance [Stephanie Reppy, CMA (AAMA)]: Stephanie asked Committee Chairs to
contact her concerning their budget.
Bylaws [Stella Gallop, CMA-AC (AAMA)]: Our Bylaws have been sent to State and they were
approved with minor changes. Stella has made the corrections. A change was made to the
description of an Active Member by National, and our chapter's bylaws have been updated to
reflect that.
Education and Certification [Sara VanHorn, CMA (AAMA)]: Next month John Carbalho will be
talking about Migraines and their Prevention.
Health Careers [Amanda Everett, CMA (AAMA)]: Our Chapter still needs to recognize the student
who was awarded the scholarship this year. Amanda will talk to Amber about when we will be
doing that.
Historian [Debbie Jones, CMA (AAMA)]: Debbie is asking for anyone to submit any pictures they
have.

Sara VanHorn (252)312-5156 smvavrek@gmail.com

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THE PRESCRITION

MARCH 2015

VOLUME 39 ISSUE 3

MEETING MINUTES
February 2015
Hospitality [Debbie Anderson, LPN, CMA (AAMA)]: We will be in our usual meeting place.
Membership [Rebecca Walker, CMA (AAMA), CPC, BS]: No report.
Newsletter [Sara VanHorn, CMA (AAMA)]: No report.
Nominating Committee [Alethia Keaton]: No report.
Publicity [Betty Lilly, CMA (AAMA)]: The notice for the meeting was in the paper.
Ways and Means [Stella Gallop, CMA-AC (AAMA)]: No report.
Unfinished Business:
Seminar: In total 90 registered, including 4 students. We had 3 vendors. A final report will be given
next month.
New Business:
Stella read a card from the Souls Ministry thanking us for our donation.
Door Prize was won by Mary Cullipher.
Motion was made to close the meeting by Stella Gallop and was seconded by Debbie JOnes.
Motion was carried and meeting was adjourned at 8:10 with the reading of the Medical Assistants
Creed.
Submitted by: Amanda Everett, CMA (AAMA)

Sara VanHorn (252)312-5156 smvavrek@gmail.com

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