Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/834093
t m c » p u l s e | j u n e 2 0 1 7 27 The device stimulates the vagus nerve—a large nerve in the neck—which may help patients who want to avoid surgery or some of the side effects caused by medications. Burish would like to do more research on circadian rhythms and cluster headaches, but says it could take five years to collect samples that will help his team. And because cluster headaches are somewhat uncommon, affecting 1 in 1,000 people, gathering data and funding research is challenging. Long-term data on migraines and cluster headaches Burish is interested in the kind of data Cory Kennedy, co-founder and CEO of SensorRx, is collecting. The startup, part of the current digital health class at the TMCx accelerator program, is developing an automated migraine management tool—an app—called MigrnX. Some of the data collected comes from Keely Towne, a patient who was testing MigrnX as part of a clinical trial SensorRx did with Carolinas HealthCare System. Towne's migraines began more than 20 years ago around the age of 12. Nausea and a sharp, throbbing pain in her head forced her to miss work and family activities on a regular basis. Only on the days she was able to take medication could she control her headaches. Towne tried several treatments and has found Botox injections to work best, in addition to anti-inflammatory medication. "This has brought the frequency of my migraines down tremendously," Towne said. The app, which she downloaded to her phone, helps her track her progress and identify trends in her migraines. Towne has some hormonal migraines that she can target around the time of her menstrual cycle, but her main headaches occur with drastic weather changes. "It is nice to be able to glance at my month and see where any trouble spots may occur," Towne said. "And then I am able to share the information with my doctor in order for us to make a plan to continue preventing more migraines." The clinical trial of MigrnX found that more than 60 percent of patients were not receiving appropriate care for their headaches, Kennedy said. In addition, patients had been under- or over-reporting the frequency of headaches to their doctor, a critical threshold in determining treatment. There are 50 possible triggers for migraines, Kennedy said, and doctors rely on patients to provide that information. He hopes the long-term data on the circadian nature of headaches will help in devising new treatments. For example, data shows that many people wake up with migraines, so doctors are trying to determine if treatments of melatonin could help put the sleep cycle back in line. Kennedy thinks this sort of data could be relevant for Burish's research on cluster headaches. "The time of day and time of week matters," Kennedy said. "Some patients are so worried about when the next headache will occur that they actually trigger a headache. We don't want patients to have to think, but put it all down in the app." What life does to your body, we undo. $ 29 * Initial Visit includes consultation, exam & adjustment WALK-INS WELCOME NO INSURANCE NEEDED OPEN EVENINGS & WEEKENDS WEST U 3177 W. Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77025 (713) 588-0858 | thejoint.com *Offer valued at $39. Valid for new patients only. See clinic for chiropractor(s)' name and license info. Clinics managed and/or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual results may vary. © 2017 The Joint Corp. All Rights Reserved. 1717 West Loop South | Houston, Texas 77027 *Loans subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply, amounts exceeding $424,000 qualify as jumbo loans, see mortgage banker for details. A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC, NMLS# 467014 Equal Housing Lender © 2017 ZB, N.A. JUMBO LOANS • CONSTRUCTION • CONVENTIONAL • REFINANCING Whether you are drawing up plans to build your dream home, buying your first home, or currently own a home, Amegy Bank ® is a great place to start. Our experienced mortgage bankers are ready to guide you to the loan program* best suited to your unique needs. Our programs include: • One Time Close Construction Loans - allows you to build and buy your dream home • Portfolio Loans - with flexible terms and adjustable rate mortgages that allow you to boost your buying power • Home Refinance Loan - including a jumbo loan cash out option • Early Professional Program - designated for early career doctors At Amegy ® , we believe that strong client relationships are the foundation of successful mortgage experiences. Contact me today! Kathleen P. McTague 713.858.4678 kathleen.mctague@amegybank.com www.amegybank.com/kathleenmctague NMLS# 512526