Got a headache?

Energy efficient light bulbs may be good for the environment but they may also be bad for people who suffer migraines.

Barbie Westbrook has suffered with migraine headaches for years and she describes the pain as excruciating.

While lack of sleep, certain foods, and stress can bring on migraine headaches, so can something else, lights.

Westbrook explains, "Some office lights, if they're flickering, if they're dull. If they're shining in my eye, I can't work like that. " Even changes in sunlight, can trigger an attack. Headache specialists say that's not unusual, especially with fluorescent bulbs, and it may be due to something called the flicker effect. "If the light comes and goes, or flickers it can hyper excite the brain and bring on a migraine attack," Dr. Stephen Silberstein told CBS4 Health Specialist Dr. Sean Kenniff.

Some say a change in our light bulbs is only going to bring on more headaches. Thanks to a new energy bill signed late last year, manufacturers are phasing out the standard light bulbs because they waste a lot of energy. By 2012, only energy efficient bulbs will be on store shelves, and that has some headache patients worried.

Bernadette Maskery is one of them because as a migraine sufferer, she describes the pain as if somebody has stabbed her in the head with an ice pick and she's also sensitive to the new eco-friendly bulbs. "I don't know how to describe it. Other than the fact that something in my brain picks up on it, and it triggers headaches," said Maskery.

A recent UK study on the energy efficient light bulbs found many other migraine patients are also having trouble. "Everybody's different. Everybody has a different sensitivity, and it's conceivable that there are patients who are so sensitive, and able to discern that, the flickering will give them a migraine," explained Dr. Silberstein. Dr. Harvey Schwartz, a headache specialist at Memorial Regional Hospital says, stocking up on standard bulbs may not be such a bright idea either. "I think school is still out on whether the new bulbs are any worse than the old bulbs, or the degree of flicker or the intensity of light is causing the migraine," said Dr. Schwartz. He says while the bulbs could cause a problem for some people, most people won't notice any changes, or have any problems. Schwartz claims, "Most people won't even know there's a different bulb in there." Only more studies will shed light on the situation.

If you'd like more information from Dr. Harvey Schwartz, he can be reached at the Sunrise Clinical Research, 4925 Sheridan Street, Suite 200, Hollywood, Fl. 33021. The number is (954) 981-3850 x302.

Sleep better

Here's a little tidbit for your sleep life: make sure you sleep in a dark room tonight. Your body produces the sleep chemical melatonin, but only in darkness. And even the glow from your computer, TV, or alarm clock can keep part of your brain awake.

Finding love

Ok, Brainiacs: If you’re looking for love, then lighten up! Your fellow singles are more than twice as likely to fall for your wit than your intellect. From a survey by Match.com, researchers wanted to find out what makes our hearts go pitter-patter when we meet a potential soul mate. What they found? A lot of *what you believe about romance might be leaving you home alone on Saturday night.*

Here's why:
* Good news for nice guys- The notion that *girls go for bad boys is
a myth.* Over two thirds of the ladies say they are looking for a
nice guy.
* Which could explain why Predictability is so exciting. *Singles
are twice as likely to fall in love with someone who is a planner,
stable, and fairly predictable.* Risk takers need not apply.
* If you're a *workaholic, you'd better get used to being alone*
even if you're raking in the big bucks. Money's not as important
as you might think. Nine out of ten singles are ready to fall for
a moderate success with a balanced life instead of you "I'll be a
few hours late tonight" types.
* And don't be afraid to speak up- *Talkative singles are nearly
twice as likely to find love* as strong silent types.
* Finally, *playing "hard-to-get" is a great way to see your sweetie
start dating someone else*- Two thirds of singles say they are
more likely to fall for someone they know is interested than they
are for someone they have to chase.

Pets and forclosures

(cbs4.com)

The first people to enter an abandoned house, such as property inspectors and real estate brokers, have discovered dogs tied to trees in backyards, cats in garages, and turtles, rabbits and lizards in children's bedrooms.

No one keeps track of the numbers of abandoned pets, but evidence suggests that forsaken animals are becoming a problem wherever foreclosures are climbing.
The situation has become so widespread that the Humane Society urged home owners faced with foreclosure to take their animals to a shelter.
Shelters are trying to keep up, but the spike in abandoned pets comes at a time when fewer people are adopting animals. Home sales are plunging to their lowest level in decades, and new homeowners are often the most likely to seek a pet.
Even people who are buying homes are not adopting pets.
"They may be euthanized at a shelter," said Stephanie Shain of the Humane Society of the United States. "But they'll be fed and have water and have a humane euthanization, as opposed to spending the last days of their lives eating carpet or wallboard."
Critics are furious with the "foreclosure pet" phenomenon, especially after seeing photos of emaciated animals on the Internet. Some say pet owners have already proved they are irresponsible by buying houses they could not afford or mortgages they did not bother to understand.
The problem is exacerbated because most people grappling with foreclosure are returning to rental housing or moving in with relatives -- two situations where it can be difficult or impossible to bring pets.
For people wanting to adopt a pet, there is the Humane Society Of Broward County and the Humane Society of Greater Miami, among other places which are privately run and take care of unwanted animals. Melvin Casanas, visited the Human Society of Broward County on Tuesday, to adopt a dog and told CBS4's Ted Scouten. "It's really sad because of the economy right now it's so bad, a lot of the people are given up pretty much everything," said Casanas. "It's just sad that a part of their family they have to let go too."

Love potion

TURN ON Beverages has come out with a love drink, that is supposed to get you ready for a rowdy romp between the sheets. This drink is not for everyone.

Here is what I found on their website:

TURN ON is Not an Energy Drink!

TURN ON contains erotic herbs that when combined in this unique way gives you a feeling of warmth and sensuality, a nice tingling sensation flowing through your body, increased sexual energy and desire and a delicious sensation of euphoria.

TURN ON has a smooth, superb and indescribable pleasing adult taste with a sparkling mouth feel and foamy carbonation. This is definitely not a soft drink or kids drink.

Turn On Ingredients:Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Glucose and Sucrose, Citric Acid, Guarana, Schizandra, Ginseng, Caffeine, Ginkgo Biloba, Color.Caffeine content is 60 mg per serving. Serving size is 8.4 fl. ounces (250 ml)The FDA does not regulate and approve herbal products. However, TURN ON's ingredients listing, quantities and labeling meets with FDA approval.

TURN ON is not suitable for Children, Diabetics and Pregnant Women.

Get over him

Think of it as a heartbreak handbook.

You try and banish the dork from your life, but the bad, bitter taste remains. Learn how to excise said dork from your life and in turn, realize your own strengths so that you can move onward as a happier soul. 30 Days to Getting Over the Dork You Used To Call Your Boyfriend is coming out this month!

Do Not Call List

Do you need to register for the Do No Call List? Here is the website.

Now, go enjoy your dinner in peace.

High heels and sex

HIGH HEELS COULD HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS?

High heels are not only sexy, but one study suggests they may actually improve a woman's sex life. Dr. Maria Cerruto says two-inch high heels can help strengthen pelvic floor muscles, which assist sexual performance and satisfaction. Dr Cerruto said, "Women often have difficulty in carrying out the right exercises for the pelvic zone and wearing heels could be the solution."

(Ananova)

Bridesmaid pre-nup

BRIDEZILLA GOES TO A NEW LEVEL: Pre-nups for bridesmaids? According to a new poll, one in five brides-to-be said they would ask their bridesmaids to sign a pre-nuptial agreement, promising not to gain weight or get pregnant before the wedding. Nearly half said they would kick out a bridesmaid who violated the rules.

This study, which was done by You & Your Wedding magazine, had other clauses too ... including limiting the amount of alcohol that can be consumed at the wedding, as well as banning any advances towards "inappropriate male guests."
(Ananova)

Gifts for him

WHAT TO GET YOUR GUY FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

(TheNest.com)

Rock Band: Whether he fronted a band in college or can't even play the kazoo, every guy secretly dreams of being a rock star. So buy him the video game Rock Band, which lets him be a guitarist, singer, drummer, or -- if he has serious self-esteem issues -- bassist in his very own virtual band.
Silence: Contrary to popular belief, the thing married men miss most about their bachelorhood isn't the opportunity to go out and chase women -- it's the opportunity to stay home and be alone. So agree to schedule nights where he can rule the remote and eat chicken-fried bacon pizza while you go out with friends or work in your home office with the door closed. You'll be surprised how quickly it'll recharge his emotional batteries.
Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card: Hey, we all make mistakes. Simply tell him that he can redeem this card after a mild-to-moderate screw-up in the coming year. In return, you'll forget it ever happened -- no questions asked. He'll be grateful for your understanding, and you'll be assured that he didn't lie in order to escape your wrath.
An Outfit Worn for Him: Your guy knows that you usually dress to impress other women, not to attract him. So when you do wear something that's solely for his benefit, he's extremely appreciative -- and can't wait to tear it off you. Don a shirt with a plunging neckline, fishnets, or a skirt that's an inch shorter than anything else in your closet.
Less Makeup: A little eyeliner and lipstick are great. But unless you're a newscaster or an octogenarian, there's no reason to cake your face with goopy foundation and -- sorry, but you're not really fooling anyone -- patchy zit-hider. Up close, subtle makeup is always more attractive. Besides, guys appreciate women who look good au naturel.
Gift Ideas -- For You: What better way to say you love him than to spare him from aimlessly wandering around a crowded mall until he buys you a woefully ill-advised gift at Hot Topic? If catching on to subtle hints isn't his specialty, have a friend brief him on what you might like this year. He'll feel like a genius, you'll get exactly what you want, and you'll both eliminate awkward trips to the store to buy, and then secretly return, crappy presents.
Binoculars: The best gift is unexpected, something he wouldn't buy for himself, or is able to elicit an emotional response. Believe it or not, a pair of binoculars is all three: It's an unusual present, and unless he's a private detective, weird birdwatcher, or total pervert, chances are he doesn't own a pair. Plus, they'll remind him of the first time he was fascinated by binoculars as a little boy. (All boys are.)
Booze: Sure, his occasional intake of alcohol has indirectly led to an argument or two. But it's a gift you can be sure he'll use and enjoy. Rather than buying him a case of the beer he guzzles with buddies on Sundays, introduce him to something he may not have tried before.
Fantasy Sex: Sure, it seems like a no-brainer, but first you have to do some detective work. Was he particularly attentive during the refrigerator scene when you rented 9 1/2 Weeks? Then bring some strawberries to bed.

Valentine cheaters

If you think your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife is unfaithful, Valentine's Day may be the perfect opportunity to find out for sure.
If you have doubts about your mate's fidelity, don't let Valentine's Day be a day of despair. Cheating spouses can be hard to catch, and the doubt and uncertainty takes its toll. If you are in this position, Valentine's Day may be just what you've been waiting for.

Keep in mind that women cheat too. Get some infidelity advice.

Science of love

(Match.com)

It's like looking in a mirror! Scientists at the University of Liverpool recently concluded that our brains favor people with familiar faces. The research team asked over 200 participants to view a number of digitally altered human faces. They found that subjects preferred the features they were most familiar with -- whether that means our own visage or that of a family member. This may explain that common phenomenon of couples looking like they could be siblings.
Manners, schmanners: A new study says that when a woman walks into a room, she is considered more attractive if she turns her eyes directly toward a certain man. Men would rate the same woman as less desirable if she doesn't make strong eye contact.
You'll know it when you see it. A recent study at the University of Pennsylvania reveals that regardless of what people say they are looking for in a dating situation, they don't need a lot of time with or information about a person to tell if they're interested. Single people's behavior suggests that individuals know "it" (a person who appeals to them) when they see it -- almost instantly.
Listen up. The next time you call up a potential love match, pay attention special attention to how they sound. Researchers at the University of Albany had 149 men and women to rate the attractiveness of a series of recorded voices on a scale from 1 to 10. The researchers also gathered information about the sexual histories of the people whose voices they recorded. They found that the voices found to be the most appealing belonged to people who had sex at an earlier age, had more sexual partners, and were more prone to infidelity, than those rated as having less appealing voices.
I couldn't help it baby, it's in my genes. There may be a genetic component to infidelity, says a professor at the Twin Research Unit at St. Thomas' Hospital, London. This is based on the fact that if one twin exhibits infidelity, the other twin strays 55% of the time. In the general population, the number is 23%.
It's official: Love makes us crazy. For one thing, it causes serotonin levels in the brain to drop, which may lead people to obsess about their lover. (The levels of serotonin, a chemical produced by the body, are also low in people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder.) Next, it ramps up production of the stress hormone cortisol, leading to slightly higher blood pressure and possibly loss of sleep. Finally, a scientist at the University of London has found that when people look at their new loves, the neural circuits that are usually in charge of social judgment are suppressed.
Why broken hearts hurt... A new study suggests the psychological hurt of a break-up is just as real as a physical injury. Two areas of the brain that respond to physical pain also become activated when a person is dealing with social pain, such as being dumped.
Blushing is best. If we take our cue from apes, rosy cheeks are crucial in the dating game, says a new study. Scientists at Stirling University in Great Britain have found that primates prefer mates with red faces. A rosy glow might also act as a similar cue in humans, say the British researchers, sending a message of good health.
Kiss this way. Did you know there is a "right" way to kiss? People are more likely to tilt their heads to the right when kissing instead of left, says a report published recently in the journal Nature. A scientist from Ruhr University in Germany analyzed 124 pairs of smoochers and found that 65 percent go toward the right.
Meet for drinks before dinner. Researchers at NYU and Stanford have discovered that hungry men prefer heavier women. By staking out a dining hall, scientists had hundreds of students fill out questionnaires about their preferences in a mate. Men who filled out the questionnaire just before they entered the hall described their ideal woman as an average of three or four pounds heavier than men interviewed after they ate.

Helping your elders

About 34 million American adults provide personal aid, financial assistance or both to an older family member. If you need some advice for common challenges check out this website.

Caring.com

Be a "big"

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami is the premier mentoring organization of South Florida, helping thousands of children each year through professionally supported, one-on-one relationships with caring adult volunteers. You can be a "big."

Superbowl ads

Did you miss the Superbowl ads? Click here.

Fun flirting facts

(Match.com)
Flirting is good for you. Studies show that people who flirt have higher white blood-cell counts, which boost their immunity and keep them healthy.
Scientists say there are 52 "flirting signals" used by humans. Of these, the hair flip is the most common.
In some places, flirting is illegal. In Little Rock, Arkansas, an antiquated law is still on the books warning that engaging in playful banter may result in a 30-day jail term. In New York City, another outdated law mandates that men may be fined $25 for gazing lasciviously at a female; a second conviction stipulates the offender wear a pair of blinders whenever he goes out for a walk.
Lots of people get their flirt on during their morning commute. A full 62 percent of drivers have flirted with someone in a different vehicle while on the go, and 31 percent of those flirtations, it turns out, resulted in a date.
Flirting need not occur face to face. According to Pew Research, 40 percent of people who look for love online say they can easily flirt with someone via email or IM.
In the Victorian era, fans were the ultimate playful prop that could communicate all sorts of messages. A fan placed near the heart meant, "You have won my love." A half-opened fan pressed to the lips suggested, "You may kiss me." Hiding the eyes behind an open fan meant, "I love you," while opening and closing the fan several times warned, "You are cruel."
These days, cell phones do the flirting. In one survey, half of all mobile phone users have texted suggestive messages to keep things interesting while away from their amour.
Watch out, you can overdo it. According to the Social Issues Research Centre, the most common mistake people make when flirting is maintaining too much eye contact.
Sometimes, flirty gestures aren't what they seem. Research has shown that men tend to routinely mistake friendly behavior for flirting.
Flirting is universal. A woman living in New York City and one in rural Cambodia may not have much in common, but when it comes to attracting a little attention, they both employ the very same move: smiling, arching their eyebrows, then averting their gaze and giggling. Animals flirt, too: Birds, reptiles, and even fish have their own way of strutting their stuff.

Busy moms guide

1. Assemble your children's outfits when you put clothes away in their drawers. Then you can quickly grab a full outfit without having to waste time scouring the drawers for a matching shirt and pair of pants.
2. When you see a great toy on sale, buy several and sock them away for your child to give to friends at birthday parties throughout the year.
3. Give your grade-schooler a "homework box" with pencils, an eraser, a stapler, a calculator, and a ruler. Ask her to bring it to the table whenever it's time to do homework.
4. Forget about addressing your party invitations by hand. Go to the United States Postal Service website to create party invitations that can be shipped to addresses you upload to the site. Or, have your own photo printed onto a postcard invitation at Snapfish and they'll stamp the cards and mail them for you.
5. Stock your produce drawer or a lower shelf in your refrigerator with snacks like carrot sticks and apple slices that your kids can grab without your help. Set up a similar area in your pantry with baggies full of dried fruit or graham crackers.
6. Skip ironing and get wrinkles out of a shirt or pair of trousers by putting them in the dryer for 15 minutes with a damp hand towel.
7. Stop wasting time looking for things you use often, like scissors, reading glasses, or baby wipes. Stock up and keep duplicates in the rooms where you spend the most time.
8. Designate 30 minutes after dinner for cleaning — and get everyone involved in folding laundry, doing dishes, and clearing away clutter.
9. Store sets of sheets and pillowcases inside unfolded pillowcases to make bed changes fast and easy and minimize clutter in your linen closet.
10. Program the phone numbers for your favorite take-out restaurants into your cell phone so you can call to pick up dinner on the way home and avoid paying for delivery.

See all 50 tips.

(msn.com)