Amanda MacMillan, SELF magazine

If you're one of the 36 million Americans who suffer from migraines, you may see some headlines that concern you this week: Women who have migraines with aura (visual or sensory sensations, like flashes of light) may be more likely to experience heart attacks, says one new study, while another links the condition with a higher likelihood of blood clots for women on birth control. We've got the science behind the headlines.

The two studies, to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in March, looked at tens of thousands of women. The first one found that migraines with aura were the second strongest risk factor for heart attack and stroke in women 45 and up, ranking behind only high blood pressure. That means it beat out diabetes, obesity, smoking and family history.

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The second study was done on women with migraines who also take hormonal contraceptives. Women who got

Photographs are such a joy, and I don't know about you, but I'm much more focused on taking photographs now that cameras and phones have evolved to make taking photos so much easier. I used to begrudge the time that I spent on photos, but now I realize the role they can play in happiness.

1. Photos remind us of the people, places, and activities we love. Many people keep photos in their homes, in their office, or in their wallet, and happy families tend to display large numbers of photos at home. In Happier at Home, I write about my "shrine to my family" made of photographs.

2. Photos help us remember the past. One of the best ways to make yourself happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past. Photos are a great memory-prompt, and because we tend to take photos of happy occasions, they weight our memories to the good.

3. Photos can save space while preserving memories. Through a friend, I heard about a fantastic service, Plum Print, "the simple solution

Has Lance Armstrong ruined the Livestrong brand? (Photo: @TopSportsGear via Twitter)After years of public denials and contentious court battles, cycling champion and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on Monday admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he'd been using performance enhancing drugs for much of his career. According to the Associated Press, after his two-and-a-half-hour-long interview with Winfrey, Armstrong stopped by his cancer charity, the Livestrong Foundation, to apologize to staff members, some of whom started crying.

Related: Olympics Could Drop Cycling Over Armstrong Doping Revelations

His employees aren't the only ones who feel let down. All over the United States, people who have proudly worn the bright yellow Livestrong bracelets are taking them off, saying that they feel betrayed by Armstrong's actions.

Vicky Lynn, a cancer survivor who has been involved with the Livestrong Foundation since 2005, says that while the foundation has done "many great things" for cancer survivors and their families, she thinks that what Armstrong has done

For millions of people each year, sore throats serve as the major warning signal that they are about to be hit with the flu, common cold or bacterial infection like strep throat. On a far less ominous note, allergies, dry air and pollutants can also cause them.

While there are lots of over-the-counter medications that can treat aching throats, there are also countless home and natural remedies to sooth the soreness for those that prefer more organic healthcare or just can't make it to the pharmacy. Since it can often be difficult to separate the scientific fact from fiction, we've compiled a guide to the everyday, affordable materials that have been shown to relieve the pain and wipe out early infections.

Other Options

Some of the most popular alternative choices to the treatments discussed above:

Slippery elm - The bark of this North American tree is often used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, skin ulcers, coughs, and sore throats. More specifically, the tree's

Who needs an aspirin when you can eat these yummy foods?

By Rachael Anderson

Do you live on Advil when something hurts? Next time, curtail the pain in advance - with food! According to Mehmet Oz, MD, certain foods can pack even more pain-fighting power than some drugs. Dr. Oz teamed up with Ashley Koff, RD, to reveal the best food prescriptions for your biggest pains.

Joint pain
If you have joint pain, chances are it's ongoing. Instead of emptying the painkiller bottle over and over again, eat more dark cherries. "Dark cherries contain anthocyanins, which work just like aspirin or ibuprofen to turn off the body's pain signals," says Koff. These powerful antioxidants are what give cherries their rich color. According to Koff, eating 1 cup a day-about 20 cherries-can help significantly reduce joint pain. Either fresh or frozen works, but Koff recommends choosing organic because you'll get the most pain-fighting antioxidant power per bite.

Yum! Try Ashley Koff's Cherry Treat

Knee pain
Limping along with knee pain?

By Nicole Catanese, Designed by Ammiel Mendoza, Refinery29

By now, you may have heard some of the health buzz surrounding your thyroid gland and the ways that it can potentially affect your health. This small gland - really, just the size and shape of a (little) butterfly - found in the base of your neck, plays a big role in your health, as well as how you feel on a daily basis. Here's how it works: your thyroid converts iodine (a substance found in foods items ranging from potatoes to dairy products) into two hormones: T3, which is triiodothyronine, and T4, known as thyroxine.

So, why should you care? "The thyroid secretes these hormones, and then they go directly into the blood, which then affects the entire the body because [the hormones travel all over your system and work into every single cell," says Betul Hatipoglu, MD, an endocrinologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. That's right - the thyroid affects everything in your body, head to toe.

The problem: the

CN Digital Studio

by Lexi Patronis, Glamour

If you made New Year's goals to exercise more (lots of us! Me too!) and get healthier in general, then be sure to include a super-important body part in your workout regimen: your brain.

Ha. But seriously--how often do you exercise your brain? The experts behind Lumosity--a brain-training site--say it's important to give your brain regular workouts. Not just because it helps keep your brain healthy and happy, but also because it will help the rest of you get in shape! Take a look at their tips for keeping your brain shipshape (I love these):

See more: 60 Winter Nail Polish Ideas

Eat right. You do it for your body--why not your brain? Fruits and vegetables with antioxidants help prevent cell damage, and omega-3 fatty acids are important building blocks in the brain.



Go to the gym. Regular exercise can help keep your brain fit with increased levels of brain chemicals and more efficient blood circulation. Studies have even shown that

I'm sure by now you know it is flu season. This year it is making headlines and is one to watch out for. And whether or not you got a flu shot, you will want to take care of yourself this season by boosting your immunity through the foods you eat. These recipes are filled with antioxidants and plant-based super foods to keep you feeling ahead of the game. And while there is no food or nutrient that will make you immune to the flu, these tasty, vibrant recipes just may help! - By Kathy Patalsky

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