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Egilius Spierings

Bio

Egilius L.H. Spierings, M.D., Ph.D., is an associate clinical professor of neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and an associate clinical professor in craniofacial pain at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He specializes in the management of headache and facial pain. Dr. Spierings earned his bachelors of science degree, masters of science degree, medical degree, and doctor of philosophy degree in experimental pharmacology from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He is board certified in neurology. Dr. Spierings is a Fellow of the American Headache Society and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management.

Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Neurology:
    Cellphone Use May Reveal Your 'Dominant Brain'

    FRIDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests the dominant side of your brain may make the call on which ear you choose to use while talking on your cellphone.

    The dominant side of your brain is where your speech and language center resides. Ninety-five percent of the human pop...Full Article

  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings answered:
    How can I prevent migraines?
    Most migraineurs have dozens of triggers, and it's often impossible to avoid all of them....  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings answered:
    What common foods can trigger migraines?
    Foods and additives that sometimes trigger a migraine headache include: alcoholic beverages...  Full Post
  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Neurology:
    Condition Commonly Seen in Aging May Alter Brain Function

    MONDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- A condition known as leukoaraiosis alters brain function in older people, according to a small new study.

    Contrary to past belief, researchers found this common condition, in which diseased blood vessels lead to small areas of...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Neurology:
    Migraines Not Linked to Decline in Thinking Skills

    FRIDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Although they are common and often debilitating, migraine headaches are not associated with declines in thinking skills, researchers say.

    "Previous studies on migraines and cognitive [brain] decline were small and unable to identify a link between the t...Full Article

  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    What are the symptoms of migraine headaches?
    Typically, the early sensations of migraine include a change in mood, appetite, or activity level. These symptoms, known as prodromal symptoms or the prodrome, warn that a migraine headache is on the way.

    Some people also experience visual disturbances shortly before the headache begins....  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    What mind-body therapies are recommended for headaches?
    Mind-body techniques such as meditation, relaxation strategies, yoga, hypnosis, stress management, and biofeedback, among others, seek to harness the power of the mind to aid in health and pain relief. These techniques are quite popular with Americans suffering from headache: nearly one in...  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    How do relaxation techniques help prevent headaches?
    A number of techniques can relax your muscles and ease tension, which should help reduce headache pain. No single technique works better than the others, so it's best to experiment until you find the approach that helps you the most. However, whatever you choose, the technique will work only...  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    How can biofeedback help me manage my headaches?
    Biofeedback involves using a machine to monitor body functioning, as indicated by finger temperature or electrical activity in muscles. The machine then translates the readings into a blinking light, a beeping sound, or a graph. People are taught relaxation exercises and thought patterns...  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    What is hypnotherapy?
    Although the term hypnosis comes from Hypnos, the name of the Greek god of sleep, hypnosis is not a form of sleep but a state of deep relaxation. During this trance-like state, the mind is particularly receptive to suggestions, which form the basis of this form of therapy. A session usually...  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    How can I prevent stress headaches?
    You can't eliminate stress from your life, but a few tried-and-true coping techniques may help prevent headaches or ease them once they begin:
    • Exercise: Aerobic exercise alleviates stress and can boost your mood. Aim to work 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, into your
    ...  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    Can exercise help prevent headaches?
    Everyone knows that regular exercise helps keep the heart and blood vessels healthy. It also boosts your mood, relieves stress, and helps prevent a host of ailments, such as diabetes and hypertension. In addition, virtually any type of physical activity, if performed regularly, can help prevent...  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    How effective is acupuncture in treating headaches?
    A recent migraine review considered 22 different studies involving more than 4,400 people. Most of the trials compared real and "fake" acupuncture, in which needles were either inserted at incorrect points or didn't penetrate the skin. Both groups had fewer headaches than before the tre...  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    How does acupuncture work?
    According to traditional Chinese beliefs, acupuncture works by affecting the flow of energy, called qi, through pathways that run through the body. The practitioner inserts very fine needles at specific points along these pathways, or meridians. Although acupuncture has many variations, it...  Full Post
  • Egilius Spierings
    Egilius Spierings of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    Can acupuncture help prevent headaches?
    Acupuncture has long been used to treat headaches, but until 2009 there hadn't been strong evidence that this ancient Chinese practice had any clear benefit for headache pain. Then, two reviews from the Cochrane Collaboration (an international organization that provides comprehensive reviews...  Full Post