(Tiny Tips) – Migraines are more than just headaches. This is a neurological disorder that can cause disability. This can result in missing school or school, being less productive at school or work, being unable to meet family responsibilities, and missing out on family, social, and recreational activities.
An estimated 1 billion people worldwide and 39 million Americans suffer from migraines. According to a January 2022 article published in JAMA, the condition most commonly occurs in people ages 20 to 50, with the incidence in women about three times that of men.
There is no cure for migraines, but treatments and lifestyle approaches can help minimize the number of migraine attacks and shorten or reduce their severity.
What is a migraine?
Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring symptoms called attacks, which typically include headache, often accompanied by nausea; vomiting; sensitivity to light, touch, smell, or sound; dizziness; visual disturbances in the face, hands, or Tingling or numbness in your feet.
Migraine attacks may occur suddenly without warning, or they may occur before certain known triggers, such as: Skipping meals, smoking or air pollution or changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle.
The frequency of attacks varies from person to person. Some people experience several seizures per month, while others experience seizures much less frequently.
According to the Mayo Clinic, most migraine attacks last between 4 and 72 hours, but effective treatment can shorten this to a few hours. On the other hand, some migraine attacks can even last longer than 72 hours.
While a variety of triggers can trigger a migraine attack, the trigger does not directly cause the migraine attack or the underlying condition.
There are still gaps in doctors’ understanding of the causes of migraines. However, some doctors describe migraine brains as overactive or oversensitive. What they mean is that the brains of people with migraines respond more strongly to environmental stimuli, such as stress or sleep disturbances, than the brains of people without migraines who have symptoms of a migraine attack.
Types of migraine
According to the classification of headache disorders by the International Headache Society (IHS), there are two main types of migraine: migraine with aura and migraine without aura.
Migraine with aura is divided into four subtypes: classic migraine with aura, brainstem migraine with aura, hemiplegic migraine, and retinal migraine. Some of these subtypes also have their own sub-subtypes.
A person may have more than one type of migraine at the same time, as well as other types of headaches.
Migraines are also classified as chronic or episodic, depending on the number of days a person experiences symptoms each month. The IHS defines chronic migraine as headache that occurs 15 or more days per month, lasts for more than 3 months, and is characterized by migraine on at least 8 days per month.
Episodic migraines occur when migraine symptoms occur less than 15 days per month.
An estimated 144 million people worldwide, including three to seven million Americans, suffer from chronic migraines. According to the American Headache Society, chronic migraines, such as episodic migraine, are three times more common in women than in men.
Determining which type of migraine you have can help you and your doctor choose the right treatment for you. This may be important if you want to participate in a clinical trial.
Migraine without aura
Migraine without aura, formerly known as common migraine, is characterized by a headache that usually occurs on one side of the head, is pulsating, is worsened by physical activity, and is accompanied by nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.
Migraine without aura may have a prodromal or warning phase, during which patients experience symptoms such as depression, food cravings, difficulty concentrating, and uncontrollable yawning.
There may also be a later stage in which the headache has subsided, but the patient feels tired, in pain, and has difficulty concentrating.
Or, after the headache phase of a migraine is over, a person may feel enthusiastic or even euphoric.
Migraine with aura
According to the American Migraine Foundation (AMF), up to 30 percent of migraine sufferers suffer from migraine with aura, formerly known as classic migraine. It often causes the same symptoms as migraine without aura, except that the headache phase of a migraine attack is preceded by neurological disturbances that may include visual, speech, or sensory changes.
Examples of visual auras include seeing stars, jagged lines, or flashing lights; blurred vision; temporary blind spots or color spots; and tunnel vision.
Sensory disturbances may include tingling or numbness in part of the body, face, or tongue.
In some cases, aura symptoms occur without or are followed by headache.
Migraine with brainstem aura
This form of migraine, formerly known as basilar migraine, is a rare type of migraine with aura. These often include neurological symptoms such as double vision, speech and hearing problems, dizziness, and loss of balance and coordination.
Hemiplegic migraine
There are two forms of hemiplegic migraine: familial hemiplegic migraine and sporadic hemiplegic migraine. Both are characterized by aura, fever, and hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body). Both are relatively rare.
Retinal migraine
Retinal migraine is an extremely rare cause of temporary vision loss in one eye, according to the IHS. The condition is diagnosed when a person repeatedly experiences unilateral vision loss (including the type of vision symptoms common with migraine aura) or migraine-related blindness. These symptoms typically last five minutes or more, can last up to an hour, and may be accompanied by or followed by a headache.
Chronic migraine
Chronic migraines occur when headaches occur 15 or more days per month for at least three months, and at least eight of those days have migraine-like features.
Because of the frequent occurrence of chronic migraine symptoms, it may be impossible to determine when one migraine attack ends and another begins. It can also be difficult to determine whether a person actually has chronic migraines or has another condition, such as: B. Medication overuse headache is expected to cause daily or nearly daily headaches.
According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, it may be necessary to keep a detailed headache diary for at least a month to determine what type or types of headache a person is experiencing.
Syndromes that may be associated with migraines
Certain medical conditions are more common in people with migraines or in people (usually children) who are at higher risk for migraines:
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome In cyclic vomiting syndrome, a person experiences severe nausea and vomiting that lasts an hour or more and lasts for up to 10 days at a time. Between episodes that occur regularly, the patient has no symptoms of nausea or vomiting.
Abdominal Migraine This type of episodic migraine is mostly diagnosed in children. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Children with abdominal migraines typically do not experience headache attacks during adolescence but do not develop headaches until adulthood.
Benign Paroxysmal Dizziness In this syndrome, otherwise healthy children experience recurring brief episodes of dizziness that occur without warning and then resolve spontaneously without loss of consciousness. During a seizure, children may experience nystagmus (uncontrolled horizontal or vertical eye movements), balance or coordination problems (ataxia), vomiting, pale skin, and anxiety.
Benign Paroxysmal Torticollis This syndrome occurs in infants and young children and causes the head to tilt to one side, with or without slight rotation, and remain tilted for minutes to days before spontaneously returning to its normal position. During an episode, an infant or child may look pale, be irritable, feel unwell or generally ill, vomit, or, in older children, have balance or coordination problems.
Other types of headaches
Other rare types of headaches include:
- Cluster Headaches According to the IHS, these extremely painful headaches can last 15 to 180 minutes without treatment and occur in cycles or in clusters.
- According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Paroxysmal Hemicranias is a severe, sometimes throbbing pain on one side of the face or around the eyes that lasts 2 to 30 minutes and occurs more than five times a day.
- Ice-Pick Headache As the name suggests, ice pick headache is a type of migraine characterized by tingling pain. Fortunately, this condition is relatively rare and usually short-lived.
- Intractable Headache Any headache that does not respond to treatment, including migraines.
- Occipital Neuralgia This condition causes pain in the back of the head and upper neck.
Migraine Signs and Symptoms
Migraine symptoms vary depending on the type of migraine and the individual. Generally speaking, however, migraine attacks are very painful and can interfere with daily life.
The most common symptom of a migraine is a headache – usually described as a strong throbbing or throbbing sensation that usually occurs on one side of the head, but sometimes occurs on both sides of the head, sometimes starting on one side of the head and moving to the head of each other.
In addition to headaches, these are the most common migraine signs and symptoms:
- Sensitivity to light, called photophobia, causing a desire to go to a dark room during epileptic seizures
- Sound sensitivity or phonophobia, which may make ordinary sounds intolerable
- Hypersensitivity to touch, called allodynia, or pain caused by gentle touch, such as combing your hair or touching your face to a pillowcase
- Nausea and vomiting
- Aura symptoms
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Fatigue
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating, remembering, or performing other mental tasks
- Dizziness, dizziness, or vertigo
- Depression or anxiety
- Ringing in the ears or ringing in the ears
- With tears in eyes
- Sinus pain
- Diarrhea
- Aversion to smell
Other migraine symptoms may be less common or simply reported less frequently:
- Cold in hands or feet
- Constipate
- Difficult to express clearly
- Difficulty understanding written or spoken information
- Earache
- Facial swelling
- Eager
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Jaw pain
- Night sweats
- Nightmare
- Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or face
- Weak body
- Smelling an odor that is not there (usually an unpleasant odor)
- Nasal congestion
Migraine attacks can be divided into four stages, each with slightly different symptoms:
Prodromal Symptoms or Warning Phase You may notice the first signs of a migraine attack a day or two before the aura symptoms or headache attack. These early warning symptoms may include mood swings, cravings for certain foods, muscle stiffness, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to noise or light, fatigue and difficulty sleeping, yawning, and frequent urination.
Aura Phase As many as one-third of people experience an aura phase, which can last from five minutes to an hour and increase in intensity over time. The aura may cause bright spots or light streaks, as well as numbness or tingling in various parts of the body, but not paralysis.
Headache Phase Pain is associated with the headache phase, which can last from a few hours to three days. The throbbing pain may start on one side of the head and spread to both sides. This may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting as well as blurred vision and sensitivity to certain stimuli, such as light and noise. During this stage of a migraine attack, people often seek a quiet, dark room to rest or sleep.
Post-Attack or Hangover Stage During the final stages of a migraine attack, when the headache subsides, fatigue and body aches may occur. You may have difficulty concentrating and may still be allergic to certain stimuli.
Not every migraine sufferer will experience all four stages, and even those who typically experience migraines may not experience all four stages with every migraine attack.
Migraine causes and risk factors
The exact cause of migraines is unknown. Research suggests genetic and environmental factors may play a role.
Research shows that changes in the brainstem and the trigeminal nerve, which regulates pain, are associated with migraines.
Chemical imbalances in the brain may also be involved. Depression and anxiety have long been linked to migraines. A study published in Headache found that the frequency of migraines is related to the severity of depression and anxiety: the more frequent the attacks, the more likely a person is to suffer from depression or anxiety.
Research shows that serotonin levels drop during a migraine attack, causing the trigeminal nervous system to release substances called neuropeptides, which cause headaches.
According to the Mayo Clinic, changes in weather or barometric pressure can cause a chemical imbalance in the brain, triggering a migraine attack.
Researchers have identified several key risk factors for migraines, including the following.
Are migraines hereditary?
Research shows that migraines have a strong genetic component, but the specific genes and genetic mechanisms involved are not fully understood.
For some rare types of migraine, such as familial hemiplegic migraine, specific genetic mutations that cause migraine have been identified. However, for most types of migraines, multiple genes are thought to be involved in increasing a person’s likelihood of developing migraines.
Still, knowing you have a family history of migraines can be helpful for several reasons, including getting a proper diagnosis more quickly and feeling acknowledged and supported in your experience with the disease.
How does age affect risk?
According to the Mayo Clinic, migraine sufferers typically first experience symptoms during adolescence, and most migraine sufferers have their first attack before the age of 40. However, migraines can start at any time in life, including in infancy or childhood, depending on factors.
What about gender?
Migraines typically affect boys more than girls during childhood, but this trend reverses during adolescence, according to the Cleveland Clinic. As adults, women are more likely than men to suffer from migraines. It appears that hormonal changes, especially estrogen, play a role.
Some women find that hormonal medications, such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, make migraines worse, while others find that they reduce the frequency of headaches.
Menstruation and menopause
Women who suffer from migraines often experience them before or shortly after their period, causing a drop in estrogen.
The frequency, severity, and duration of migraines may change during pregnancy or menopause. Some women report experiencing their first migraine attack during pregnancy or that their migraines worsen during pregnancy, while other women experience fewer attacks.
The above observations suggest that hormonal fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone are contributing factors to migraines in some women. For some women, as hormone levels become more stable after menopause, migraines become less frequent and more severe.
Migraine triggers
Migraine triggers do not directly cause migraines. However, they may cause migraine attacks. Migraine attacks often require multiple triggers, not just one.
The most common triggers of migraine attacks include:
Weather change
Many people report that changes in weather, especially changes in air pressure, can trigger migraines. Other weather-related migraine triggers include heat, humidity, wind, and reduced sunlight.
Poor air quality from forest fires or other sources of air pollution may also be a trigger for some people.
Lights, sounds or smells
It’s well known that bright light—whether natural light like sunlight or the flicker of fluorescent lights—can trigger migraines in many people.
Loud noises and strong odors (from perfumes, cleaning products, or passive smoking) have also been linked to migraine attacks.
However, in some cases, increased sensitivity to light, sound, and smell is the first sign of an impending attack, rather than the light, sound, or smell triggering the attack.
Medications
Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) and vasodilators (such as nitroglycerin) have been linked to migraine attacks. Overuse of painkillers can also cause headaches.
Dehydration
About one-third of people say dehydration is a migraine trigger, according to the AMF. Make sure to drink enough water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
Disrupted Sleep
Too little or too much sleep can trigger migraines in some people, as can changes in the sleep-wake cycle (such as jet lag).
Foods and Food Additives
Certain foods and drinks, especially alcoholic beverages, can be triggers. The flavor enhancers monosodium glutamate and caffeine may also be triggers.
Foods containing the amino acid tyramine have been linked to the development of migraines. Examples include aged cheeses, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, certain legumes and red wine.
Nitrates in deli meats such as bacon, hot dogs, salami and other lunch meats are a trigger for some people.
Research also suggests that the artificial sweeteners aspartame and sucralose may also be triggers.
For some people, fruits such as avocados, bananas, and citrus fruits, as well as some nuts and seeds, may trigger migraines.
Missing or skipping meals can also trigger seizures.
Stress or Relief From Stress
Daily stress can trigger migraines; the AMF reports that stress is a trigger for 70 percent of migraine sufferers. Since migraines can also be a source of stress, it’s even more important to find ways to cope with daily stress so that stress and migraines don’t create a vicious cycle.
Interestingly, relaxing after a stressful day or event can also trigger a migraine attack. This is sometimes called a “disappointment headache,” according to the AMF.
How are migraines diagnosed?
There is no single test that can diagnose migraines. Instead, your doctor will take your medical history, note your family history of migraines, and perform a physical and neurological examination.
Your doctor may order certain blood tests and imaging tests to rule out other causes of headache. However, the presence of one primary headache disorder does not exclude the presence of another primary headache disorder. In fact, many people suffer from both migraines and tension headaches.
Keeping detailed records of your symptoms, when they occurred, how long they lasted, and what you did to relieve them (if any) can help with diagnosis.
Migraine Prognosis
The long-term prognosis of migraine is highly variable. Over time, some people have milder migraines, while others have more frequent migraines, sometimes progressing from episodic migraines to chronic migraines. Others have long periods of remission without migraine attacks.
Researchers are still studying the natural history of migraines and studying factors that may contribute to both a decrease and an increase in migraine attacks over the long term.
In a 2020 study published in the journal Headache, researchers surveyed 380 migraine patients twice, each 10 years apart. Of that group, more than 47 percent reported a 50 percent or greater reduction in migraine frequency after 10 years. Factors associated with improvement included baseline headache frequency of more than 10 days per month, not smoking, and having medical follow-up for migraines during the study period.
A previous study published in the journal Headache followed 374 people over 12 years and found that 29 percent had completely stopped having migraine attacks after 12 years. Of 264 people who still suffered from migraine attacks, 80% reported a change in attack frequency (80% of whom reported fewer attacks) and 66% reported changes in pain intensity over time (83% of which Report) . less severe pain). Only six participants in the study developed chronic migraines during the study period. Researchers are unsure whether these changes reflect the natural evolution of migraines or better migraine management among the study participants.
Medications to Treat and Prevent Migraine Attacks
There are two drug treatment options for migraines: drugs that relieve symptoms after an attack begins and drugs that prevent attacks or reduce their frequency and severity.
Acute medicines to prevent migraine attacks
Acute or abortive treatments for migraine include over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and a variety of prescription medications. Additionally, anti-nausea medications can help relieve symptoms in people with nausea, vomiting, and migraines.
Over-the-counter pain relievers commonly used to treat migraines include acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).
Prescription drugs include:
- Triptans
- Gepants
- Ditans
- Ergots
Triptans Triptans were the first migraine-specific drugs to be marketed in the 1990s and are still widely used today. These drugs include almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), sumatriptan (Imitrex and other brands) , rizatriptan (Maxalt) and zolmitriptan (Zomig).
All triptans are available as tablets, zolmitriptan and sumatriptan are also available as nasal sprays, and sumatriptan is also available as an injection. Triptans should be taken at the first sign of a seizure. For many people, they can effectively stop migraine attacks or significantly relieve migraine symptoms.
However, triptans are contraindicated or not recommended for certain people, including people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of stroke, or certain heart problems, and people with rare migraines, such as hemiplegic migraine and migraine with brainstem aura.
Gepants, more formally known as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists, are specifically used to treat migraines and include the oral drugs ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) and rimegepant (Nurtec ODT), as well as the nasal spray zavegepant (Zavzpret) . Gepants work by blocking the action of CGRP, a protein in the brain and nervous system involved in pain transmission.
Unlike triptans, triptans can be used by people with cardiovascular risk factors or who are at risk for stroke. They are also the only acute migraine medications that do not cause medication overuse headaches when used regularly.
Ditans lasmiditan (Reyvow), available as an oral tablet, is the only approved drug in the Ditan or 5-HT1F receptor agonist class. It works similarly to triptans but does not constrict blood vessels, so some people who cannot take triptans because of cardiovascular risk factors may be able to take them.
Ergots Ergots, like ergotamine (Ergomar), is one of the oldest medications used to treat migraines and is no longer commonly used in the United States because it tends to be less effective than other medications and has more side effects. The only form of ergot that is still widely used is dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal, Trudhesa), which can be given intravenously in a hospital or clinic or taken at home as a nasal spray.
Antinausea Medications Medications that can be used to treat nausea associated with migraines include chlorpromazine, metoclopramide (Reglan), and prochlorperazine (Compro).
Metoclopramide and chlorpromazine are available as tablets, liquids or injections. Metoclopramide is also available as a nasal spray. Prochlorperazine is given as tablets, suppositories, or injections.
For the most effective symptom relief, it’s important to take prescription migraine medications and over-the-counter pain relievers as directed and follow your doctor’s instructions. Overuse of most migraine medications (including over-the-counter medications) may cause medication overuse headache (also called rebound headache).
Migraine preventive medications
Most medications with prophylactic or prophylactic effects on migraines are not specifically designed to treat migraines; they are primarily used to treat cardiovascular disease, epileptic seizures, and depression.
Two exceptions are CGRP antibodies and CGRP receptor antagonists or gepants.
Preventive treatment is usually recommended for people who suffer from very severe or frequent, long-lasting migraine attacks. Some people with migraines may need preventive treatments as well as acute treatments to control attacks.
CGRP antibodies: CGRP antibodies specifically designed to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks include erenumab (Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy), galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality), and eptinezumab (Vyepti). These drugs are given as a monthly injection or as an intravenous injection every three months.
Similar to gepants, CGRP antibodies work by blocking the effects of CGRP. They have been shown to shorten the number of migraine days in episodic and chronic migraines.
Gepants The CGRP antagonists rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) and atogepant (Qulipta) are available as oral medications and approved in the United States. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the preventive treatment of migraines.
Botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections every 12 weeks may also help prevent migraines in some people with chronic migraines. (The drug is not approved by the FDA to treat episodic migraines.) However, multiple injections may be needed to feel the effects. Studies show that the positive effects of Botox on migraines increase after multiple treatments.
Beta Blockers Beta blockers are medications that lower blood pressure. Taking it daily can help prevent migraine attacks in some people. Beta-blockers used for this purpose include metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor), propranolol (InnoPran XL), and timolol.
Metoprolol is taken as tablets or capsules, or as an injection; Propranolol is taken as capsules, liquid, or injection; Timolol is taken as tablets or as eye drops drip in. Typically, beta-blockers are started at a low dose and slowly increased until an effective dose is reached.
Antidepressants As the name suggests, antidepressants are most commonly used to treat depression. Sometimes they can also prevent migraine attacks. Antidepressants that have been shown to be effective in preventing migraines include amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), venlafaxine, and duloxetine (Cymbalta). These medications are taken in pill or capsule form.
Antiepileptic Drugs Certain anticonvulsants, or antiepileptic drugs, are considered first-line treatments for preventing migraines, according to StatPearls. These drugs include valproate, valproic acid (Depakene), and topiramate (Topamax).
Neurostimulation device for migraine relief
If medications don’t relieve your migraines adequately, it may be worth trying a neurostimulation device. There are many types of these devices that relieve pain or help prevent migraine attacks by delivering electrical or magnetic pulses to selected nerves.
They are unlikely to replace medications in a migraine treatment plan, but used along with medications can help relieve pain.
Available external devices target the upper branch of the trigeminal nerve in the forehead; the vagus nerve that runs through the neck; the occipital nerve in the back of the head; and the peripheral nerves in the upper arm. The implanted device also targets the occipital nerve.
Side effects of nerve stimulation are usually mild and include redness, irritation, or muscle twitching at the site of stimulation.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of neurostimulation devices is that they are expensive and not always covered by health insurance companies.
Migraine Prevention
Although there is no way to completely prevent migraines, some people can reduce their risk of migraine attacks by taking lifestyle measures, such as:
Get Enough Sleep Both too much and too little sleep can trigger migraines. Therefore, it’s helpful to make every effort to get consistent sleep every night of the week. This means going to bed and waking up around the same time every day, avoiding excessive naps, and addressing anything that is affecting your health or daily routine that might prevent a restful night’s sleep.
Eating Regular Meals Skipping meals is a common trigger of migraines. Not eating regularly can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low, possibly leading to a migraine attack or a headache that is not related to migraines.
Staying Hydrated Getting enough fluids throughout the day is just as important as eating regularly. According to Migraine Again, dehydration can cause headaches even in people who don’t have migraines, and people with migraines may experience migraine attacks.
Managing Stress Many people say stress is a migraine trigger, so it makes sense to find ways to deal with the stress in your life. What works best depends on the individual. Taking a mindfulness-based stress reduction class is an option that helps many people cope with the stress of chronic pain. Practicing yoga or meditation can reduce stress for some people. Working with a mental health professional to address issues causing stress can also help you reduce your stress levels.
Exercising Regularly Regular exercise is another way to manage stress and can also reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. The trick is to start with low-impact, low-intensity exercise and work your way up.
Migraine Resources
People living with migraine or a headache disorder can benefit from reliable resources offering information and support. Many organizations provide educational materials and can assist you in finding doctors specializing in migraine care. There are also online communities that offer support as well as practical advice and tips.
Learn More About Migraine Resources
Essential Migraine Information and Support
American Headache Society (AHS)
The AHS is specifically dedicated to helping healthcare providers stay up to date on treatments for headaches and face pain, but patients will also find a wealth of information on new migraine therapies as well as colorful infographics that present a range of tips.
American Migraine Foundation (AMF)
Working alongside the American Headache Society, this nonprofit organization strives to connect people with migraine with the care and support they need. The website features a handy doctor-locator tool and guidance on a range of issues, including managing migraine at work, identifying types of headaches, applying for Social Security disability income, and handling emergency room visits related to migraine.
Association of Migraine Disorders (AMD)
AMD recognizes that migraine is a full-body condition, with a broad spectrum of symptoms. In addition to providing extensive educational materials, the organization hosts Shades for Migraine, a campaign in which participants raise migraine awareness and address the stigma associated with the disease by wearing sunglasses in unexpected places.
The Migraine at Work campaign aims to help employees with migraine stay employed and productive on the job, and to help employers support and accommodate those employees. The website offers articles, taped webcasts, newsletters, and links to more information. Migraine at Work is a project of the World Health Education Foundation.
Online Magazines and Toolkits
This online magazine for people with chronic migraine is put together by volunteers who want to connect readers with helpful real stories from patients, sources of treatment, nutritional advice, and news related to migraine care.
The INvisible Project, the flagship program of the U.S. Pain Foundation, produces online magazines with real stories and photographs of people coping with chronic pain. Several editions are dedicated to people with migraine, who share how they deal with pain-related challenges in their everyday lives.
Migraine Again calls itself a lifestyle website for people with migraine and the people who love them. It features expert information and advice, tips and personal stories from people who have migraine, and articles on just about every aspect of living with migraine.
Migraine Patient Toolkit: A Guide to Your Care
The downloadable resource was created by the Society for Women’s Health Research to assist those with migraine in getting the care they need, dealing with health insurance issues, and incorporating wellness practices into their lives.
Migraine Apps
This app gets strong ratings from people with headache and migraine who use it to track medications, disability, and triggers, and share data with their doctors. The app also analyzes your data to determine the type of headache you’re having.
Designed with neurologists and data scientists, this graphic-heavy app makes it easy to record and monitor migraine. The technology helps patients identify likely triggers associated with their migraine and prevent future headaches. The website also features interesting articles on the effect of alcohol on migraine, how pets may help, migraine auras, and other topics.
Migraine Diaries
This British organization dedicated to supporting people affected by migraine offers a template for tracking attacks and any drug treatment you may be taking. Finding patterns in migraine can help with treatment.
Hartford Healthcare Headache Center Migraine Diary
The PDF from this center for headache care gives a comprehensive system for recording episodes and medicines. A key helps pinpoint types of triggers and evaluate migraine severity.
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