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Preventive Care Toolbox
With approximately 40 million people in the US alone living with migraine and a stunning lack of mandatory education on headache disorders in medical schools, many people with migraine remain at a loss how to navigate preventive treatment. Visits to doctors often end up with a “one and done” attitude, not taking into account the importance of a toolbox approach. Between following insurance denials and guidelines for step therapy, and a devastating shortage of certified headache specialists, patients living with this disabling disease often find themselves without adequate and current information. Having a preventive care roadmap can go a long way to help figuring out how to maintain a quality of life that most people take for granted.
Read MoreCreating a Migraine Preventive Action Plan
Bearing in mind that migraine is a disease that can chronify, it’s not only important to know the signs for when preventive treatment is appropriate, but also have a road map to follow once you’re in that place. A Preventive Action Plan (PAP) is a road map for treatment communication and care planning. Having a PAP gives you a sense of direction and independence as well as the greatest potential for relief. It raises awareness of different approaches to preventive migraine treatment, and it also makes you a partner with your doctor in your disease management and healthcare. Your involvement in a PAP is essential, because you know your body best, you know how migraine is impacting your life, and the PAP needs to be integrated by YOU into your care and daily life.
Read MoreSigns It’s Time for Prevention
As someone who lives with migraine, do YOU realize how IMPORTANT it is to be aware of your silent disease?? I’m not speaking of just your attacks but also your overall migraine days. Do you know the difference? Is there a difference? Do your days blur into one long week or month? And, did you know that there are signs to be aware of that show you need to consider preventive treatment, or reconsider the preventive treatment you are on. Yes, that can be scary, but the consequence of not being proactive with this disease can have a disabling and long-term impact on your life.
Read MoreMigraine Chronification, Are You at Risk?
Migraine is a debilitating disorder that can be subdivided into several categories. Two of those categories, chronic migraine and episodic migraine, are both part of a tapestry of migraine disorders. One of the things many people are not aware of when first diagnosed with migraine is that this is a complex neurological disease that can chronify. This means that it is possible to go from low frequency episodic to high frequency episodic and then to chronic migraine.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Tinnitus
Pete Townshend, of the legendary British rock group The Who, has talked often of his struggles with hearing loss and tinnitus—a common problem affecting 15-20% of people. [1] Townshend attributes his tinnitus to the use of headphones in the recording studio. For people like Townshend, tinnitus can be an occupational hazard. While sustained exposure to loud noise can cause tinnitus, this “ringing in the ears” condition, which is comorbid with migraine, is generally triggered by an underlying condition such as:
• age-related hearing loss
• ear, head, or neck injury
• circulatory systems problems
• temporomandibular joint disorder (TMI).
Migraine Comorbidities: Restless Leg Syndrome
Pulling. Throbbing. Aching. Itching. Restlessness. These are just some of the symptoms affecting people with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), also called Willis-Ekbom disease. Comorbid with migraine, RLS causes an uncontrollable urge to move one’s legs, usually to relieve an unpleasant sensation. Moving typically relieves the feeling temporarily, but it is not always as simple as that.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness. Migraine and epilepsy are frequently described as highly comorbid conditions and both appear to have a genetic predisposition. The risk of having migraine is significantly higher for those with epilepsy—with one study estimating that risk is up to twice as high as compared to those without epilepsy.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Asthma
Migraine and asthma are comorbid chronic disorders with episodic attacks involving both
inflammatory and neurological mechanisms. According to the American Lung Association, more
than 25 million Americans are living with asthma. Asthma happens when airways narrow and swell, producing extra mucus, which makes breathing difficult and triggers coughing and wheezing. While mild for some people, for others asthma can interfere with daily activities and even lead to a life-threatening attack. Situations that might cause an attack include, but are not limited to, exercise, illness, occupational
triggers, or environmental allergies.
Migraine Comorbidities: Allergies
Have you ever wondered why you have so many allergies? Did you know that allergies are comorbid with migraine, so you are not alone! Environmental allergens such as pollen, dust, pets and mold can trigger allergic rhinitis or hay fever, a common condition causing inflammation of the nasal mucosa. People who have allergies are more likely to have migraine headaches and allergies can increase the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Fibromyalgia
Comorbid fibromyalgia for people with migraine is often an unpleasant reality. In fact, many studies indicate that 20-36% of people with migraine also have fibromyalgia, a painful, chronic disease affecting the muscles, joints, and bones. A recent study found a two-way (bi-directional) association between the onset of fibromyalgia and migraine disease, and vice versa. However, it’s not always known or understood which disease came first. To date, no explanations have been provided for the rate of co-occurrence.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: GI Disorders
Many people with migraine also live with comorbid gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. These include inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroparesis, celiac disease, GERD, and cyclical vomiting syndrome among others. Recent studies have found that GI disorders appear to be more frequent in patients with migraine than in the general population.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Mental Health Disorders
Migraine is comorbid with a range of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and many other mood disorders. According to one study, up to 47% of people with migraine have comorbid depression, and up to 58% have comorbid anxiety—both commonly occurring especially among people with chronic migraine. Researchers believe there may be some neurological connection between migraine and mental health disorders and there is emerging evidence of genetic links between migraine, depression, and anxiety.
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