Can travelling to a higher altitude trigger migraine attacks?
For some people with migraine, the answer seems to be yes. In people who climbed a mountain in Colorado (4,300 metres high), people with a history of migraine were 2.5 times more likely to develop a headache than those who did not have migraine. They were…
Canadian Migraine Tracker – Questions and Answers
Hello to all the Migraine Canada™ followers! Recently, the Canadian Headache Society launched an App for migraine monitoring: the Canadian Migraine Tracker. Using a headache diary is a good way to keep track of the situation and observe the results of treatments. Many options are…
Headache and neck pain: is it possible that nerve compression is to blame?
Headache and neck pain: is it possible that nerve compression is to blame?A team of researchers investigates the possibility of a surgical approach Patient story: my neck is killing me«For the last few years, my neck has been killing me. I had migraines since the…
CoQ10 and L-carnitine for migraine: a new study suggests a benefit
In a new study realized by researchers in Iran, a combination of coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitine was found to be effective for episodic migraine prevention, with 10% of constipation and stomach ache side effects. Let’s look at some details! What are the natural supplements recommended…
Vitamins and supplements: can we trust that the content is what is advertised?
Complementary and integrative medicine for migraine prevention is an important area of interest for migraine doctors and migraine sufferers alike. There is evidence (Grade B, C) that certain minerals and supplements such as Magnesium, Riboflavin, and Coenzyme Q10 may be helpful in the prevention of…
Hormones and migraine: a trigger and a treatment?
Author: Alexander Melinyshin, MD, FRCPC, Headache Fellow Why do women suffer from migraine more often than men? According to a study published in The Lancet, approximately one billion people on the planet have Migraine (2012; 380, 2163 – 2196). Migraine affects women more than men at…
Benefits of Medical Hypnosis for Migraine Therapy
Dr Séverine Debiais, Hospital Practitioner. Neurology, CHRU de Tours (Graduation essay on medical hypnosis, Paris VI-2017-2018 : « Hypnose et Neurologie : état des lieux en 2018, ou Petit manuel de survie à l’usage des neurologues souhaitant pratiquer l’hypnose ») What is Medical Hypnosis? Medical hypnosis strives, in…
Identifying and treating Chronic Migraine
Is it possible to have a migraine more than 50% of the time? Unfortunately, it is. And it’s called «chronic migraine». An even MORE unfortunately, many doctors do not know how to diagnose chronic migraine. See what an expert, Dr Gordon Robinson, has to say…
Can I use an oral contraceptive? Will it make migraine worse?
Author: Dr Vanessa Doyle and Dr Suzanne Christie Headache is a common side effect of oral contraceptive pills, which can be affected by the dose and the type of hormone(s) in the pill. It is important to understand there are 2 main types of oral…
I have severe attacks, and sometimes throw up my medication…what can I do?
Most migraine patients will have nausea with at least some of their attacks, and some will vomit. Vomiting, especially if it occurs early in the migraine attack, can be a problem because if the patient throws up their medication before it is absorbed into the…
My Treatment for migraine works, but the pain comes back in a few hours. What should I do?
Many patients with migraine find that the medication they take for their migraine attack will relieve the pain completely or at least take it down to a mild level within 2 hours. It this is not happening with your acute migraine medication, you need to…
How can I determine if I need a prophylactic treatment?
Preventive medication is not necessary for every migraine sufferer. There are certain situations where your doctor would consider recommending a preventive medication, such situations are: You are having headaches that have a significant impact on your life at home or at work despite appropriate use…
How can I choose a good prophylactic for my situation?
Deciding on what type of preventive medication to start depends on many factors. The choice of preventive medication needs to be tailored to meet each person’s individual needs. Before deciding on a preventive medication, it is important to discuss your other medical problems with your…
My migraines have become more frequent….should I just stop my preventive treatment?
Migraine comes in cycles of good and bad periods. Sometimes there is an obvious reason (less sleep, more stress, a new medication, hormonal changes….) but sometimes it is not that clear why migraines keep coming at an increased pace. If your migraine frequency is rising…
What are the triggers of migraine?
Being able to identify your triggers can help you avoid migraines. How can you identify them? Keeping a migraine diary is very helpful. Read on to know more about triggers. Some important points about triggers: They are not the same for every migraineur They accumulate,…
Migraine & Relationships
Coping with migraine is rarely a solitary undertaking. Support from family and friends is often key to managing and coping with migraines. Sometimes, in the health care field, the focus is on the migraine patient, and the needs of family and friends are forgotten or…
How do my doctor and I choose which prophylactic medication I should try?
There is no easy answer to this question, as most prophylactic medications have not been shown to be better or worse than another. It depends on the individual patient. There are several considerations in deciding where to start in the long list of prophylactic medications…
What can I expect from my migraine prophylactic medication?
First of all, don’t expect instant results. It will take at least two months before you know whether the medication will be a success for you or not, and another month or two before you know how good things are going to get. On the…
When should you consider going on a prophylactic medication?
Preventive medication is not necessary for every migraine sufferer. Usually preventive medications are not considered unless a person is having at least 3 migraine attacks a month. There are however special circumstances where they may be considered even if migraine attacks are not that…
Nutrition
Nutrition is one aspect of lifestyle that deserves some attention in one’s quest to manage a migraine disorder. Migraine is a complex neurobiochemical process – meaning it affects the nervous and biochemical systems of the body. Food is the fuel that makes our engines run….
