Migraine Research Foundation

17 May 2017

Back to Sleep: Simple Lifestyle Changes to Fight Chronic Migraine

A recent study related to chronic migraine and sleep is giving hope to many who struggle with comorbid insomnia and migraine.

As we’ve discussed many times, sleep problems and migraine often go hand in hand, which is why both need to be treated together. Many patients are rightly concerned about taking “sleeping pills”, and thus adding another drug with possible side effects to the mix, as well as possible long term dependence.

But a study published last year from the University of Mississippi suggests that simple lifestyle changes may be a lot more powerful than many people believe (Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of Behavioral Insomnia Treatment for Chronic Migraine With Comorbid Insomnia).

For the study, patients (mostly women) were specifically recruited who had both insomnia and chronic migraine. Each person came in for three special training sessions focusing on learning and practising 5 skills.

The control group learned skills that related to consistent liquid/food intake, range of motion, and acupressure.

But the study group were give skills related to improving sleep quality.

Two weeks after the treatment, researchers measured the change. Both groups improved – actually, the control group improved slightly more than the sleep-quality focused group.

But then came the surprise. The researchers measured again after 6 weeks. The control group still had a drop in headache frequency – 25%. But the sleep group had a 46% reduction in headache frequency.

The sleep group also improved significantly in their time asleep and “efficiency” of that sleep time.

46% is a significant improvement. So what was the secret? What skills did this group learn?

No, it wasn’t taking sleeping pills, or performing complex exercises. Actually, it was simple advice you’ve probably heard before:

Associate your bed with sleeping. It’s not the place to read, check Facebook or watch television.
Keep a regular schedule – go to bed at the same time, get up at the same time.
If you can’t sleep after 1/2 an hour, don’t panic. Just get up and do a quiet activity for a little while, then try again.
Try not to nap during the day.

Although naps may be great for some people, that last tip may help people get out of the insomnia cycle.

Once patients received training and understood more about how to optimize their sleep time, they found they could keep it up – and they also found that their sleep improved, and their migraine symptoms dropped significantly.

This was a small study, and the researchers would like to see further studies over a longer time frame. But for now, there is good reason to think that simple changes in the way we do “sleep-time” may have a big pay-off over the long term.

Special note: This study was sponsored by the Migraine Research Foundation, an organization we have been happy to support. You can support the MRF directly here. Also, investing in the Migraine World Summit collection will support the MRF and other organizations dedicated to fighting migraine.

Via: Non-drug treatment of insomnia helps headaches

12 January 2017

Unused Paid Time Off? Use it to Fight Migraine…

James Resources 0

Because of the drastic under-funding of research for migraine, I’m always interested in new ways to get that research going. Thanks to a start up, those in the United States now have a unique way to donate.

It may seem odd to those in other developed countries, but in the United States there is no national law making paid leave a requirement. But many of those who get the privilege, for whatever reason don’t use it.
Paid Time Off Exchange Now I certainly recommend you do use it – it’s important for your health, productivity, and creativity. But the fact of the matter is, at certain times you may not be able to use it, or you may have friends and family who have unused paid time off that they haven’t used.

Depending on a company’s policy, this can lead to a lot of confusion in the books over the years. But some companies have used this new start up to organize this paid time off (PTO) and use it to help other employees, the employees who weren’t using it, and even charities – ah hah!

There may be people you know who qualify – and who can give some of their PTO to the Migraine Research Foundation. The startup is called PTO Exchange, and the Migraine Research Foundation is one of the registered charities.

If you’re in the USA, please tell your family and friends about this opportunity to give to migraine research. 100% of their donation will go directly to cutting edge research. Some companies may want to consider using PTO Exchange for the first time. Share on Facebook, Twitter, and at your next dinner party – let’s see if we can find some funding to fight migraine!

10 December 2016

FirstGiving and the Migraine Research Foundation

James News, Website news 0

Thanks to all of you who have given in the past to the Migraine Research Foundation. One of our methods of giving here has been through FirstGiving, a peer-to-peer fundraising site.

We have raised US$515 through FirstGiving, and, as I understand it, hundreds more directly though the Migraine Research Foundation.

Due to changes at FirstGiving, we will no longer have a community page there. However, you can still give directly to the Migraine Research Foundation, and I encourage you to do so as a part of your regular giving.

Here’s a recent message from the president of the Migraine Research Foundation:

Right now, a migraine sufferer is rushing to the ER, calling in sick to work, cancelling something important, or trying another in a long list of drugs.

Millions of people will struggle through these moments every day until there are effective treatments for all sufferers. They need your help now.

We couldn’t sit by, waiting for science to catch up. So this year, in addition to our seed money grants, we launched the MRF Impact Award, a new funding initiative that recognizes the urgent need to impact treatment now. We gave our first Impact Award to Project Status Migrainosus, a cutting-edge study to help sufferers of this severe form of migraine that lasts longer than 3 days. We stepped up to fund this $250,000 project because if we didn’t, it would never happen.

Our researchers are working hard to find better treatments. Your donation makes it possible. Help sufferers get the relief they need now by supporting migraine research. Please make your tax-deductible gift today.

As always, 100% of your gift will go directly to fund migraine research.

With warmest wishes for a happy and pain-free holiday season,
Cathy Glaser, President

17 November 2016

Is Your Doctor a Certified Headache Specialist?

James Information, Tips 0

Wouldn’t it be nice to know that your doctor has at least a little advanced and current training in headache disorders? It would be nice, but it’s actually something that’s very hard to implement.

Would you want a standardized worldwide or countrywide standard, enforced by local governments? Who would decide on the qualifications? Or a standard from a group you trust? That wouldn’t be nearly as widespread, and many excellent specialists would be left out.

Certified Headache Doctor There are those who are trying to fill the gap. Here are a couple of examples from the United States.

One is the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS). The UCNS is a non-profit organization that awards certification to doctors who meet certain current requirements. Headache medicine is one of their specific subspecialties. You can actually get an idea what their requirements look like by visiting their Headache Medicine Certification page.

The Migraine Research Foundation maintains a list of UCNS certified doctors in the USA, showing who specialized in which age group. Just visit Doctors Certified in Headache Medicine.

The National Headache Foundation also provides certification, called the Certificate in Added Qualification (CAQ) in Headache Medicine. This certification is also based on current knowledge, and is open not only to medical doctors but also advanced practice nurses, dentists, D.O.s, psychologists, and physician’s assistants.

If you fall into any of these categories, you can read more about CAQ here.

The National Headache Foundation has a list that includes both CAQ and UCNS certification. There are some doctors who even have both certifications. The list is maintained here: Healthcare Provider Finder.

Certification is knowledge based, and does not guarantee that you will like the doctor, or even that they will be a good doctor. However, it does help to demonstrate a basic knowledge that, unfortunately, many doctors and even specialists do not have.

Also remember, this type of certification isn’t even available everywhere. There are many excellent doctors who are not, for whatever reason, board certified in this way.

27 June 2016

“Coming Out” As A Migraine Sufferer (and why we don’t)

James Tips 2

You have migraine? Sssshhhh… don’t tell anyone!

Has anyone ever given you that advice? Well, whether they have or not, chances are good that you’ve been reluctant, at one time or another, to admit that you have migraine.

Wendy Thomas, Chief Executive of The Migraine Trust, tells her story of moving to a small village about 15 years ago. Because of her interest in migraine, she eventually found out that there were six people in the village who suffered from migraine attacks.

But guess what? Not one of them knew that any of the others had migraine!

Closed mouth Why don’t we talk about it? Here are some possible reasons – feel free to add your own.

Superstition: If I talk about it, or even think about it, I might get migraine (or have an attack). If you think that you’re likely to change your physiology and genetics sufficiently just by mentioning to someone that you have migraine disease, or by discussing it with someone, you might also be worried about getting cancer by giving to cancer research.
Bad Memories: Some people don’t want to think about it or talk about it because the memory is painful. Why not be free of migraine when you’re not actually having an attack? Live a “normal” life instead of thinking about the disease?
Fear of disbelief: Some people are afraid (with reason, I’m afraid) that people won’t really believe them – that is, they’ll write off migraine as negative thinking or work avoidance, or “just a headache” (as if a headache is nothing!).
Fear of loss: Loss of a job, loss of friends, loss of opportunities. Will someone think that I can’t be trusted, because I have migraine? That I can’t get the job done? Even if it’s not true, the perception may be there.

These are not all reasons that are easily overcome. And yet, if no one talks about it, the results may be even more negative. Consider:

If no one wants to think about migraine between attacks, no one will want to give to migraine research. (Hey, consider giving a small amount right now – USA residents, UK residents, Other)
If no one talks about migraine, there will be no progress/research. Not just worldwide research, but even understanding your own condition better, and finding better treatments. While you’re in agony may not be the best time to find better solutions.
Talking to your doctor. Guess what? A lot of people will self-medicate for years before ever finding good treatments. Talk to a doctor who knows your medical history. Go to a specialist. Stop putting it off. Make an appointment today.
Feeling alone? Of course, because no one wants to talk about it. No, don’t dwell on it and obsess about it. But it’s a part of your life – be open about it and share, especially with others who are suffering or who have loves ones who are suffering.
Improving the lives of those around us is important. How many other people at your place of work may have migraine, or may in the future? At your school? Place of worship? It may be that you can recommend small improvements that will make life better for someone else.

Listen, this isn’t about selfishly making sure everyone knows how miserable you are. This is about everyone helping everyone.

Are you afraid to talk about migraine? Maybe you’re not ready to shout it out to the world. But maybe you can make a small difference today by talking to a family member, or your doctor. Make a small donation. If nothing else, leave a comment here or on Facebook.