What is Migraine Disease?
According to diagnostic criteria established by the International Headache Society, in order to be diagnosed with migraine disease, patients must have had at least 5 headache attacks that lasted 4–72 hours and the attacks must have had at least 2 of the following characteristics:
- Unilateral location
- Pulsating quality
- Moderate or severe pain intensity
- Aggravation by or causing avoidance of routine physical activity
In addition, during the headache the patient must have had at least 1 of the following:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Photophobia and phonophobia
OUR RESOURCES
Migraine Treatments
Abortive therapies are used to treat symptoms when they occur.
- Medication types: NSAIDS, Triptans, Gepants, Ditans, Barbiturates
- Nerve blocks: Greater Occipital Nerve (GON) block, Trigger point injections
- Neuromodulation devices: Cefaly, gammaCore, Nerivio, Relivion, SAVI Dual
Preventive therapies are administered routinely to reduce the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks.
- Medication types: High Blood Pressure Medications, Antidepressants, Anti-seizure medications, Supplements, Vitamins, OnabotulinumtoxinA, Gepants, CGRP Monoclonal Antibodies
- Neuromodulation devices: Cefaly, Nerivio, gammaCore, SAVI Dual
- Behavioral therapies: Cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, mindfulness
Migraine in Children
When a child complains of a headache, the first step should be to take the complaint seriously.
You may think migraine means a bad headache, but head pain is only one symptom of a migraine attack. Migraine disease is a leading cause of disability and can significantly impact a child's quality of life.
Children with migraine may need to skip activities, events, or school until they feel better. Some children may “outgrow” migraine, but more than half of children diagnosed continue to have attacks as adults. This is why getting a diagnosis and learning how to manage migraine is vital for a child’s future.
On our webpage, you can learn about:
Migraine Comorbidities Library
This program explores the relationship between migraine and more than 75 comorbid diseases. Our goal is to bring awareness and education to new audiences, help patients recognize that they may be living with comorbid conditions and strengthen resources through collaboration with other leading organizations.
Each comorbidity has a brief overview on our website and will be linked to a comprehensive blog post. The blog post will share in-depth information about the disease, its relation to migraine, treatments and patient resources from our allied partners.
All blogs are medically reviewed by an expert in the field.
