Tag: NHF

Coping, News & Research, Resources, Society, Treatment, Triggers

National Headache Awareness Week: Get a Head S.T.A.R.T. on Your Headaches

Kerrie Smyres

In recognition of the 15th annual National Headache Awareness Week, the National Headache Foundation (NHF) is announcing a series of events across the country in order to educate the public about types of headache and their impact on daily living, as well as stressing the importance of seeking an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatments. This year’s National Headache Awareness Week takes place June 1-7, 2008. Nearly 21 million people were reached last year through this successful annual campaign.

“One of our primary goals during National Headache Awareness Week is to gain recognition of headache pain as a real and legitimate condition,” said Dr. Seymour Diamond, Executive Chairman of the National Headache Foundation. “Over 45 million Americans get chronic, recurring headaches. Of this number, nearly 30 million have migraine headaches.”

Activities taking place across the country this week include headache screenings, educational seminars led by expert physicians, menstrual migraine awareness events and a 5-part podcast series focusing on women’s headache issues, a radio news release and the launch of a non-profit NHF channel on YouTube.

This year, the NHF is encouraging sufferers to “Get a Head S.T.A.R.T. on Your Headaches,” offering five easy-to-remember strategies for effective headache management and treatment:

  • Seek diagnosis — Obtaining the correct diagnosis for your headache is the first step toward effective treatment.
  • Triggers — Identify and track your triggers (e.g., foods, stress, hormonal and weather changes) by keeping a headache diary and share this information with your healthcare provider.
  • Advocate — Be an advocate. Be informed. Be a participant in your headache care.
  • Resources — Utilize the National Headache Foundation as a resource. Visit www.headaches.org for the latest information about headache causes and treatments, or call 1-888-NHF-5552.
  • Treatment — Successful treatment may include medications and lifestyle changes. Work with your healthcare provider to find the right plan for you.

For the first time, this year’s campaign is drawing specific attention to menstrual migraines by designating Wednesday, June 4th as National Menstrual Migraine Awareness Day. In support of Menstrual Migraine Awareness Day efforts, the NHF will also be releasing new survey data from a recent poll of its website respondents suffering from menstrual migraine.

Additionally, the NHF is hosting a five-part podcast series specifically addressing women’s headache issues including Hormones & Headache, Contraception & Headaches, Pregnancy & Headache, Menopause & Headaches and Menstrual Migraine. Podcasts and expert questions and answers are available through links on the National Headache Awareness Week page.

This post is adapted from a National Headache Foundation press release. -Kerrie

Doctors, News & Research, Treatment

Nominate Your Headache Care Provider for The National Headache Foundation’s Healthcare Provider of the Year Award

Kerrie Smyres

There’s still time to nominate your favorite headache care provider for the National Headache Foundation‘s Healthcare Provider of the Year Award. Submissions are due March 14.

The National Headache Foundation Healthcare Provider of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding healthcare provider. The award is open to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses serving patients with headaches and practicing in the United States or U.S. territories. Patients, friends and co-workers may nominate healthcare providers. A selection committee compiled by the National Headache Foundation will judge nominations based on the following criteria:

NOMINATION CRITERIA

Scope of Care
Nominee must be a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or and nurse who cares for or serves patients with headaches.

Quality of Care
The nominee must demonstrate a high level of clinical expertise and a commitment to improving healthcare delivery to headache sufferers.

Dedication
The nominee must have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to patients with headaches during the year and throughout his or her career.

The Healthcare Provider of the Year Selection Committee will review all nominations. Current members of the National Headache Foundation board of directors and staff are not eligible to participate as nominees in the Healthcare Provider of the Year program.

The nomination form (with applicable attachments) must be postmarked or received at the National Headache Foundation office no later than March 14, 2008.

Nominations can be submitted via email to nhf1970@headaches.org. Completed nomination forms can also be mailed to:

National Headache Foundation – Healthcare Provider of the Year
820 N. Orleans, Suite 217
Chicago, IL 60610-3132

For additional information, please call (888) NHF-5552 or email info@headaches.org.

Nomination Form (Word file)
Nomination Form (PDF)

Doctors, Meds & Supplements, Patient Education, Resources, Symptoms, Treatment, Triggers

National Headache Foundation Answers Frequently Asked Questions

Kerrie Smyres

In one comprehensive page, the National Headache Foundation responds to common questions about migraine as well as tension-type, cluster, sinus, rebound headaches. The short answers include links to comprehensive information. Questions include:

  • Does weather affect migraines?
  • What are the triptans?
  • What alternative therapies are used to treat migraine?
  • What is biofeedback?
  • Are headaches hereditary?
  • What type of doctor should I see to diagnose and treat my headache?
Community, Doctors, Patient Education, Resources, Treatment, Triggers

Ask the Expert About Headaches & Migraines: National Headache Awareness Week

Kerrie Smyres

A daily Q&A with headache experts is being posted each day of National Headache Awareness Week. Submitted by patients, questions cover the gamut of headache topics. Some so far: sinus headaches, sudden onset headaches, new daily persistent headache, headaches triggered by sun or sex, and burning and tingling in the back of the head.

Q&As from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are available as Word (doc) files. Many more questions are covered in past issues of NHF Head Lines, the organization’s newsletter. Read archives of readers’ mail and Ask the Pharmacist.

I’m often asked for recommendations of headache clinics or specialists, but only have experience with a few. The experts participating in this week’s Q&A are listed below with links to their clinics.