Migraine and Headache Info for Clinicians

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First Contact – Headache in Primary Care

For primary care practitioners, access to helpful, accurate and timely information is essential to identifying and treating headache disorders, including migraine.

The goal of First Contact – Headache in Primary Care, powered by the American Headache Society, is to provide educational resources to empower healthcare professionals and improve headache and migraine care for their patients.

8 Things to Know About Migraine

Family physicians, internists, OBGYNs, pediatricians, PAs, NPs, and other allied healthcare providers can browse a variety of free resources on topics like Diagnosing Migraine, Acute and Preventive Migraine Treatment Options, Pediatric Migraine and Migraine, Pregnancy, & Lactation.

All resources are curated by leaders in headache medicine. We encourage providers in all stages of their careers to utilize our programming and educational tools to improve patient care and develop expertise in the field of headache medicine.

Learn more about all the resources we have to offer.

of patients consult their primary care provider for migraine

Must-Read Resources

Check out our curated selection of must-read resources on migraine and other headache disorders. We focus on the basics of diagnosing and treating head pain and link out to helpful reference materials that you can bookmark and refer to as needed.

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Bring Headache and Migraine Education to Your Institution

The flagship offering of the Headache in Primary Care program is our one-hour presentation, tailored to your audience’s needs and delivered by experts in headache care.

Watch the presentations on demand or bring them to your institution at no charge. We provide the speakers, slide materials, and can provide Zoom capabilities for a virtual presentation. In support of the talk, participants will have access to an ever-growing library of resources for managing headache in a primary care setting.

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Diagnosing Migraine Navigating Work Up Neuromodulation Treatment For Migraine Acute Treatment for Migraine Preventive Migraine Treatment Behavioral Treatment for Migraine Lifestyle Modification for Migraine Medication Overuse Headache Migraine with Aura Vestibular Migraine Pediatric Migraine Migraine in Adolescent Patients Migraine, Contraception, & Menstrual Cycle Migraine, Pregnancy, & Lactation Migraine in the Elderly

Video Library

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20 Common Migraine Myths Webinar

In this educational webinar, Adam Sprouse Blum, MD, debunks 20 common migraine myths. Tune in for a discussion on migraine myths and solutions to counteract these misconceptions.

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News and Articles

An overview of the Traffic Light of Headache system for helping patients prevent headache attacks from becoming debilitating.Read More

Andrew Hershey, MD, PhD, FAHS, walks through the characteristics of headache and how they are classified, as well as how to explain them to patients.Read More

Research extracting age, race/ethnicity, sex-standardaized and socioeconomic data characterizes the prevalence of migraine and headache.Read More

Jessica Ailani, MD, FAHS, discusses how to get honest answers from patients about their OTC migraine treatment strategies and ways to better inform them.Read More

Stewart Tepper, MD, FAHS, walks through what needs to be considered when determining acute migraine treatment plans for patients.Read More

Poor sleep habits and migraine continue to be linked as more advanced technology allows physicians to reveal a stronger connection.Read More

Stephanie J. Nahas, MD, FAHS, MSEd explains how migraine prevention and patient education go hand in hand.Read More

Elizabeth Seng, PhD, FAHS, recently spoke with the American Headache Society about cognitive behavioral therapy and its place in migraine treatment.Read More

A new study demonstrated the feasibility of developing a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program specifically for migraine patients.Read More

The future of pain management looks bright. Michael Oshinsky, PhD, discusses the future of neuromodulation technology in this Q&A.Read More

Randolph Evans, MD, FAHS spoke to us about the significance of the recently updated guidelines for neuroimaging in migraine for patients with headache.Read More

Umer Najib, MD, FAHS, shares who is a suitable candidate for non-invasive neuromodulation and explains how to gauge treatment success.Read More

Dips in estrogen cause many patients to seek out hormonal balancing methods such as contraceptives as a form of treatment.Read More

Lauren Doyle Strauss, DO, FAHS, talks treating pediatric migraine in this interview from the 2018 Scottsdale Headache Symposium.Read More

Dr. Christina Szperka on the prevalence of pediatric migraine and how treatment options for kids differ from how we treat adults.Read More

Research from Headache suggests education on lifestyle factors may be an effective, low-cost method for treating chronic headache in youth.Read More

New research suggest that single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (sTMS) may be safe and effective for patients ages 12 to 17.Read More

A new study sought to examine available research to confirm whether there is a synergism between migraine and oral contraceptives related to stroke risk.Read More

Podcasts

The First Contact – Headache In Primary Care podcast breaks down topics in headache medicine for primary care providers and other healthcare professionals seeing patients with migraine and other headache disorders.

Listen to the First Contact Podcast Here

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Asking the Right Questions to Diagnose Migraine

Dr. Brian Plato explains how providers can diagnose migraine through a systematic set of questions to feel confident in their diagnosis.

Treating and Preventing Migraine

What acute and preventive medication options are there for people living with migraine? Dr. Olivia Begasse De Dhaem provides an overview of the different types of medications, from NSAIDS to triptans.

Behavioral Treatment for Migraine

Behavioral treatments for migraine, including biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation, have shown great effectiveness for migraine. Learn more about these treatments on this episode.

Busting Myths About Migraine

Join Dr. Thomas Berk as he busts five migraine myths and introduces a bonus sixth misconception about migraine which he calls “the mother of all myths.”

Frequently asked questions about hormones and migraine

About 60% to 70% of women with migraine experience attacks associated with hormonal changes. Listen to this episode for answers to some common questions about hormones and migraine.

Discussing hormones and contraception with migraine patients

Many women with migraine report attacks just before and during their period. Join Dr. Susan Hutchinson and Dr. Catherine Stika as they discuss how to diagnose and treat menstrual migraine.

How to Support Patients with Migraine who are Preparing for Pregnancy

Pregnancy can significantly impact migraine symptoms. Dr. Deena Kuruvilla, Dr. Susan Hutchinson and Dr. Catherine Stika explain how to provide pre-pregnancy counseling for migraine patients in this episode.

Pregnancy and Migraine Management (Part One)

From changes in medications to treatment at home, find out how to help women manage their migraine while pregnant.

Pregnancy and Migraine Management (Part Two)

What are some headache red flags that migraine patients should look out for while pregnant? Learn more from Dr. Susan Hutchinson and Dr. Catherine Stika about helping women with migraine manage pregnancy.

Special Populations: Migraine during Pregnancy

How does this affect family planning and pregnancy? Hear from Dr. Tracy Grossman on helping women manage migraine through pregnancy.

Special Populations: Migraine in Children

Migraine affects 39 million people in the United States, and one in 11 children have migraine. On this episode, pediatric neurologist Dr. Lauren Strauss explains diagnosis, lifestyle changes and treatments for children with migraine.

Headache Management over Telemedicine

Dr. Robblee shares tips for preparing a patient for a virtual visit, conducting a neurological exam over video, keeping patients out of the emergency room and more.

Surprising Truths about Migraine Epidemiology

How does this affect family planning and pregnancy? Hear from Dr. Tracy Grossman on helping women manage migraine through pregnancy.

Red Flags in Headache: What if it isn't Migraine?

About 80-90% of the headaches are primary headaches, but the other 10-20% are secondary—caused by something else, usually an underlying condition or side effect of medication. This episode, Dr. Rebecca Michael dives into the “red flags” to look out for when making a diagnosis.

Prescribing a Migraine-friendly Lifestyle

Patients are often surprised by how much a lifestyle change can improve the severity and frequency of their migraine attacks. Find out what kinds of changes, from diet to exercise, Dr. Fred Cohen recommends sharing with patients.

The Complicated Relationship Between Migraine and Psychiatric Disorders

People dealing with migraine and psychiatric disorders need informed care from a primary care provider who understands the nuances and connections between these conditions. Learn about the relationship between migraine and psychiatric disorders with Dr. Noah L. Rosen.

A Closer Look Into the Visual Symptoms of Migraine

Approximately 33% of patients with migraine experience fully reversible visual (most common), sensory, or other central nervous system symptoms—known as aura—prior to or during migraine attacks. Get answers to common questions about migraine aura from Dr. Kathleen B. Digre.

Examining the Link Between Dental Pain, Orofacial Pain and Migraine

Whether or not a patient has been diagnosed with migraine, it can be difficult to determine if orofacial pain needs attention from a dentist or orofacial pain specialist. What type of doctor should someone with orofacial pain see? How do you distinguish orofacial pain from migraine? Dr. Marcela Romero-Reyes answers these questions and more.

Navigating Emergency Treatment for Patients With Migraine

When migraine or headache pain is at its peak and usual treatments aren’t effective, patients often turn to the emergency department for relief. In this episode, Dr. Benjamin W. Friedman discusses headache red flags that warrant referring to the ED, treatments that are administered to patients with migraine in the ED and more.

What Primary Care Providers Should Know About Newer Migraine Medications

In recent years, many new medications have been developed and approved for the treatment of headache and migraine disorders. Dr. Claire Sandoe and Dr. Michael J. Marmura review each of these new agents to help primary care providers feel comfortable incorporating them into their treatment plan.

Resource Library

Filter Categories

First Contact – Headache in Primary Care

Must-Read Resources

Bring Headache and Migraine Education to Your Institution

Headache Topics

Video Library

20 Common Migraine Myths Webinar

20 Common Migraine Myths Webinar

Migraine in Pregnancy Webinar

Menstrual Migraine Webinar

Migraine in Pediatrics Webinar

Migraine and Sleep Webinar

Phases of Migraine

Preventive Treatments for Migraine

Explaining the Importance of Routine

Headache 101 with Dr. Andrew Hershey

Migraine Symptoms on Non-headache Days

Changes in Headache History: When to be Concerned

Over-the-Counter Medications

Clinical Pearls on Migraine Prevention

Preventive Migraine Treatment: How to Counsel Patients

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Migraine: Q&A with Elizabeth Seng, PhD

Treating Pediatric Migraine

News and Articles

Podcasts

Asking the Right Questions to Diagnose Migraine

Treating and Preventing Migraine

Behavioral Treatment for Migraine

Busting Myths About Migraine

Frequently asked questions about hormones and migraine

Discussing hormones and contraception with migraine patients

How to Support Patients with Migraine who are Preparing for Pregnancy

Pregnancy and Migraine Management (Part One)

Pregnancy and Migraine Management (Part Two)

Special Populations: Migraine during Pregnancy

Special Populations: Migraine in Children

Headache Management over Telemedicine

Surprising Truths about Migraine Epidemiology

Red Flags in Headache: What if it isn't Migraine?

Prescribing a Migraine-friendly Lifestyle

The Complicated Relationship Between Migraine and Psychiatric Disorders

A Closer Look Into the Visual Symptoms of Migraine

Examining the Link Between Dental Pain, Orofacial Pain and Migraine

Navigating Emergency Treatment for Patients With Migraine

What Primary Care Providers Should Know About Newer Migraine Medications

Resource Library

Flowchart: Diagnosing and Treating Migraine

How to Diagnose Migraine

International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), 3rd Edition

When does a Patient with Headache Need a Workup?

The American Headache Society Position Statement On Integrating New Migraine Treatments Into Clinical Practice

How Do I Choose Acute Treatment Medication Options for Migraine Patients?

How Do I Help my Patient Choose the Right Preventive Treatment?

How Do I Discuss Lifestyle Recommendations with my Migraine Patient?

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Practice Guidelines

How to Identify Migraine with Aura

What is Vestibular Migraine?

Migraine Associated Vertigo

How Do I Discuss Hormones with my Migraine Patients?

Treating Pediatric Headache

Migraine Variants

Behavioral Treatment Resources for Patients

Comparing Neuromodulation Devices

Treatment for Women With Migraine

Migraine and Pregnancy

Headache in Primary Care CME Page

Migraine in Pediatrics CME Page

A Woman's Migraine Journey CME Page