People who believe they suffer from migraine headaches must be their own advocates in seeking pain relief, according to guidelines announced today. But they're also designed to help patients be their own advocates in seeking that care. The consortium guidelines represent the first national effort to provide a unified, recommended approach to care for a condition that is significantly under-treated. While migraine headaches affect 28 million Americans, about 13 percent of the U.S. population, less than half of migraine sufferers have been diagnosed by a physician. Know your headache diagnosis.
Headaches have many causes.
Recurrent, disabling headaches are usually migraine headaches. Keep a diary to identify when your headaches occur and what seems to trigger them. Find a good doctor. Find a physician who understands the problem and is willing to work with you to find appropriate treatment. Tell your doctor exactly how your headaches affect your life.