Women's Health: Migraines And Headaches

Course overview

Headache is a neurological disorder with symptoms that can range from mild to disabling. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain, usually on one or both sides of the head, nausea, and sometimes, disturbed vision. This INR/Biomed home study course on Migraines & Headaches enables clinicians and caregivers to identify and discuss management of headache, particularly the various types of migraines: (a) migraine without aura (common migraine), (b) migraine with aura (classic migraine), (c) familial hemiplegic migraine, and (d) basilar migraine. It also delves into the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of tension headaches, cluster headaches, and post-traumatic headaches; i.e. those that develop after an auto accident or other physical trauma. The course concentrates particularly on migraine headache in women. Women are three times more likely than men to suffer from migraine headache; almost 9 million women have episodes each year, and over 3 million have more than one attack per month. The course offers the most recent findings about the hormonal and life stage links to migraine in women. A thorough overview of the pathophysiology of migraine is included. The course also details new research on migraines as a risk factor for stroke, and the increased risk for stroke in women who take birth control pills and also suffer from migraines. Recent findings on triggers for migraine are discussed in detail, including stress and diet. Therapy for headache, including the non-migraine categories of headache, is specified in the course. Included is the latest research on drugs, biofeedback, exercise, discontinuation of oral contraceptives, and avoidance of various foods or beverages. Alleviatives and abortives such as non-prescription analgesics are discussed as well as more potent drugs such as triptan, ergotamine, dihydroergotamine (DHE), and opioids. A final section discusses rebound headaches resulting from medication abuse (including OTC medications).