Spotlight on Migraine®

Histamine is a hot topic in the migraine community. In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, host Molly O'Brien speaks with neurologist Dr. Lauren Natbony to explore the relationship between histamine and migraine. Learn how histamine works in the body, why allergies and migraine often overlap, and whether antihistamines or low-histamine diets may help some people with migraine. They also discuss...

Dizziness, vertigo, and feeling off balance can be some of the most disabling symptoms of vestibular migraine, but is vestibular therapy the right solution? In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, host Molly O'Brien sits down with physical therapist  Madison Oak,  PT, DPT (aka The Vertigo Doctor ) to break down what vestibular rehabilitation therapy actually is, who it was designed for, and how...

What are your options for migraine prevention, and how do you choose the right one?   In Part 2 of this two-part Spotlight on Migraine series, host Molly O'Brien and headache specialist Dr. Jessica Ailani dive into the full range of migraine prevention treatments available today.   Dr. Ailani breaks down lifestyle modifications, neuromodulation, CGRP-targeted treatments, onabotulinumtoxinA, supple...

You've probably heard about migraine prevention, but what does it actually mean? In Part 1 of this two-part Spotlight on Migraine series, host Molly O'Brien sits down with neurologist and headache specialist Dr. Jessica Ailani to break down the basics of migraine prevention. They discuss types of prevention, who should consider preventive treatment, why reducing migraine frequency matters, and how...

Many people living with migraine know ice and heat can offer relief, but why do these simple tools help? In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, host Molly O'Brien speaks with Alicia Duyvejonck, DNP, AGNP-C, AQH, about the science behind temperature therapy and shares best practices for safely using ice and heat to manage migraine pain.  Read the transcript at: https://www.migrainedisorders.org/...

Do you always seem to get a migraine attack on the weekend or vacation? In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, host Molly O'Brien talks with neurologist Dr. Hope O'Brien about the let-down effect. This common but lesser-known migraine phenomenon can occur when the body shifts from high stress to relaxation. Dr. O'Brien discusses why so many people with migraine experience let-down headaches and...

Living with migraine can affect every part of your professional life — from productivity and job performance to long-term career goals. In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, host Molly O'Brien speaks with clinical psychologist and researcher Dr. Dawn Buse to explore how migraine can impact work, identity, and ambition. Together, they discuss when and how to disclose migraine in the workplace,...

Ever feel irritable, agitated, or restless? Or, on the flip side, exhausted, drained, or shut down? These symptoms may be signs your nervous system is out of balance and they're more connected to migraine, dizziness, and overall well-being than you might think. In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, clinical health psychologist Dr. Emily Kostelnik explains what nervous system dysregulation is,...

Can hypnosis really help with migraine? In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, we explore what hypnosis really is (and isn't) with leading expert Dr. David Spiegel, Associate Chair of Psychiatry at Stanford and founder of the Reveri app. With more than 400 research papers published on hypnosis, Dr. Spiegel breaks down the myths and shares how this drug-free tool may help people living with migr...

Ever wake up with a full-blown migraine attack? Do you find that it is more severe or harder to treat? In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, Dr. Christopher Gottschalk explains why morning attacks can occur, why some treatments sometimes fail to abort the attack, and what treatment options work best. If you've ever opened your eyes to pounding pain, this episode is for you. For more ways to vi...

In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, we talk with nationally recognized disability attorney, Edward Dabdoub, about the legal options available to individuals seeking long-term disability benefits in the U.S for chronic migraine, vestibular migraine and other headache disorders. He breaks down the differences between disability benefits, including long-term disability (LTD), and Social Securit...

Do you always feel migraine pain on the same side of your head? In this episode, we learn what it could mean when migraine attacks occur on the left vs. the right side and why that difference matters. Dr. Adam Sprouse-Blum breaks down the science behind migraine laterality and how it can affect your symptoms. Read the transcript: https://www.migrainedisorders.org/podcast/s7ep2-left-vs-right-migrai...

If you experience both neck pain and migraine, you're not alone! Research shows that up to 60% of people with migraine also have neck pain. But is it a trigger or a symptom?  Dr. Richard Lipton from the Montefiore Headache Center talks about the link between migraine and neck pain, shares effective treatment options, and discusses the latest research on early attack management. Plus, learn about o...

Ever curious why light, sound, smells and touch can be so bothersome when you live with migraine? Migraine really can make you more sensitive! In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, Neura Health medical director Dr. Thomas Berk, MD FAHS explains why people with migraine experience more sensitivities and offers insight on ways to manage them. This content was produced with financial support from...

Have you ever experienced a migraine attack that just won't go away? Or do you live with constant, intractable head pain? When is it time to consider inpatient care? In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, Dr. Merle Diamond from the Diamond Headache Clinic breaks down inpatient migraine treatment. She discusses the admission criteria, what to expect during your stay, available treatment options,...

Do you often get a migraine attack when the barometric pressure drops or during a big storm? Why is that?! In this episode of Spotlight On Migraine, Dr. Shivang Joshi explains how changes in weather and barometric pressure can impact people with migraine. And while you can't control the weather, Dr. Joshi offers some suggestions for how to help manage migraine symptoms when you know a big change i...

Has a doctor ever dismissed you or made you second guess yourself? Have you ever left an appointment thinking, maybe it is all in my head? You might have experienced medical gaslighting. In this episode, licensed clinical health psychologist Dr. Melissa Geraghty explains what medical gaslighting is and the harm it can cause. She talks about red flags to watch out for and offers suggestions for wha...

Yawning, food cravings, mood changes, these could be signs you are in the prodrome or first phase of a migraine attack. In this episode, Dr. Anna Pace discusses what happens in our brain during the prodrome and the symptoms that can occur. And if you've ever wondered if eating chocolate triggers a migraine attack you'll want to hear what she has to say about prodrome food cravings.   Read the tran...

In this episode, leading researcher Dr. Messoud Ashina explains what PACAP is and how it is involved in migraine pathophysiology. He also talks about how it differs from CGRP and why it could be a promising treatment target for migraine and other headache disorders.   Read the transcript at www.migrainedisorders.org/podcast/s6ep5-pacap-as-a-future-migraine-target   *The contents of this podcast ar...

In this episode, dive deeper into the world of migraine disease as we explore Hemiplegic Migraine and Migraine with Unilateral Motor Symptoms (MUMS). Dr. Thomas Berk unpacks the intricacies of these diseases and their differences, while Cannon Hodge shares her personal journey living with MUMS. Read the transcript at migrainedisorders.org/podcast/s6ep4-hemiplegic-migraine-and-mums *The contents of...

In this episode of Spotlight on Migraine, vestibular physical therapist, Dr. Madison Oak, discusses the vestibular system and vestibular therapy. She talks about common vestibular symptoms, including dizziness, vestibular migraine, and offers strategies for how to cope.   Read the transcript at migrainedisorders.org/podcast/s6ep3-conquering-dizziness    *The contents of this podcast are intended f...

In this episode of Spotlight On Migraine, Sam Kelokates, PT, DPT explains how physical therapy can be an option for people living with migraine, physical therapy techniques, potential benefits, and how to get started. Read the transcript at: www.migrainedisorders.org/podcast/s6ep2-physical-therapy *The contents of this podcast are intended for general informational purposes only and does not const...

In this episode of Spotlight On Migraine, Dr. Jennifer Robblee talks about what refractory migraine is, how it differs from other migraine types and what we know about it. Dr. Robblee will also discuss off-label treatments and strategies that she uses. Read the transcript at: https://www.migrainedisorders.org/podcast/s6ep1-refractory-migraine/ *The contents of this podcast are intended for general...

In this episode, Dr. Sait Ashina talks to us about Medication Overuse Headache, also known as Rebound or Medication Adaptation Headache. He discusses how it occurs, who is more likely to develop it, and how to prevent or break the headache cycle. More ways to tune in: www.migrainedisorders.org/podcasts

Service dogs can be a helpful tool for many disabilities and conditions, including migraine disease! Jennifer Kolar from Atlas Assistance Dogs discusses how a migraine service dog can help before and during an attack, plus how to train your pet dog to provide support.   *The contents of this podcast are intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical a...