Headache & Migraine
Chronic headache is a common and distressing disorder that can destroy quality of life. Symptoms include pain, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, smell or touch; affected vision, numbess to the face, hands or feet. Migraine is the most common form of chronic headache, affecting about two million Australians. It can occur just a few times a year, or several times a week. Other forms of chronic headache include cluster headache, nerve headache and head injury headache.
Management
There is no cure for chronic headache but treatments can help reduce the number of episodes. Treatment usually focuses on reducing triggers for headache, which may involve changing diet and sleep habits, reducing stress and using medication or vitamin supplements. Other therapies such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy or yoga can also help, as part of a multidisciplinary pain management approach.
Resources
Websites
- Headache Australia: Australia’s peak body for headache and migraine
- Brain Foundation: Information about brain disorders and advice about keeping your brain healthy
- The migraine trust
Fact sheets
- Headache types: Detailed information about different types of headache, symptoms, triggers and treatment (Headache Australia)
- Headache – Migraine fact sheet: Better Health Victoria
- Headache various fact sheets in several languages (IASP)
- Migraine – A common and distressing disorder (Headache Australia)
- Cluster headaches (APMA)
- Headache (APMA)
Books & other reading
- The Ultimate Headache and Migraine Relief Guide: Free eBook by Body Genius, an Integrative Health Institute in Perth, Western Australia
- Manage Your Pain: Best-selling book about self-management written by a team of Australian health professionals
- The Pain Book: Step-by-step guide to multidisciplinary pain management written by Australian health professionals
- Rewire Your Pain: Book about rewiring your brain and winning back your life written by Australian health professionals
- The Explain Pain Handbook: Book about pain science and pain management written by Australian health professionals
- Visit our Getting Help page for more help & resources
Stories
Katrina: : I've been living with prolonged episodes of debilitating pain since 1986.
Maria: Migraine is devastating but I refuse to give into the pain.
Robert: I went from running a successful consultancy business to living with a disability.
Steve: Being forced to retire was difficult to accept.
Kathleen: When the mother of a family is in pain, everyone suffers.