Archives: Summit Talks

Supplements and Natural Alternatives

Key Questions
  • What are some examples of non-pharmacological options if someone is interested in a more natural way to manage their migraine?
  • Should everyone with migraine be taking some form of natural supplement?
  • Why are most people deficient in vitamins and minerals?
  • Would supplements be a good choice even if you have a very healthy diet?
  • Why are some physicians not prone to recommend supplements?
  • What supplements are often recommended for migraine patients?
  • Why is magnesium such a popular supplement for those with migraine?
  • What are some indications that you are deficient in magnesium?
  • What form and dosage of magnesium is usually recommended for migraine patients?
  • How do you know if a certain brand of supplement is reputable?
  • Are any supplements harmful if you are pregnant?
  • Are there certain circumstances where supplements would not be advised?
Interview Notes

Understanding Migraine-Related Mood Disorders

Key Questions
  • Which mood disorders are most commonly linked to migraine disease?
  • Do psychiatric conditions usually appear before migraine disease or vice versa?
  • Why have I been prescribed an antidepressant if I do not suffer from a psychiatric condition?
  • What anxiety disorders are related to migraine disease?
  • What symptoms should I look for if I am not sure if I have anxiety?
  • Is bipolar disorder more common in people who experience the pain and disability of migraine disease?
  • What are some effective therapies for people with migraine disease?
  • Are these therapies covered by insurance?
  • What should I do if my insurance does not cover these therapies?
Interview Notes

Autoimmune Diseases and Facial Pain

Key Questions
  • What is an autoimmune disorder?
  • What kind of doctor can effectively address an autoimmune disorder?
  • What are the most common autoimmune disorders?
  • Does migraine cause autoimmune disorders?
  • What is Sjogren’s syndrome?
  • Is facial pain or allodynia associated with migraine different from Sjogren’s?
  • What does scleroderma have in common with migraine?
  • What role does inflammation play both in migraine and autoimmune disorders?
  • Is there a connection between migraine and either fibromyalgia or lupus?
  • Are there therapies that can be helpful for both migraine and autoimmune diseases?
Interview Notes

Status Migraine: When Pain Doesn’t Stop

Key Questions
  • What is status migraine?
  • How common is status migraine?
  • How can someone with chronic migraine know if they’re having individual daily attacks or one prolonged status migraine?
  • How do low- and high-pressure headaches compare to status migraine?
  • Is medication overuse headache, or rebound headache, sometimes confused with status migraine?
  • Are some people more at risk for status migraine than others? What are some of the risk factors?
  • What is the importance of prevention of migraine, particularly for those prone to status migraine?
  • What can patients do when acute treatment fails?
  • Do patients with status migraine always need to go to the emergency room or urgent care, or is there a backup plan they can follow to self-treat at home?
  • What type of medical professionals are best suited for treating status migraine?
Interview Notes

Migraine and Psychological Comorbidities

Key Questions
  • How would treatment for migraine with a psychologist differ from treatment with a medical doctor?
  • What is the functional model for primary headaches that you have developed?
  • Who can benefit from the functional model?
  • How do we escape the anxiety/pain feedback loop?
  • Does the functional model replace medicinal treatment or work in conjunction with it?
  • Do certain types of anxiety occur more often in people with migraine?
  • Why do comorbid psychiatric conditions increase the risk of migraine disease evolving from episodic to chronic?
  • Are there psychological treatments that can target both depression and migraine disease?
  • What is social support and how does it relate to people with migraine disease?
  • What can we do to increase our resilience?
Interview Notes

Pros and Cons of Blocking CGRP

Key Questions
  • What is CGRP?
  • Why is CGRP significant during a migraine attack and in it’s treatment?
  • What is the link between CGRP and triptans, antibodies and gepants?
  • Which CGRP treatments are preventive and which are for acute use?
  • How do gepants differ from triptans?
  • What is medication overuse headache or rebound headache?
  • What are antagonists, receptors and antibodies?
  • What is the science behind effective drug treatments for the brain/migraine?
  • Are CGRP treatments more effective than other preventive treatments?
  • Are there side effects with CGRP treatment methods?
  • What are the current concerns about using CGRP treatments?
Interview Notes

How Fasting, Weight and Dehydration Affect Your Brain

Key Questions
  • Why can’t people with chronic migraine skip a meal when other people do it all the time?
  • What are the risks of fasting or intermittent fasting for someone living with migraine disease?
  • What is the association between weight and frequency of migraine attacks?
  • What are some important factors related to weight loss that are important for those with migraine to consider when attempting to lose weight?
  • How should the presence of mood issues affect the approach to a weight loss plan?
  • What are important considerations regarding use of a ketogenic diet?
  • How does sufficient water help us to ensure that we’re getting proper functioning of our brain and body?
  • How do you know if you’re dehydrated?
  • How much water do we need to drink and what are additional ways to stay hydrated?
  • What additions to the water we drink might actually be working against hydration?
  • When are hospital-administered IV fluids necessary?
  • How should people living with migraine disease prioritize establishing healthy eating and drinking habits versus searching for food-related triggers?
Interview Notes

Multi-Disciplined Approach to Migraine Management

Key Questions
  • What are some of the obstacles to migraine diagnosis in Europe?
  • What headache specialists are available in England, and are they available in other countries?
  • What is a headache nurse?
  • What specialized clinics or centers are available in Europe?
  • What is your clinic’s approach to a new headache patient?
  • When treating migraine patients, is it a good idea to change only one thing at a time?
  • What are some successful multidisciplinary approaches to treating migraine?
  • What are tailored treatments?
  • What are the responsibilities of the doctor and the patient in treating migraine?
  • Why should patients join headache associations in their countries?
Interview Notes

Disabling Nausea and Cyclical Vomiting

Key Questions
  • When is cyclic vomiting syndrome, or CVS, most commonly diagnosed?
  • Why does migraine affect the stomach at all?
  • Should CVS be viewed as a gastrointestinal or a neurological issue, and then which specialist should the patient see?
  • How often does CVS evolve into more typical migraine over time?
  • What treatments are available for CVS, and how do they differ for adults versus children?
  • What’s the youngest age at which you might see a patient with CVS, and have you seen connections with infants with colic?
  • How can patients improve their quality of life while dealing with CVS?
  • When nausea accompanies migraine, what are some medications that patients could take instead of oral treatments?
  • What can you tell us about the gut-brain connection and how it affects migraine?
  • What can you tell us about the interplay between genetics and environmental factors and pediatric headache?
Interview Notes

CBD Oil for Migraine

Key Questions
  • What is the difference between marijuana and hemp?
  • What are the health benefits of CBD?
  • What are the concerns with using CBD?
  • Should CBD be used as a preventive or acute medication for migraine?
  • What is the connection between neuro-inflammation and migraine?
  • Why don’t we have good studies on the effects of marijuana?
  • How has public opinion on marijuana changed?
  • Is THC more effective for migraine than CBD?
  • What are the difficulties for patients trying to use marijuana in the U.S.?
  • How long would it take to see results from a maintenance dose of CBD or marijuana?
  • Is there a lethal dose of CBD or THC?
Interview Notes

Are Migraine Surgeries Worth It?

Key Questions
  • What type of surgeries are available for people with migraine?
  • What are the Reed and Omega procedures?
  • Is there good evidence for surgeries for migraine?
  • What are some of the side effects or risks for migraine surgery?
  • Are there any life-long restrictions following migraine surgery?
  • How difficult is it to reverse surgery or remove any implanted devices?
  • Migraine surgery-based organizations make a lot of claims. What should we be wary about?
  • Is there an ideal candidate that you would recommend for surgery?
  • Is there a general point at which an implanted device typically stops working?
  • What is Chiari malformation surgery?
Interview Notes

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Key Questions
  • What is neuroplasticity?
  • How does mindfulness meditation help with headache disorders?
  • Are there any negative side effects of mindfulness meditation?
  • Is mindfulness meditation based on religion?
  • What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation?
  • How does meditation change the brain?
  • What is the role of stress in migraine disease and what is the impact of mindfulness meditation?
  • Is there evidence that mindfulness meditation can help with migraine disease?
  • When should a person living with migraine disease consider mindfulness meditation?
Interview Notes