When I volunteered to do an article for the Chronic Pain Support Group’s Newsletter I obviously chose migraine headaches as my topic. After all, I have lived with them as a chronic health condition for over 20 years, and I also suffered migraines as a child and adolescent. On top of that, I had lived with migraines as a "family" topic, something discussed frequently by the adults when I was younger, and then by myself too. I was used to migraines affecting our family’s ability to do social things and how often my Grandma or Aunt would be very ill with a migraine and so obviously in great discomfort; and I knew my Dad also had frequent headaches though not as severe as the female members of the family.

What I didn’t know when I volunteered to write this article is how much information there is available on migraines, not only from my own personal experience and books and literature I have collected over the years; but also now the incredible amount of information available on the internet. My biggest problem was what to do with all this great and helpful info!! After finding out from SunE that a shorter article was preferred, or perhaps a two-part article, I had to re-think how I was going to write this. So what I have decided and what is here before you is some basic information on migraines, their history and description and how a diagnosis is made; some key points on women and migraines and children and migraines; and basic information on the medications used to treat migraine headaches. Also included are some common triggers for migraine headaches and some interesting facts on the topic. From there, rather than re-invent the wheel, I have visited 5 top web sites dealing with migraines and headaches and have given you a good idea of what is available on each web site, they are all worth visiting, their information is impressive, copious and up-to-date. Further to that, as a charter member of the Migraine Association of Canada, I have quite a comprehensive collection of their Newsletters entitled "Headlines". These are first-rate publications and cover a wealth of topics with well-written articles by physicians and others. Since I would have needed permission to include any part of their articles here, and that would simply be re-typing what is already available, I have included a comprehensive listing of the articles available in these Newsletters which span over 5 years. I would like to make these Newsletters available to the Chronic Pain Support Group members as a reference library of sorts on migraine headaches; and to do that I am willing to accept requests from individual members for information on any articles they would find helpful to themselves. Since I cannot photocopy these articles and re-distribute them without getting into potential trouble due to copyright laws, I would send the member an e-mail covering key points included in the article. I would also include web site addresses where the member could find information on that topic themselves. I would like to offer this as a way of offering help to those fellow sufferers of migraines, or those with loved ones with migraines. I have received great help, support and friendship from the CPSG myself, and this would be a way of saying "Thanks" from me!

Disclaimer: Before I begin, I must inform you that the information in this article has been taken from articles, books and personal experience about migraine. However I am not a physician or health professional, and I encourage anyone with questions about migraine headaches to consult their physician for information directly related to them. Please do not self-treat yourself with any information from this article or any other informal information you may find, including books on migraines. Please see your own physician or health professional!

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