Migraine Mindset: Exploring the Science, Symptoms, and Solutions of Headaches and Migraines with Dr. Chelsea Stone, DO
Apr 27, 2023
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Dr. Chelsea Stone, DO, a specialist in headache medicine, explores the definition, presentation, and treatments for headaches. Topics covered include the connection between mental health and migraines, types and symptoms of headaches, the relationship between sleep apnea and headaches, identifying triggers and sensitivity, the impact of diet on headaches, and advancements in migraine medications and treatments.
Migraines are a neurological syndrome with sensory disturbances, triggers, and a wide range of symptoms.
A comprehensive medical history and understanding headache patterns are crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Advancements in migraine treatment include CGRP antagonists, nerve blocks, and Botox injections, providing hope for patients.
Deep dives
Overview of the Podcast Episode
In this podcast episode, Dr. Chelsea Stone, a board-certified neurologist specializing in headache medicine, joins hosts Aisha and Dean Cherzai to discuss headaches and migraines. They explore the science, symptoms, and solutions of headaches and migraines, emphasizing the importance of understanding triggers, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, and considering non-medicinal interventions such as occupational and physical therapy. They also highlight the prevalence of migraine, the impact on individuals and society, and the gender differences in migraine occurrence. Additionally, they touch upon the role of hormones, pregnancy, and children's headaches, and the importance of proper diagnosis and considering coexisting conditions like sleep apnea.
Distinguishing between Headaches and Migraines
Dr. Chelsea Stone explains that migraines are not just headaches but a neurological syndrome with various symptoms. They distinguish migraines from general headaches by highlighting the sensory disturbances, premonitory symptoms, aura, and postdrome associated with migraines. The discussion sheds light on how migraines can last for hours to days, impact multiple body systems, and be more debilitating than the headache itself. They also mention that migraines are often triggered or exacerbated by factors like stress, hormones, lack of sleep, and certain foods, while recognizing that triggers can vary among individuals.
Considerations for Diagnosis and Treatment
The podcast delves into the diagnostic process for headaches, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive medical history, identifying headache patterns, assessing red flags, and differentiating between primary and secondary headaches. Dr. Stone discusses the challenges of treating headache patients and the need for a multidisciplinary approach. They touch on treatment options, from medication to non-medicinal interventions like occupational therapy, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. The conversation also acknowledges the impact of weight loss, sleep hygiene, and the potential role of dietary modifications, although the evidence regarding diet and headaches is limited.
Medication Overuse Headache
One type of secondary headache called medication overuse headache occurs when patients take acute or abortive medications too frequently. This includes overusing medications like ibuprofen, Tylenol, opioids, and tryptans. Medication overuse headache can make it challenging to treat migraines effectively. It is essential for patients to be aware of medication usage and avoid excessive reliance on acute medications.
New Advances in Migraine Treatments
Recent advancements in migraine treatments offer hope for patients. One promising development is the introduction of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists, which come in various forms including injectables and oral medications. These CGRP antagonists have demonstrated effectiveness in both abortive and preventive therapy for migraines. Additionally, other treatments like nerve blocks and Botox injections are proving to be valuable options. The future of migraine treatment looks promising, with ongoing research exploring different targets and mechanisms to further improve therapeutic options.
This episode is a deep dive into the topic of headache with our colleague, an expert in the field of headache medicine, Dr. Chelsea Stone.
We explored the definition, classification, general presentation, diagnosis and some of the latest treatments available for headaches.
Dr. Stone is a board-certified neurologist with specialty in Headache Medicine. She holds a master’s degree in psychology, completed her neurology residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center and fellowship in headache medicine at University of Soutern California, where she now serves as full time faculty. Dr. Stone understands the unique challenges of chronic pain and takes a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to patient care, with special interest in treating pregnant and lactating women. In addition to patient care, Dr. Stone is very passionate about physician well-being and serves as Assistant Program Director of Wellness for the neurology residency program at LA County + USC and as the Well-being Champion for the Keck neurology department.
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