National Headache Awareness Week - June 1-7!

I am so happy to be blogging with you today about the National Headache Foundation (NHF) and National Headache Awareness Week (NHAW), which takes place June 1-7.  You may be wondering what the NHF is.  We were established in 1970 as a non-profit organization by a group of physicians who understood the need for an organization to provide support and information to all types of headache sufferers. 

So who are we today? Our Mission Statement says that the NHF exists to enhance the healthcare of headache sufferers. It is a source of help to sufferers' families, physicians who treat headache sufferers, allied healthcare professionals and to the public. The NHF accomplishes its mission by providing educational and informational resources, supporting headache research and advocating for the understanding of headache as a legitimate neurobiological disease.  How do we do this?  By offering information on newly approved treatments, updates on headache-related research, an award-winning newsletter-NHF Head Lines, an award-winning Web site- www.headaches.org, support groups, an email pen pal program, educational resources for your healthcare providers and much more.

NHAW has been conducted annually since 1993 and has three goals:

• to gain recognition of headache pain as a real neuro-biological condition,
• to encourage sufferers to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment, and
• to let sufferers know that there are new treatments available.

During National Headache Awareness Week, a series of free events across the country will take place including headache screenings, educational seminars led by expert physicians, menstrual migraine awareness events, a 5-part podcast series focusing on women's headache issues, a radio news release and the launch of a non-profit NHF channel on YOUTUBE.  You can check out the updated list of events on our Web site www.headaches.org.

This year, the NHF is encouraging sufferers to Get a Head S.T.A.R.T on Your Headaches, offering five easy-to-remember strategies for effective headache management and treatment:

• Seek diagnosis - Obtaining the correct diagnosis for your headache is the first step toward effective treatment.
• Triggers - Identify and track your triggers (e.g., foods, stress, hormonal and weather changes) by keeping a headache diary and share this information with your healthcare provider.
• Advocate - Be an advocate. Be informed. Be a participant in your headache care.
• Resources - Utilize the National Headache Foundation as a resource. Visit www.headaches.org for the latest information about headache causes and treatments, or call 1-888-NHF-5552.
• Treatment - Successful treatment may include medications and lifestyle changes. Work with your healthcare provider to find the right plan for you.

For the first time, this year's campaign is drawing specific attention to menstrual migraines by designating Wednesday, June 4^th as Menstrual Migraine Awareness Day.  In support of Menstrual Migraine Awareness Day efforts, the NHF will also be releasing new survey data from a recent poll of our website respondents as well as participating in an event at the McDonald's LPGA Championship in Havre de Grace, MD with Tour Pro and Menstrual Migraine Sufferer Diana D'Alessio as part of the PARtnering Against Menstrual Migraine campaign..