Session 4 - Migraine in women

Mattias Linde

MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, Norwegian Advisory Unit for Headaches and NTNU Consultant Neurologist, Tjörn Headache Clinic

The group of people most highly burdened by migraine are women of childbearing age, with about 1 in 5 of 30- to 39-year-olds affected.1 The challenge of treatment and prevention during pregnancy and while breast feeding is therefore a frequent one. Fortunately, the frequency of migraine attacks declines towards the time of delivery; however, there is often a marked increase during the puerperium.

References

1. Linde M, Stovner LJ, Zwart JA, et al. Time trends in the prevalence of headache disorders. The Nord-Trondelag Health Studies (HUNT 2 and HUNT 3). Cephalalgia. 2011;31:585-96.

2. Kvisvik EV, Stovner LJ, Helde G, et al. Headache and migraine during pregnancy and puerperium: the MIGRA-study. J Headache Pain. 2011;12:443-51.

3. Steiner TJ, Jensen R, Katsarava Z, et al. Aids to management of headache disorders in primary care (2nd edition): on behalf of the European Headache Federation and Lifting The Burden: the Global Campaign against Headache. J Headache Pain. 2019;20:57. doi: 10.1186/s10194-018-0899-2.

4. Varkey E, Cider A, Carlsson J, et al. Exercise as migraine prophylaxis: a randomized study using relaxation and topiramate as controls. Cephalalgia. 2011;31:1428-38.

5. Varkey E, Hagen K, Zwart JA, et al. Physical activity and headache: results from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). Cephalalgia. 2008;28:1292-7.