The Mother of All Headaches

Tips to Help Mom Manage her Migraines

This year, give mom a Mother's Day gift that will last well beyond May 14, improve her health and allow her to spend more time doing the things she loves-helping her manage her migraines. According to experts, the most severe type of headaches-migraines-are three times more prevalent in women than in men. In fact, an estimated 18 percent of American women (as many as 17 million) say they have experienced a migraine at some point in their lives. Migraines disrupt not only the lives of these millions of women, but also those of their families, colleagues and friends.

"Unfortunately, many mothers minimize or downplay migraines because they feel pressure to be 'Super Mom'," explains women's health expert Donnica Moore, MD, president of the Sapphire Women's Health Group and migraine sufferer. "But migraine pain is very real, and with all the effective treatments available today there's no need for anyone to suffer in silence."

Migraine headache is a chronic condition usually characterized by a throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light or sound or visual disturbances. Dr. Moore suggests the following tips to help ease Mom's pain:

• Taking medicine at the first sign of a migraine attack can go a long way toward minimizing migraine pain and its associated symptoms, so make sure medicine cabinets are always stocked with Mom's migraine medications.
• If Mom feels an attack coming on, give her some much-needed peace and quiet. Migraine sufferers often find that a dark, quiet environment helps keep the attacks under control.
• Help Mom identify her migraine triggers. Some common triggers include foods like chocolate and aged cheese, MSG, alcohol, bright lights and lack of sleep.
• Learn about headache management, prevention tips and treatment options. The Excedrin Headache Resource Center (1-800-EXCEDRIN and on the Internet at www.excedrin.com) is a good place to start.
• Encourage Mom to see her doctor if her headaches become more frequent or severe.

Excedrin Migraine is made by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a diversified worldwide health and personal care company whose principal businesses are pharmaceuticals, consumer medicines, beauty care, nutritionals, and medical devices.