National Headache Foundation

National Headache Foundation Our story: We support headache & migraine awareness, deliver education, fund research, and inspire advocacy. Non-profit Headaches.org

For over 50 years, our mission at the National Headache Foundation has been to further awareness of migraine and headache disorders as legitimate neurobiological diseases. Much has changed during this time, and with the aid of advanced technology and clinical innovation, there are more treatment options than ever before. However, we understand that these diseases are still largely misunderstood and that finding the right treatment options for you requires nuanced and adaptable insight.

04/24/2026
04/24/2026

Is excessive yawning a sign of a migraine attack? In this clip, Lauren Natbony, MD, explains how symptoms like yawning and overwhelming fatigue can appear as part of the migraine prodrome phase.

Watch the full NHF Insights™ episode "The Link Between Sleep Disorders and Migraine" to learn more about the connection between migraine and sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, fatigue, insomnia, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

You can find previous episodes on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode!

04/22/2026

We are excited to bring this conversation to you during Sleep Apnea Education Week (April 18–26) for this episode of NHF Insights™.

Host Katy Oakley is joined by sleep medicine specialist Audrey Wells, MD, and headache specialist Lauren Natbony, MD, to discuss the connection between sleep disorders and migraine.

The conversation explores how conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, fatigue, and excessive daytime sleepiness may impact migraine attacks, daily functioning, and quality of life and why sleep health may be an important part of migraine management.

To learn more about sleep apnea, visit Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners: https://www.apneapartners.org/

Supported by Axsome Therapeutics. Content developed independently by the NHF.

04/17/2026

In this clip, Dr. Dawn Buse explains how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you align your thoughts and behaviors with what matters most, even while living with migraine disease.

Watch the full HeadWise episode "Behavioral Therapies for Migraine" to learn how behavioral therapies like CBT, biofeedback, relaxation, and mindfulness can support migraine management. You can find previous episodes on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast. Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode!

04/15/2026

Behavioral therapies can play a key role in migraine care.

In this episode of HeadWise, Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by Dawn Buse, PhD, to break down approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback, relaxation training, mindfulness, and ACT. Learn how these strategies help regulate the nervous system, reduce symptoms, and improve quality of life for people living with migraine.

04/14/2026

Dr. Dawn Buse explains how relaxation therapy helps you recognize when your body is in “fight, flight, or freeze” mode and how simple breathing techniques can help calm it.

Taking just 10 seconds to pause and breathe throughout your day can help regulate your nervous system and support better migraine management.

Watch the full episode on Behavioral Therapies releases Wednesday 4/15.

04/03/2026

How often you eat may play a role in migraine. In this clip, we break down why consistent meals can help support stable blood sugar.

Watch the full HeadWise™ episode on blood sugar and migraine to learn more. You can find full episodes of HeadWise on YouTube, Facebook, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode!

04/01/2026

Blood sugar may play a bigger role in migraine disease than many people realize. In this episode of HeadWise™, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, and guest Laurel Short, DNP, explore how blood sugar fluctuations, insulin, and meal timing may impact headache and migraine, along with simple strategies to help keep levels more stable throughout the day.

03/30/2026

Can what you eat, and how your blood sugar responds, play a role in migraine? In this clip from HeadWise™, explore how blood sugar spikes and crashes after eating may contribute to headache and migraine attacks.

Host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD and guest Laurel Short, DNP, discuss how energy, insulin, and the brain may be more connected than you think. Full episode releases Wednesday 4/1.

After receiving treatment for her pseudotumor cerebri, Heather began to have migraine attacks. It took her years to find...
03/29/2026

After receiving treatment for her pseudotumor cerebri, Heather began to have migraine attacks. It took her years to find relief through effective treatment.

🔗 Read Heather's story here: https://bit.ly/3Pvj0c9

The National Headache Foundation brought Operation Brainstorm™ to the National Association of State Directors of Veteran...
03/27/2026

The National Headache Foundation brought Operation Brainstorm™ to the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs Midwinter Conference, where we had the opportunity to connect with State Directors of Veterans Affairs from across the country.

During this session, we shared how Operation Brainstorm™ can be implemented as a free, accessible program to help veterans better understand, manage, and navigate headache disorders and migraine disease.

We also highlighted the importance of expanding provider education through programs like Primary Care Migraine and the Advanced Qualification in Headache Medicine (AQH©), ensuring healthcare providers are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to improve diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care.

As a result of these conversations, we established six new partnerships with Offices of State Directors from New York, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Iowa, and Michigan, as well as with leaders in the U.S. Navy, helping expand access to education and resources for veterans nationwide.

Improving outcomes for veterans means strengthening both sides of care: empowering individuals and supporting the providers who care for them.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate and continue building momentum toward better access to headache care for those who have served.

Special thanks to our team members who represented NHF at the conference Diego Colón
Associate Director, Military Community and Dr. Karen Williams, NHF consultant and Former Deputy Director of the Headache Center of Excellence in Virginia for their leadership and advocacy.

Ava was just nine years old when her life quietly began to change.At the time, she was a competitive gymnast. She was st...
03/22/2026

Ava was just nine years old when her life quietly began to change.

At the time, she was a competitive gymnast. She was strong, active, and constantly in motion. When headache attacks started showing up during practice, she didn’t think much about them. Like many kids, she assumed they were temporary. But the pain didn’t go away. It followed her home, then into the next day, and then the next.

🔗 Read Ava's story here: https://bit.ly/4lBJAMN

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Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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+13122742650

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Our Story

Founded in 1970, the National Headache Foundation is the oldest and largest foundation for patients with migraine disease and headache disorders. The Foundation is the premier educational and informational resource for those with headache, health care providers, and the public. The work of the Foundation is through education, raising awareness, advocacy, and research. At the national and state levels, we are informing policymakers and the general public of the need to help patients get access to safe and appropriate care. We are reaching out to employers throughout the US to provide education for their staff and support in their efforts to minimize the costs and the personal/social impact of chronic headaches. We also hope to educate and encourage the 40 million Americans with migraine and chronic headaches to become self-advocates with their healthcare practitioners, insurers, employers, and families.