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.

03/11/2026

In this episode of HeadWise, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by headache medicine specialist Fred Cohen, MD, director of Headache Intervention in New York City and assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to discuss why headache attacks commonly occur during viral illnesses like the flu, COVID, and other infections.

They explore how inflammation and immune responses during illness can trigger headache attacks, why some people experience migraine attacks when they are sick, and why headache attacks can sometimes continue even after the infection has resolved. They offer guidance on recognizing different types of headache attacks and understanding when to seek medical evaluation.

Topics covered include:
- Why headaches commonly occur during viral illnesses
- The role of inflammation and immune response in triggering headache attacks
- How viral infections can trigger migraine attacks in people living with migraine
- The difference between sinus headache, migraine, and viral headache
- What post-infectious headache is and why it can persist after illness
- When to use migraine medication versus over-the-counter treatments
- When to consult a primary care provider, ENT, or headache specialist
- Why recovery timelines can vary from person to person

This episode offers practical insights for people living with migraine disease and headache disorders, as well as those who may develop headache attacks for the first time during or after viral illness.

03/09/2026

Why can headache attacks continue after the flu or COVID? Headache specialist Fred Cohen, MD, and HeadWise host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, discuss post-infectious headache and why symptoms can linger after viral illness.

🎧 Watch the full HeadWise episode releasing Wednesday, March 11.

03/06/2026

Preventive treatment is one of the biggest gaps in migraine care. If a patient has 4 migraine days per month, that’s 48 bad days a year that prevention could potentially reduce.

Learn how primary care can help close this gap in our NHF InSights™: Primary Care/APP series "Why Migraine Care Starts in Primary Care" and "How to Manage Migraine in Primary Care" You can find the episodes on YouTube, Facebook, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

03/05/2026

Most patients living with migraine disease can be effectively managed in their primary care office. In this second episode of NHF InSights™: Primary Care/APP edition, Hope O’Brien, MD, and Andrew Blumenfeld, MD, move from the why to the how of migraine management. From identifying red flags using the SNOOPP framework to understanding when to initiate acute and preventive therapy, this conversation focuses on practical, patient-centered strategies that can be implemented in clinical settings.

They also discuss the risks of medication overuse, the guidance supporting migraine-specific preventive options, and simple documentation strategies that can help navigate insurance barriers.

Migraine is a complex neurological disease that requires proactive, individualized care. Primary care clinicians and advanced practice providers play a critical role in intervening early, and improving quality of life and long-term outcomes.

Supported by AbbVie. Content developed independently by the NHF.

03/04/2026

Primary care clinicians and APPs see the majority of patients living with migraine, and that means they are uniquely positioned to improve outcomes.

In this episode of NHF InSights™: Primary Care/APP edition, Hope O’Brien, MD and Andrew Blumenfeld, MD, discuss why early diagnosis and treatment, prevention-forward care, and mechanism-based treatment decisions matter. From using a simple screening tool like ID Migraine to pre-diagnose, and understanding acute and preventive therapy options, this conversation focuses on practical strategies that can be implemented in clinical settings.

Learn why migraine-specific therapies are now recommended as first-line preventive care and how reducing the frequency of attacks helps prevent long-term disability and disease progression.
Migraine is a complex neurological disease, not “just a headache.” Primary care clinicians and advanced practice providers play a critical role in breaking stigma, intervening early, and improving long-term outcomes.

Supported by AbbVie. Content developed independently by the NHF.

03/03/2026

Migraine remains one of the most disabling neurological diseases worldwide, yet stigma persists, even in healthcare settings.

Because tension-type headache is common and typically mild, it can shape perceptions. But migraine is fundamentally different. It is a complex brain disease that includes not only head pain, but other symptoms that significantly impact occupational and social functioning.

In this upcoming episode of NHF InSights™: Primary Care/APP edition, Dr. Hope O’Brien and Dr. Andrew Blumenfeld discuss how stigma develops, why it persists, and how clinicians can change the narrative by recognizing migraine’s true burden.

Last year, The New York Times published an op-ed by Tom Zeller Jr. titled: “Your Headache Is Serious. Science Should Tak...
02/21/2026

Last year, The New York Times published an op-ed by Tom Zeller Jr. titled: “Your Headache Is Serious. Science Should Take It Seriously.”

In the piece, Zeller, who lives with cluster headache, highlights the stigma, research gaps, and funding disparities surrounding migraine and other headache disorders.

Migraine affects 1 in 7 people worldwide, yet research investment remains disproportionately low.

A thoughtful read on why headache disorders deserve serious scientific attention.

To read the full piece a subscription may be required: https://nyti.ms/4s0DVll

02/20/2026

In this clip from NHF InSights™: Primary Care/APP Edition, host Dr. Jaclyn Duvall and Dr. Stewart Tepper discuss the updated guidance from the American Headache Society supporting migraine-specific treatments, including CGRP monoclonal antibodies and gepants, as first-line preventive therapy for appropriate patients.

With major pharmacy benefit managers removing step therapy requirements, primary care providers now have greater flexibility to prescribe migraine-specific medications earlier in care.

Watch or listen to the full episode "Why Migraine Prevention Matters in Primary Care" on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

02/19/2026

In this episode of NHF InSights™: Primary Care/APP edition, host Jaclyn Duvall, MD, is joined by Stewart Tepper, MD, to discuss the critical role primary care and advanced practice providers play in improving outcomes for people living with migraine.

They explore practical strategies for busy practices, including quick screening approaches, when to start preventive therapy, and how newer migraine-specific treatments are reshaping care. The conversation also reviews updated clinical guidance supporting earlier use of CGRP-targeted therapies and gepants, along with key takeaways from the TEMPLE Phase 3 trial comparing atogepant and topiramate.

This episode highlights how earlier diagnosis, modern treatments, and confident prescribing in primary care can meaningfully improve patient outcomes and quality of life. This episode is supported by AbbVie.

02/19/2026

Primary care clinicians see most people living with migraine and time is limited in every visit.

In this clip, Jaclyn Duvall, MD asks how providers can quickly identify migraine, and Stewart Tepper, MD shares a simple three-question screening approach using ID Migraine. Small tools like this can help clinicians diagnose earlier and start treatment sooner.

Watch the full episode of NHF Insights™: Primary Care/APP edition releasing 02/19

02/13/2026

In this HeadWise clip, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, and Sam Kelokates, PT, DPT, share the first step to exercising with headache disorders: set a goal and begin with a realistic starting point.

Watch the full episode for more strategies on building a safe, sustainable exercise routine. You can find previous episodes of HeadWise on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode!

02/11/2026

In this episode, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by Sam Kelokates, PT, DPT, founder of Kelos Physical Therapy, to discuss how people living with migraine and other headache disorders can approach exercise safely and effectively.

They explore how physical activity can both trigger and help prevent migraine, what the research currently shows, and how to build an exercise routine that supports long-term headache management. The conversation focuses on practical strategies—like setting realistic goals, pacing intensity, planning around triggers, and adapting workouts during different phases of migraine.

Topics covered include:
- How exercise affects migraine frequency, disability, and quality of life
- When it’s safest to exercise in relation to migraine attacks
- Why the nervous system—not just muscles—matters in exercise tolerance
- The “rule of too’s”: too much, too soon, too often, too hard
- How to use pain thresholds to guide activity
- Adapting workouts on bad days and planning for consistency
- Environmental and sensory triggers to consider during exercise
- Treating exercise as part of a long-term migraine management plan

This episode offers practical guidance for people living with migraine, headache disorders, and clinicians supporting them who want to incorporate movement in a safe, sustainable way.

Address

162 W Hubbard
Chicago, IL
60654

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+13122742650

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when National Headache Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

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.