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.

04/01/2026

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

03/20/2026

Many people living with a headache disorder hit the same wall: Denied treatments. Forced step therapy. Endless paperwork. Exhaustion.

In our latest NHF Insights episode supported by Lundbeck, headache specialist Dr. Wade Cooper, shares practical guidance on how patients can prepare for provider visits—why bringing a list of medications you’ve tried, timelines, and pharmacy records can help streamline appointments and support treatment decisions.

You can listen to the full NHF Insights episode "Fighting to Feel Better" on YouTube, our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

03/18/2026

If migraine has ever made you feel stuck, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of NHF InSights, we explore what it really takes to access migraine care—and why the process can be so challenging. This patient-centered conversation looks beyond the migraine attack itself and into the real-world barriers people face when trying to get treatment, including insurance denials, step therapy requirements, delays, and changing formularies.

You’ll learn:
- Why treatment delays and insurance denials happen—and how they impact daily life
- How patients can prepare for appointments and advocate for their care
- The role providers play in navigating access challenges
- How advocacy efforts aim to improve access

This conversation isn’t just about what’s broken. It’s about what’s possible when patients, providers, and advocates work together.



Supported by Lundbeck. Content developed independently by the NHF.

Day 7 of the 2026 Migraine World Summit is here.Starting at 3:00 PM ET, four new expert interviews will be released and ...
03/17/2026

Day 7 of the 2026 Migraine World Summit is here.

Starting at 3:00 PM ET, four new expert interviews will be released and available to watch free for 24 hours. Each session features leading clinicians and researchers sharing practical insights on migraine treatment, research, and strategies for managing migraine disease.

Swipe through to see today’s speakers and topics.

Register for free: https://bit.ly/3Szajvm

Please note: This message contains an affiliate link. The event is free to watch live. If you decide to purchase a copy of the interviews, we may receive a portion of the proceeds to help us continue our important work.

03/16/2026

When migraine care hits a wall… what do you do next?

Living with migraine isn’t just about managing pain — it’s about navigating a system full of delays, denials, and dead ends.

In the upcoming NHF Insights episode supported by Lundbeck, we explore what happens when people with migraine are told “no” — and why that answer doesn’t always have to be the end of the road.

Through real patient experience, provider insight, and advocacy expertise, this episode unpacks step therapy, insurance barriers, and the emotional toll of years of trial and error — while spotlighting ways people persist, advocate, and keep going.

Episode releasing 03/18.

Day 6 of the 2026 Migraine World Summit starts today at 3:00 PM ET.Each day of the summit, four expert interviews are av...
03/16/2026

Day 6 of the 2026 Migraine World Summit starts today at 3:00 PM ET.

Each day of the summit, four expert interviews are available to watch free for 24 hours. These in-depth conversations feature leading clinicians and researchers sharing insights on migraine management, treatment options, and living with migraine.

Swipe through to see today’s speakers and topics.

Register for free: https://bit.ly/3Szajvm

Please note: This message contains an affiliate link. The event is free to watch live. If you decide to purchase a copy of the interviews, we may receive a portion of the proceeds to help us continue our important work.

Day 5 of the 2026 Migraine World Summit is here.Starting at 3:00 PM ET, four new expert interviews will be released and ...
03/15/2026

Day 5 of the 2026 Migraine World Summit is here.

Starting at 3:00 PM ET, four new expert interviews will be released and available to watch free for 24 hours. Each session features leading clinicians and researchers sharing practical insights on migraine treatment, research, and strategies for managing migraine disease.

Swipe through to see today’s speakers and topics.

Register for free: https://bit.ly/3Szajvm

Please note: This message contains an affiliate link. The event is free to watch live. If you decide to purchase a copy of the interviews, we may receive a portion of the proceeds to help us continue our important work.

Stay connected with the latest news and resources for the headache community. HeadLines™ is our monthly newsletter creat...
03/14/2026

Stay connected with the latest news and resources for the headache community. HeadLines™ is our monthly newsletter created to keep people informed, empowered, and connected. Each issue shares the latest insights in research, expert guidance, personal stories, and resources that help people navigate life with headache disorders and migraine disease.

Subscribers receive updates on:

• New treatment research and clinical trials
• Expert guidance and educational resources
• Support groups and community programs
• Advocacy efforts to improve access to care
• New podcast episodes and upcoming events

Join our mailing list now and start receiving HeadLines™ each month: https://bit.ly/4cHr4jC

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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.