The Author
"Understanding Migraine..." was writtein by Dr. Stewart J. Tepper, Director of the New England Center for Headache, and a top practitioner in the field. He is:
"passionately interested in having people understand that migraine, cluster, and the primary headaches are not "just headaches". They are neurologic illnesses with multiple symptoms and causes. We have dramatically increased our understanding of these disorders, and knowledge is power! We can intervene in a variety of ways to allow people to re-take their lives, and I hope the book and its content can expedite that."
He also told me:
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"I think patient education the most important aspect of care for headaches.
The more people know, the better they can control their headaches, instead
of having the headaches control them."
Since these remarks make Dr. Tepper the kind of doctor we all want, it logically follows that this book is excellent.
Key Topics and Strenghts of the Book
- Explanation of "primary headaches" and diagnostic criteria.
- The Neck and Migraine
- Hormonal factors
- Genetic factors
- Migraine, meds, and pregnancy
- Excellent information about Acute treatment and prevention
- Clear discussion of headaches, including some forms not commonly found in patient-oriented books.
- Evaluating disability
- New areas of research
One of the strongest points of this book is Dr. Tepper's addressing types of headaches and points about headaches and Migraine not always readily found:
- The connection between neck pain and Migraine
- Migraine and comorbidity with other conditions
- Excellent discussion of the role of serotonin
- The usefulness and preference for stratified care
- Breaking rebound headache
- Superb section on cluster headaches
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Hemicrania continua
- New persistent daily headache
- Headache associated with sex, exercise, and cough
Summary
It's been a few years since a good, comprehensive book was written for patients. With so much research in the field, additional medications being found to be effective as preventives, and newly developed triptans, it's time for some new books. A great deal of work and dedication went into this one. Dr. Tepper told me:
"The book was conceived in 1999 (it took 5 years to come to fruition) and designed for the intelligent layperson, patient, or primary care resident or doctor, to help with an overview of primary headaches. The idea was that through understanding, better care for people could be achieved."
In my opinion, the time invested has paid off well in a book that will do a great deal to move readers toward the understanding Dr. Tepper and all of us with headaches and Migraines long for.
Table of Contents
- What Is Migraine?
- Who Gets Migraine?
- The Role of Hormones
- What Causes Migraine
- Evaluating Migraine
- Acute Treatment of Migraine
- Preventing Migraine
- Other Headaches
- New Areas of Research
Appendix: Sources for Information and Support
