NHS Grampian to host free migraine information session

NHS Grampian is working with The Migraine Trust to host an online information session for people in North-east Scotland with the aim to improve the treatment and management of migraine in the region.

Around 1 in 7 people in the UK are living with migraine, however diagnosis and management are not always very straight forward.

Migraine is more than ‘just’ a headache. Dr David Watson, a GP with special interest in headache, said: “Migraine can be incredibly debilitating. Migraine is a neurological condition which features amplification of a number of sensory pathways. It is a common and complex condition with a wide variety of symptoms which can last for between 4 and 72 hours.

“The main feature of migraine is a painful headache, but other symptoms include disturbed vision, sensitivity to light, sound and smells, nausea and vomiting. The symptoms will vary from person to person and during different attacks. Some studies suggest that genetic components contribute to susceptibility to the condition.

"However, we do know certain situations can trigger migraine, again these can vary from person to person but may include stress, missing meals, menstrual cycle, poor sleep and diet”.

The online information session, taking place on Wednesday 31 January between 7-8.30pm, will be led by pharmacist Abigail Duthie, Dr Watson, and Neurology Consultant Dr Callum Duncan. They will discuss how migraine happens, what the current and new treatment options are and how people living in Grampian can access support.

This is a free event for anyone in Grampian who wants to understand more about migraine and how they can manage the condition. Please email gram.transformationteam@nhs.scot if you would like to obtain a registration link.

Rob Music CEO of The Migraine Trust added: “We know that despite being so common, people with migraine can struggle to access the care and treatment they need, whilst there’s a real lack of public understanding around the causes of migraine. We are pleased to be supporting this event to help people in Grampian better understand their condition as well as how to access treatments locally. I would encourage anyone living with migraine to attend

More information on migraine and how to manage it is available at nhsgrampian.org/migraine

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