Headaches are one of the most common medical ailments in the world. Migraine, or its less frequent variation, cluster headache, can be extremely painful and debilitating.
A team of University of Toledo Health professionals, including neurologists, a nurse practitioner, pharmacist, pain psychologist, and physical and recreation therapists, invites headache sufferers in the campus community to participate in a free eight-week wellness program to learn techniques for managing headache pain.
Meetings will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays starting Nov. 2.
“We are using an interdisciplinary approach to helping individuals live better with headache disorders,” said Dr. Gretchen Tietjen, Clair Martig Chair and Distinguished Professor of Neurology, and director of the UTMC Headache Research and Treatment Center. “Over the course of the series, participants will be given strategies for preventing and alleviating headache symptoms.”
Topics covered will include an overview of headache disorders, cognitive behavior therapies, recreational and physical therapies, pharmaceutical options, and the importance of sleep. Participants will set personal goals and develop action plans based on the information presented.
Tietjen said the goal of the program is to educate headache sufferers about potential triggers and provide simple lifestyle changes that can have a big impact on the frequency and severity of headaches.
“To determine whether the program improves quality of life, we will interview participants before the program and three and six months later. The information we gather will help us tailor the program to better meet the needs of headache sufferers in our community.”
The group plans to repeat the program multiple times throughout the year and open it to the public in 2017.
Call 419.383.3544 to register.
