CHICAGO, June 25 /PRNewswire/ — In response to news reports that Shawn Southwick King, wife of CNN host, Larry King, is allegedly being treated for medication use related to migraine, the National Headache Foundation today issued the following statement.
Migraine is not a daily headache and the use of any acute medications on a daily or near daily basis is not recommended.
Pain killers are not the optimal treatment for migraine. There are migraine-specific medications known as the triptans (there are currently seven on the market), which target the migraine mechanism. This type of medication is taken at the first sign of the migraine. If migraines are frequent or severe, prophylactic medication can be prescribed and is taken daily whether or not a headache is present.
If headache impacts one’s ability to perform at work, household chores or leisure activities and/or impairs one’s quality of life, it is recommended that an appointment should be made with a healthcare professional for headache diagnosis and treatment.
Migraine affects nearly 30 million Americans and seventy percent of migraine sufferers are women. We encourage those who would like more information on the symptoms and treatments for migraine and other headache pain to visit http://www.headaches.org/.
About The National Headache Foundation
The National Headache Foundation, founded in 1970, is a non-profit organization which exists to enhance the healthcare of headache sufferers. It is a source of help to sufferers’ families, physicians who treat headache sufferers, allied healthcare professionals and to the public. The NHF accomplishes its mission by providing educational and informational resources, supporting headache research and advocating for the understanding of headache as a legitimate neurobiological disease. For more information on headache causes and treatments, visit http://www.headaches.org/ or call 1-888-NHF-5552 (M-F. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT).
Dr. Seymour Diamond, Executive Chairman, National Headache Foundation, is the director and founder of the Diamond Headache Clinic and the director of the Inpatient Headache Unit at Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago. He is also Adjunct Professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Diamond has served as editor for 16 publications. He serves as editor-in-chief of the journal, Headache and Pain. Additionally, he has published more than 300 articles in professional literature and has authored or co-authored more than 30 books. Dr. Diamond received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School.
Dr. Merle Diamond, Board of Directors, National Headache Foundation, is Associate Director at the Diamond Headache Clinic and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, at the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Diamond attended Northwestern University, where she completed a residency program in both Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine. She is board certified in internal medicine, and has been trained and practiced in emergency medicine. Dr. Diamond is a recipient of the Subspecialty Certification for Headache Medicine from the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties.
CONTACT: Suzanne E. Simons Ketura Lispi Executive Director Vox Medica National Headache Foundation (215) 925-9901, ext. 1426 (312) 343-6479 [email protected] [email protected]
National Headache Foundation
CONTACT: Suzanne E. Simons, Executive Director National HeadacheFoundation, +1-312-343-6479, [email protected]; Ketura Lispi of Vox Medicafor National Headache Foundation, +1-215-925-9901, ext. 1426,[email protected]
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