International Headache Congress being held in the city next month

Doctors will speak about latest therapies and medications and hold seminars

It’s more common than diabetes, asthma and knee osteoarthritis combined.

The migraine — it’s one of more than 200 different types of headaches, and according to Dr. Siân Spacey, neurologist and director of the University of B.C. Headache Clinic, “by far and away” the most common type, experienced by about 20 per cent of women in their reproductive years.

Spacey will speak about migraines at the International Headache Congress, which is set for Sept. 7 to 10 in Vancouver, and take part in a question-andanswer session with colleagues from Harvard Medical School, Columbia University Medical Center and the University of California, Los Angeles.

The congress is titled New Horizons in Headache and will be the 18th congress held by the International Headache Society.

“It’s incredibly valuable, really,” Spacey said of the congress. “It just keeps us all up to date on the best possible therapy for our patients.”

Spacey said most people have experienced the pain of a headache, from a minor tension headache to a moderate to severe migraine, and there are a variety of causes and symptoms.

Patients who have migraines often have a lower threshold for headaches due to genetics or head injury. Triggers in the environment can cause headaches — on the West Coast many people find changes in barometric pressure, particularly in the winter, a pain. Skipping meals, certain foods or a poor night’s sleep can also cause headaches.

Underlying health conditions, such as obesity, anemia and thyroid dysfunction, can predispose people to migraines.

An unfortunate few — about two per cent of the population — suffer from chronic migraines, which mean they have headaches for 15 or more days every month that can be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and sound or light sensitivity.

“Their quality of life is significantly impacted,” said Spacey.

Lifestyle changes can help prevent headaches, including sleeping well, exercising, lowering stress, changing diet and taking supplements. People with severe headaches may have to rely on medication for prevention and treatment.

Spacey said she looks forward to attending basic science sessions that help attendees to think about headaches differently, plus the latest therapies and medications to prevent and treat migraines.

“It’s quite an exciting time,” she said.

FREE PUBLIC SEMINAR

Spacey and Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, director of the Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program, will hold a free public seminar in conjunction with the International Headache Congress called Migraine Myths, Realities and Treatments from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 10.

Register at migrainecanada.org or on the Migraine Canada Facebook page.

It’s incredibly valuable, really. It just keeps us all up to date on the best possible therapy for our patients ... It’s quite an exciting time.