App takes headache out of migraine treatment

A new iPhone app allows migraine sufferers to keep a detailed diary of their symptoms and use of medication so they can have more effective conversations with their doctors. Picture: Sizwe Ndingane

A new iPhone app allows migraine sufferers to keep a detailed diary of their symptoms and use of medication so they can have more effective conversations with their doctors. Picture: Sizwe Ndingane

Published Jul 7, 2011

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New York - A new iPhone app allows migraine sufferers to keep a detailed diary of their symptoms and use of medication so they can have more effective conversations with their doctors.

With the Migraine Notebook app, patients can keep track of their day-to-day level of pain, preceding triggers and when and at what dose they take their medicines.

“One of the biggest issues in medicine is how you communicate with your doctor,” said Dr Merle Diamond, of the Diamond Headache Centre in Chicago.

“This app gives us a window of communication which I think is really important in treating headaches. For example, it allows me to prepare questions about how they are using the medication.”

About 30 million Americans, mostly women, suffer from migraines, according to the National Headache Foundation. It most commonly begins between the ages of 15 and 55 and in most cases there is a family history.

The pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head, can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light. Attacks last four to 72 hours, according to the foundation.

In a recent study of 1 218 migraine patients and 533 doctors, 91 percent of the physicians said a migraine diary and medication tracker would help their discussions with patients.

Seventy percent of patients who took part in the poll agreed.

One-third of doctors said it was difficult to evaluate how well treatment was working when patients could not describe their most recent attacks, according to the study conducted by the National Headache Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline.

Diamond concluded: “This allows us to become better self-advocates. We’re going to need to be aggressive with our patients.” – Reuters

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