An article published in the April 25 issue of Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology's scientific journal, encourages aggressive treatment of migraine headache, a condition affecting 28 million Americans, and refers physicians to a new set of practice guidelines being published simultaneously on the journal's Web site.
The guidelines were drafted by the U.S. Headache Consortium, a multidisciplinary group that includes the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Headache Society, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association, and the National Headache Foundation. They consider recent advances in migraine diagnosis, treatment and prevention and incorporate both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for preventing migraine, understanding its causes, involving patients in the treatment plan, tracking progress and measuring success.
U.S. Headache Consortium guidelines represent one of the first and the most extensive multidisciplinary efforts to compile evidence-based data on migraine headache and to relate recommendations to what a variety of medical specialties consider best practice in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this condition.
Physicians interested in reviewing the practice parameter can do so by visiting the Neurology Web site at www.neurology.org after April 25.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 16,500 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit its Web site at www.aan.com. For online neurological health and wellness information, visit NeuroVista at www.aan.com/neurovista.