e-Headache Chronicle

Features e-Headache Chronicle

Migraine is a common headache disorder and affects 1 in 5 adults during their lifetime.
It is a disorder which leads to significantly impaired quality of life, absence from work, loss of productivity in workplace and reduced vitality in social functioning.
One of the important cornerstones in the management of migraine is the maintenance of a good headache diary.
A headache diary enables the physician to understand the headache characteristics as well to establish the triggers causing the precipitation of episodes.
The other important measure to ensure good outcomes is compliance to medications in those who have been prescribed prophylaxis.
Migraine prophylaxis is by pills that have to be taken everyday at fixed time to ensure best outcomes.
However, it is known that patients with migraine often are not adherent to prophylactic medications.
Regular pill reminders issued through smartphone based applications can improve medication adherence and thus improve headache outcomes.
It is known that patients who are well informed about their chronic diseases such as migraine often have better outcomes.
Busy clinicians often resort to providing pamphlets regarding the disease, triggers, acute pain relief medications, prophylactic therapy etc however, a digital application with all these inbuilt features, which are easily accessible at the finger tips would lead to better information uptake and improved compliance and self management.