Migraine Action Association

Migraine Action (MA) is the UK's leading charity dedicated to individuals affected by migraine. They are a registered charity who aims to bridge the gap between the migraineur and the medical world by providing information on all aspects of the condition and its management.

Migraine Action strive to provide an excellent patient led, compassionate and empathetic support community for individuals affected by migraine.

Migraine Action has three main aims:

• To provide information and friendly, positive reassurance, understanding and encouragement to migraine sufferers and their families.
• To encourage and support research and investigation into migraine, its causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
• To gather and pass on information about treatments available for the control and relief of migraine and to facilitate an exchange of information on the subject.

Migraine Action has a dedicated telephone helpline to give information and advice to migraineurs and those affected by migraine. They have a wide range of information booklets available on migraine, including preventative and acute treatments, migraine triggers, stress management, complementary therapies, and migraine in children and young people.

Their website has information on migraine and other headache disorders. It also features the latest migraine news, event details, research information and fundraising news. There is also an interactive web and ‘ask the expert’ forum where migraineurs can share their experiences and management tips with like-minded individuals.

Migraine Action regularly hold migraine education days throughout the UK. These give migraineurs the opportunity to meet with others affected in their area, hear from experts in the field, and learn more about Migraine Action's work on their behalf.

‘Challenging Migraine’ is Migraine Action’s quarterly newsletter. This gives updates on treatments, research, and their work, and also shares members’ experiences and tips.

Young migraineurs resources

Over 10% of schoolchildren have migraine and an estimated 2.75 million school days are lost each year due to the condition.

We know that children of all ages can suffer from migraine. However, it is only in recent years that doctors have become more skilled at recognising migraine in the younger age groups.

The symptoms of migraine in children can be very different to those in adults; abdominal pain, nausea and / or vomiting, a sensitivity to light, sound or smell, confusion, and a lack of attention are all common. Children may not experience a headache, or this may only be mild. As a result, the condition can go unrecognised or even be thought of as bad behaviour.

To help parents / carers, teachers and school nurses learn more and be able to support young migraineurs more effectively, Migraine Action has developed information resource packs for parents / carers, teachers, school nurses and young migraineurs themselves.

Migraine Action has created three new age-specific websites and a range of resources especially created for young migraineurs. These are:

• Migraine Adventure for 8 – 10 year olds - www.migraineadventure.org.uk
• Migraine Explorers for 11 – 13 year olds - www.migraineexplorers.org.uk
• Migraine Network for 14 – 17 year olds - www.migrainenetwork.org.uk

Fundraising and membership

Migraine Action is funded entirely by donations and members' subscriptions. Through active membership and donations of time and money they create information resources, undertake further research on migraine, its causes, diagnosis and treatment, and help many migraineurs to successfully manage their migraine.

History

Migraine Action was founded in 1958 and previously known as the British Migraine Association. It was acknowledged to be the world's first organisation to represent the millions of people suffering from migraine. Migraine Action has become a model for many others that have since been formed all over the world. Many of them have consulted the association which continues to liaise with more than 25 lay headache organisations worldwide.

For over 50 years Migraine Action have provided information, help and understanding for migraineurs and their families who, in turn, have given vital assistance for research together with vigorous fundraising. Therefore maintaining this unique membership charity.

See also

• Migraine
• Headache

External links

• Official website
• Young migraineurs information
• "Migraine Action Association, registered charity no. 207783". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
• Patient UK