In this episode, host headache specialist Dr Katy Munro is joined by Dr Francesca Puledda, consultant neurologist and researcher with a special interest in migraine and complex visual symptoms.

Together, they explore what happens in the brain during aura, how to recognise and understand visual snow syndrome, and why light sensitivity can be such a challenging symptom for people living with migraine.

They also discuss the different types of aura, the latest research, and practical tools that may help, including specialist lenses and filters designed to reduce visual discomfort.

This episode is brought to you by the National Migraine Centre, a charity providing expert care for people with migraine and headache. If you find the podcast helpful, please consider making a small donation to help us keep it going. 

Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/national-migraine-centre

In this first episode of series six of Heads Up podcast, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by nutritionist Emma Ellice-Flint, a qualified nutritionist with a special interest in migraine and women’s health.

Together, they explore the complex relationship between migraine, gut health, and diet—covering everything from common food triggers to allergies, nutritional myths, and practical advice for making confident choices around food.

This episode is brought to you by the National Migraine Centre, a charity providing expert care for people with migraine and headache. If you find the podcast helpful, please consider making a small donation to help us keep it going. 

Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/national-migraine-centre

Learn more about Emma Ellice-Flint’s work at https://emmasnutrition.com/about/

Dr Katy Munro is also the author of Managing Your Migraine, a practical guide to understanding and living with migraine. Available here

In this special bonus episode, host Dr Katy Munro is joined by National Migraine Centre's  operations director Charlotte Burr, chief executive Dan Tickle, and clinical & communications director Swati Raina, the producer of Heads Up. Together, we reflect on the podcast’s six-year journey and the growth of the charity behind it.

We share insights into the clinical services available for people living with migraine and headache conditions, and how National Migraine Centre has become a trusted place for expert advice, treatment options, and long-term support.

Whether you're newly diagnosed or navigating chronic symptoms, this episode highlights how you can access the right help - and why no one should have to suffer alone.

Click to book an appointment  Listen to more episodes Support our work

Heads Up – Series 5 Finale Episode

In this extended and festive final episode, Dr Katy Munro, GP and Headache Specialist, explores the crucial role pharmacists play in the migraine and headache treatment journey.  

First Half: Our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by experienced prescribing pharmacists David Kelly and Nadeem Shah from North England. They share their insights into supporting people with migraine and headaches, what patients need to know before approaching a pharmacist, and how pharmacists can be a vital first point of contact.  

Second half: Dr David Watson, GP Headache Specialist in Aberdeen, and pharmacist Abigail Duthie lead a pharmacy project in Scotland. It highlights the public education campaign. This project was in collaboration with the Migraine Trust & the NHS Grampian.This discussion is tailored to pharmacists, highlighting their essential role in diagnosis and treatment cycles for migraine and headache care.  

As we wrap up Series 5, we wish you a wonderful festive season and look forward to returning with Series 6 in the new year. If you’d like to support the podcast, please consider making a small donation https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/headsup and leaving a review on your favourite podcast platform.  

Thank you for listening and supporting Heads Up!

In part two of our ADHD and migraine series, Dr Katy Munro speaks with Dr Gilly Kahn, a clinical psychologist and ADHD advocate, who shares her personal journey and professional insights. As a therapist, writer, and mother, Dr Kahn brings a unique perspective on navigating life with ADHD, both for herself and her clients. This episode offers a heartfelt look at the experiences of those with ADHD and migraine, shedding light on challenges, resilience, and helpful strategies.

Recommended reading:

• ADHD 2.0 by Dr. Edward M. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey, and
• Understanding Girls with ADHD by Kathleen Nadeau, Ellen Littman, and Patricia Quinn.  

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider reviewing us on Apple Podcasts and sharing it with friends and family!

In this episode, Headache Specialist Dr Katy Munro speaks with Dr Helen Read, a former NHS Consultant Psychiatrist and ADHD specialist with over 30 years of experience. Dr Read shares her professional insights from years in the NHS and her recent journey with her own ADHD diagnosis. As a mother of two sons with ADHD and autism, she brings a deeply personal perspective to the challenges of navigating both ADHD and migraine.

This is part one of our ADHD series—join us next week for a powerful patient experience in part two! If you enjoyed this episode, please review us on Apple Podcasts and share it with friends and family.

WE ARE A CHARITY

Please help us keep going in the following ways:

Please donate to help us continue to release new episodes: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/headsup 

New podcast episode is out now!

Our host and headache specialist Dr Katy Munro speaks with Dr Deborah Kerr, a GP and fellow headache specialist, and Dr Bernadette Hard, to explore their personal experiences with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.

Dr Hard, a GP and trustee of the CSF Leak Association, shares her inspiring recovery journey and how she’s channelling her experience into action by taking on an extraordinary challenge—a wing walk on Friday the 13th of September to raise funds for a CSF leak registry.

Meanwhile, Dr Kerr opens about her ongoing struggles with the condition, highlighting just how difficult and life-altering CSF leaks can be. Together, their stories shed light on the often misunderstood and under-recognised impact of this condition.

For more information on CSF leaks and how to get involved, visit the CSF Leak Association.

It's the Cluster Headache Awareness Day, and Heads Up Podacst is back with a new episode. Tune in to this latest episode where our host Headache Specialist Dr Katy Munro, sits down with consultant neurologist and headache expert Dr Nick Silver from the Walton Centre UK.

In this informative discussion, Dr Silver sheds light on the often misunderstood condition of cluster headaches. Delving into the nuances that differentiate them from migraine, they explore topics such as diagnosis, the profound impact these headaches have on individuals, and the prevalence within the population.Get valuable insights into effective acute and preventive treatments and management strategies for cluster headaches, empowering those who suffer and their loved ones with knowledge and hope.

As a special bonus, don't miss our exclusive bonus track where you'll hear from someone who suffers from Cluster Headache. They share their personal journey, offering a poignant glimpse into the real-life impact of this disease. It's the voice of somone living with cluster headaches, giving a firsthand understanding of the challenges they face.

For further resources and support, visit: - Ouch UK  - Providing support and advocacy for those affected by cluster headaches. - The Brain Charity- Offering guidance and assistance to individuals living with neurological conditions.

Don't miss Dr Silver's enlightening talk from the OUCH Summer conference: Link and his comprehensive overview of migraine booklet: Migraine Booklet

**Disclaimer:**

This podcast episode contains discussions about cluster headaches, including topics that may touch upon sensitive subjects such as mental health and suicide. While we strive to provide informative and supportive content, we acknowledge that these discussions may be triggering for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, we urge you to seek support from a qualified healthcare professional or your GP. For emergency call 999 helpline immediately. Your mental health and well-being are important, and help is available.

Listener discretion is advised.

Heads Up Podcast brings to you Becky's story:

Listen to the raw and unfiltered experience of someone living with cluster headaches.They share the daily challenges and profound impact this condition has on their life. Join us for a brief yet powerful insight into the reality of living with cluster headaches, giving voice to the struggles and hardships faced by those affected. Tune in for a moving account that sheds light on the human side of this often misunderstood condition.

If you are diagnosed with migraine or cluster headache and would like to share your story on our podcast, email us on [email protected]. 

WE ARE A CHARITY

Please help us keep going in the following ways:

Please donate to help us continue to release new episodes: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/headsup 

**Disclaimer:**

This podcast episode contains discussions about cluster headaches, including topics that may touch upon sensitive subjects such as mental health and suicide. While we strive to provide informative and supportive content, we acknowledge that these discussions may be triggering for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, we urge you to seek support from a qualified healthcare professional or your GP. For emergency call 999 helpline immediately. Your mental health and well-being are important, and help is available.

Listener discretion is advised.

Delve into the intricate world of migraine science with Dr Katy Munro, Headache Specialist, and her esteemed guest, Dr Phil Holland, Reader in Neuroscience at King’s College London. In this episode ‘Migraine Science: What's Happening in the Brain? they embark on a fascinating journey through the complexities of migraine brain chemistry and pathways.

From exploring the intersections of migraine with other pain areas like facial pain, neck, and shoulders, to busting common myths linking migraine with dementia, this episode delves deep into the cutting-edge treatments on the horizon. 

Tune in as they unravel the mysteries of the migraine brain and pave the way for new insights and advancements in understanding and treating this debilitating condition.

If you have any questions/comments or any topics you would like us to cover in our future episodes email: [email protected].

WE ARE A CHARITY

Please help us keep going in the following ways:

Please donate to help us continue to release new episodes: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/headsup