HeadWise

By National Headache FoundationMental Health Education Non-Profit

HeadWise episodes

September 23 Headache vs. Facial Pain: Understanding the Difference ft. Fred Cohen, MD
What's behind facial pain, and how is it different from headache? Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, and headache medicine specialist Fred Cohen, MD, cover common facial pain conditions, how providers reach a diagnosis, available treatment options, and the specialists who can help.
12 min
September 17 Neck Pain, Migraine, and Headache: How Are They Related? ft. Paul Mathew, MD
In this episode of HeadWise, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD talks with neurologist and headache medicine specialist Paul Mathew, MD about how neck pain, headache, and migraine are connected, and why that connection so often gets overlooked in clinical visits.
Paul Mathew, MD walks through three conditions that can explain neck pain occurring alongside headache: migrainous cervicalgia, where neck discomfort appears only during a migraine attack; cervicogenic headache, where an underlying neck problem can act as a trigger; and occipital neuralgia, a nerve-related pain condition. He also shares why some treatments offer lasting relief while others only help temporarily, and how everyday habits like posture and self-stretching play a bigger role than people expect.
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual symptoms and treatment options.
19 min
September 09 Back to School for Kids with Migraine ft Alexandra Ross, PhD
In this episode of HeadWise™, Dr. Alexandra Ross, a pediatric headache psychologist from Streamind Health, joins host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, to share real strategies for the school year ahead: building routines that stick, using 504 plans for accommodations, sneaking in "micro breaks" during class, and helping kids talk about migraine without the stigma. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual symptoms and treatment options.
22 min
August 26 Meet NHF’s New Board President ft. Hope O'Brien, MD, MBA
Meet Hope O’Brien, MD, MBA, the new president of the National Headache Foundation’s Board of Directors.
In this episode of HeadWise™, Dr. O’Brien shares what led her to headache medicine, the challenges facing headache care today and her vision for the future of NHF.
18 min
August 21 Headache and Migraine After Concussion
What happens when headache, migraine-like symptoms or other symptoms persist after a concussion?
In this episode, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by neurologist Shae Datta, MD, to discuss concussion, post-traumatic headache and the recovery process. They explore what to do after a concussion, when symptoms may require further evaluation and why headache can continue even after other concussion symptoms improve.
They also discuss the different ways post-traumatic headache can present, persistent symptoms such as dizziness, light sensitivity and nausea, the role of multidisciplinary concussion care, and treatment approaches that may help people experiencing ongoing symptoms.
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual symptoms and treatment options.
20 min
August 13 Understanding Nausea and Vomiting With Migraine
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms associated with migraine, but they can look very different from one person to another. Some people experience mild nausea, while others may have vomiting that makes it difficult to eat, drink or take medication.
In this episode, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by headache medicine specialist Fred Cohen, MD, to discuss nausea and vomiting with migraine. They explore why these symptoms may occur, how delayed gastric emptying during a migraine attack can affect the way oral medications are absorbed, and why alternative treatment routes may be helpful for some people. They also discuss options for managing nausea, when severe or prolonged vomiting may require emergency care, and why symptoms beyond headache pain should be part of the conversation with your health care provider.
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual symptoms and treatment options.
12 min
July 29 Psychedelics and Headache Disorders
What role could psychedelics play in the future of headache medicine? In this episode of HeadWise, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by Emmanuelle Schindler, MD, PhD, to discuss the latest research on psilocybin and other psychedelics in migraine, cluster headache, and post-traumatic headache.
They explore how these compounds are being studied, what early clinical trials have found, safety considerations, and why more research is still needed before these therapies become part of routine care.
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual symptoms and treatment options.
23 min
July 22 Actionable Pathways in Treatment-Resistant Migraine ft. Amelia Barrett
In this episode of HeadWise™, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by Amelia Barrett, MD to explore how emerging research on biological pathways may help explain why some people experience treatment-resistant migraine.
The conversation focuses on several actionable pathways involved in medication metabolism, methylation, and neurotransmitter function, and discusses how these processes may influence migraine, medication side effects, and treatment response. Dr. Barrett also explains how nutrition, genetics, and personalized medicine may work together to support more individualized migraine care as research continues to evolve.
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual symptoms and treatment options.
19 min
July 22 Histamine as a Migraine and Headache Trigger ft. Amelia Barrett
In this episode, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by neurologist Amelia Barrett, MD, to explore the role histamine may play in migraine and headache disorders.
Dr. Barrett explains what histamine is, how it functions in the immune system, and why elevated histamine levels may contribute to headache attacks in some people. They discuss the connection between histamine, inflammation, mast cells, and migraine, along with common food sources of histamine, including fermented foods, aged cheeses, cured meats, wine, and even leftovers.
The conversation also covers histamine intolerance, the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), mast cell activation, cluster headache, and why certain individuals may be more sensitive to histamine than others.
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual symptoms and treatment options.
14 min
June 03 Understanding Headache Locations ft. Fred Cohen, MD
In this episode, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by headache specialist Fred Cohen, MD, to explore one of the most common questions people ask about headache disorders: What does it mean if my head hurts in a specific location?
16 min