Cady R., Diamond M. Headache and Migrane Biology and Management

Elsevier, 2015. — 314 p.At this juncture, why did we see a need for a new book on headache? First, because of the proliferation in research, both biochemical and genetic, a review of the current status of headache was obvious. We also determined that solving the mysteries of headache, primarily migraine, indicated the need for an update in a simple correlation which is understandable to the research er as well as the clinician. It is our goal to clarify, as simply as possible, the understanding of this conundrum.
Physicians representing various specialties and subspecialties, as well as alternative medicine practitioners, have confused some of the basics of diagnosis and treatment of headache and its management. It is a fact that a multitude of headache patients are treated symptomatically with out regard to diagnosis. Many headache patients have never undergone a careful history or adequate physical and neurological examinations. Our book will stress the importance of diagnosis and then appropriate choice of treatment. For the past 50 years, I have always stressed in my many lectures on headache that continuity of care is imperative to headache treatment. It is my hope that in this text, the importance of a continuum of treatment will be recognized. In my many years of treating patients, I have observed that those patients who are continually followed by their primary treating physician whether a neurologist, internist, or family practitioner will demonstrate the greatest improvement.
Headache should never be treated casually or with intolerance, especially in those with persistent complaints. I, and my associate editors, have carefully chosen each chapter for its relevance and significance in understanding cephalalgia. We have chosen the contributing authors thought fully, not only for their scientific acumen but also for their practical knowledge in treating head ache patients. Too often, texts neglect these factors. It is my hope that this text will be used both as a reference and for methodology in treatment, and that it will be considered invaluable.