Migraines Explained: Causes, Myths, and Treatments with Dr. Meredith Barad

Migraines are more than just bad headaches. They can affect your ability to think, work, and enjoy life. Many people also experience neck pain, back pain, or fatigue alongside their migraines. At Stanford, our care team takes a whole-person approach—treating not just the pain, but every factor that contributes to it. In this webinar, Dr. Meredith Barad explores:

-How migraines affect the brain and body
-The different types of migraine and their unique symptoms
-Common myths about migraine
-Treatments supported by the latest research

0:00 – Introduction & webinar logistics (how to ask questions, adjust slides, captions)
1:00 – Welcome Dr. Meredith Barad & her background
1:50 – Defining migraine as an inherited disorder of sensory processing
2:26 – Criteria for migraine diagnosis
3:08 – Sensory amplification and common migraine symptoms
4:11 – Misconception #1: Sinus or tension headaches vs. migraine
5:21 – Migraine variability, duration, and prevalence
7:36 – Migraine types: episodic vs. chronic
8:28 – Misconception #2: Migraine is a vascular disorder
10:00 – Migraine timeline: prodrome, aura, headache, postdrome
15:04 – Subtypes of migraine: vestibular, menstrual, pediatric
18:59 – Migraine treatment: lifestyle, preventive & rescue strategies
23:34 – Preventive medications: Botox & CGRP therapies
25:23 – Rescue medications: triptans and safety myths
28:04 – Nerve blocks: occipital & SPG blocks
29:33 – Neuromodulatory devices & gadgets
32:23 – Resources & supporting loved ones with migraine
34:43 – Summary of migraine mechanisms and treatment strategies
35:25 – Q&A segment begins

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