Helping students with headache and migraine.
We invite you to explore the resources on this page and read about other students who have had to balance their school life with their own headache and migraine disorders.
Where do I start?
Begin here to explore tips and tools for navigating college with a headache disorder—from finding support and care to getting the accommodations you need.
In high school, parents or guardians may have taken the lead in scheduling appointments or managing medications. But college is the time to begin owning your healthcare journey. Learn more.
The accommodations process in college to that of high school is different. IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) or 504 plans students may have been provided in high school do not “transfer” onto college. Learn more.
College health centers often provide basic care but may not have specialists trained in headache medicine. It’s important to know how and where to get care that works for you. Learn more.
Moving away from home can disrupt medication routines. Whether you use a local pharmacy, mail-order service, or on-campus pickup, preparation is key. Learn more.
Regardless of your housing situation, for students living with migraine, whether living on campus or commuting, there are accommodations that can be arranged specifically for students who will commute to school. Learn more.
What is Migraine?
What make a headache different from a migraine? We understand it can be confusing! The National Headache Foundation has a number of informative resources to help you learn more!
U.S. Department of Education Recognizes Migraine as a Disability
Through a landmark decision, the U.S. Department of Education has officially recognized migraine as a disability under Section 504, ensuring students with migraine are protected from disability-based discrimination and can access necessary school accommodations.
Navigating School with Migraine
Balancing the demands of work or school can be challenging. This session from Retreat Migraine focuses on practical strategies for living with headache and migraine in real-world settings, offering guidance on accessing resources and support.
Presenters from this breakout include: National Headache Foundation, Migraine at School, and Migraine at Work.
Helpful Tools
Tips and resources students living with headache and migraine
Accommodations
know your rights
Triggers for Students
advice on lifestyle choices
Headache Types
learn different types
Tracking Your Headaches
Keeping detailed records
Find an doctor
talk to an expert
Financial Assistance
Access treatment help
FAQs
Most frequent questions and answers
- Take frequent breaks to give your eyes a rest. Studying for long periods of time can cause eyestrain.
- Invest in an ergonomic chair. Uncomfortable seating can cause neck and back pain that may lead to tension-type headaches.
- When it comes to alcohol, always drink in moderation, and with plenty of water in between drinks, to avoid hangover headaches in the morning. If hangovers do occur, treat with hydration and foods high in fructose (tomato juice, honey).
- If you are trying to stay awake to study, drink coffee only in moderation. Caffeine withdrawal can be a common trigger for avid coffee drinkers.
- Though college students don’t always operate on a regular schedule, try not to vary your meal and sleep schedules too much. Irregular sleep cycles and missing or delaying meals can both trigger migraine attacks.
- Practice relaxation and biofeedback techniques to help relieve the daily stress and anxiety of college life.
- Visit your primary care physician before leaving for school
- Schedule doctor’s visits during holiday breaks while at home
- Select a doctor or healthcare facility you can visit at school (College health centers have limited hours and may not be able to properly treat your condition)
- Arrange to have medications mailed to you or set-up auto refills at a pharmacy near campus
- Have digital medical records and insurance cards available
- Create an emergency plan – inform a roommate or friend of how they can help you in an emergency situation
- Have an emergency contact list
Ask your school if they provide accommodations for students living with migraine disease and headache disorders. Most schools have an office dedicated to serving students with disabilities. Check if your school has an Office of Student Accommodations or Office of Educational Accessibility. If they don’t provide accommodations, present them with a suggested list of accommodations for migraine disease and headache disorders. Students with migraine disease and headache disorders deserve the same opportunities to benefit from a college education.
- Modified homework assignments may be necessary as productivity can be greatly reduced during an attack. Ask for extended time for assignments.
- Extended time for tests is medically necessary as processing speed is slowed by the cognitive dysfunction that occurs as part of migraine, chronic pain, and multiple medications.
- At the onset or worsening of headache/migraine attack, allow the student to take his/her acute medications and rest in a safe and quiet area.
- Access to a social worker when indicated. Anxiety and depression are comorbid conditions.
- Testing time should not exceed 2 hours (or as tolerated).
- Testing in a small quiet distraction-free environment.
- Breaks as needed, and not counted as part of testing time.
- Access to a calculator for all math and science requiring calculations.
- No Scantron tests, write answers in a test booklet.
- Teacher or peer notes and study guides.
- Ability to take tests orally when needed.
- Ability to dictate written assignments.
- Hydration, ability to keep a water bottle at all times.
- Bathroom breaks as necessary due to encouraged hydration
- Absences: encourage school attendance. However, late arrivals, absences, and leaving early from school due to headache/migraine disease should be excused.
Source: CHAMP collaboration
You are not alone
Your story matters.
More than 40 million people in the United States live with migraine disease and a half million are diagnosed with Cluster Headache.
Yet those who have these diseases often feel isolated and alone. We want to raise awareness by sharing stories to show that if you have migraine or another headache disorder, you are not alone.
Migraine University© on the road
Migraine University© is visiting health and wellness fairs at college campuses to help raise awareness and share resources with students living with migraine and headache disorders. Campuses that have already participated include:
University of Alabama
Ball State University
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina University
Columbia College, Chicago
East Carolina University
Liberty University
Loyola University-Chicago
North Carolina State University
Northern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Penn State University
Purdue University – Northwest
Temple University
University of Chicago
University of Houston
University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of South Florida – Tampa
University of Texas at Austin
Western Michigan University
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