Healthy Living Partnerships for Veterans With Migraine

Headache disorders such as migraine occur commonly among Veterans and contribute to disability and reduced quality of life. Veterans with migraine are more likely than those without headache to experience medically related discharge/retirement, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disturbances, and difficulty reintegrating back into civilian life. Despite advances in our understanding of migraine, it remains poorly understood and often proves refractory to validated drug and non-drug interventions. Therefore, there is tremendous potential value in pursuing alternate intervention pathways for migraine management. Although empirical support remains limited, engagement in regular exercise routinely is recommended for managing and preventing migraine. This innovative approach, if successful, could be disseminated rapidly to the VAMC in the United States, thereby making a substantial impact on the public health burden of migraine and other lifestyle related chronic diseases amongst our nation's Veterans. Consistent with the VA's Whole Health Initiative, this HELP-VM approach facilitates and supports Veterans' capacity to take charge of their own health and well-being, and recognizes the many health benefits of reducing sedentary activity for migraine and beyond.