The Traffic Light of Headache: Simplifying Acute Migraine Management for Physicians and Patients Using the Canadian Headache Society Guidelines

Migraine is a disabling neurological condition and it is well described that early treatment is more effective and less likely to lead to headache recurrence. While it would seem intuitive for a migraine sufferer to treat early, despite well-established guidelines by the Canadian Headache Society, many sufferers continue to treat late. As a result, acute therapy is less effective, resulting in higher associated disability and a longer lasting attack. Pain scales can help patients determine how to treat; however, we propose a simple, easily recalled traffic light system to help patients determine which drug to use based upon how they feel. The traffic light system is based on the associated disability of the migraine attack, with green being a “I can still go” headache, a yellow being a “I have to slow down” headache, and a red being a “I have to stop” headache. The traffic light system leads to earlier more effective treatment with a reduction in migraine-associated disability.