FEBRUARY 2026
MIGRAINE
It has been a real pleasure joining the WIN group, and I thought I would contribute to the WIN monthly newsletter with a topic very close to my heart: migraine.
Migraine is often assumed to be “just a bad headache” and is frequently dismissed as something you simply have to put up with. Because women are far more likely to experience migraine — and because it is an invisible condition with a strong hormonal influence — it is too easily grouped with things we are wrongly told to tolerate, such as period pain or pre-menstrual mood changes.
But migraine is not something you just have to live with.
Migraine is a complex, multi-system neurological disorder, not a simple pain condition. While headache can be part of an attack, migraine can also cause visual disturbances, sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, vertigo, brain fog, speech disturbance and profound fatigue, to name just a few possible symptoms. This wide range of symptoms is one of the reasons migraine is so often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
Many people experience migraine for years without realising that this is what they have. My own migraine, for example, is only associated with a mild headache. My main symptom is speech disturbance. My family often spots it before I do — when I ask my eleven-year-old to put her backpack on instead of her shoes, or tell my seven-year-old to put the juice away in the oven. Alongside my own lived experience of migraine, I also work as a senior clinician at the National Migraine Centre, where I see first-hand the profound impact migraine can have on people’s lives — and how effective the right support and treatment can be.
Recognizing migraine early is crucial. Treating an attack early is a bit like dealing with a forest fire: you need to put it out at the first spark, rather than waiting for it to take hold. Having family or friends who recognize your early warning signs can make a real difference.
There are many effective treatments for migraine, yet people often feel that “nothing works.” One reason is that during a migraine attack the communication between the brain and the gut is disrupted, meaning that medications taken by mouth may not be absorbed properly. This is why alternative formulations, such as soluble medications or nasal sprays, can sometimes be much more effective.
If you find you are needing medication frequently, or are experiencing migraine symptoms several times a month, then thinking about prevention becomes important. Preventative approaches may include medication, supplements and lifestyle changes, often used together.
Migraine patterns can change throughout life. When attacks suddenly increase in frequency or severity, hormones are often a key factor. For many women, particularly in midlife, perimenopause plays an important role. In these cases, careful and individualized management — sometimes combining migraine treatment with hormone therapy — can be transformative.
Migraine should not be something women quietly endure. With understanding, recognition and the right support, it is very often something that can be managed.
— Dr Lisa Rodolico
UK-trained GP based in Florence, founder of Rodolico Health, an English-speaking medical clinic for the international community
Senior Clinician, National Migraine Centre
Further information on evidence-based supplements that may help prevent migraine is available here:
Migraine supplements: what you need to know
https://drrodolico.com/blogs/