New Year New Ways to Track Your Progress
By: Brooklyn A. Bradley, BS; Medically edited by Dr. Deena Kuruvilla, MD
Although smartphones are thought to worsen headaches due to neck strain, eye strain, or the social stress of being connected all the time, it is important to note that smartphones can also help patients with migraine! Migraine apps can help you keep track of your symptoms, in addition to learning how to better manage their condition. Keep reading to learn more about some of these apps [1]!
Juva
There’s plenty of evidence that biofeedback can help with migraine — a recent study in Headache illustrated that use of a smartphone app could help people with migraine have less disability after using guided biofeedback techniques [2]. The study found that the patients who used a smartphone app that delivered progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) experienced a decrease in the mean Migraine Disability Assessment Score (MIDAS) – meaning they had a decrease in disability [2]. Juva combines migraine-specific exercises with a customized coaching plan to alter the human relationship with pain [3]. The app can help you change your heart rate, blood flow, and oxygenation – which are all connected to your nervous system and the way it manages pain. By altering your nervous system response, you can decrease migraine frequency and severity [3]. You can review your progress with your headache physician and work together on which biofeedback strategies work best for you. Juva app is used for 20-minute sessions, five times a week. During each of these sessions, Juva guides you through biofeedback exercises designed by licensed clinical psychologists. In addition, the app monitors your vital signs and provides feedback via your phone camera. Juva also offers self-guided games to help you practice what you have learned. Juva is available for iPhone.
Migraine Buddy
Keeping a headache diary is one of the most useful things you can do.— not only does it help track your headaches, but it can help you identify patterns by correlating headaches with triggers such as weather, time of day, or stressors. The app Migraine Buddy can help you communicate with your care team, understand your migraine (triggers, symptoms, frequency, duration), and arrive at a correct diagnosis [4]. Migraine Buddy includes medication, symptom, and trigger tracking – which are all helpful for people living with migraine [4]. The app was designed with neurologists, so that patients can collaborate with their healthcare provider and better understand their condition [4]. Migraine App reports that your headache physician can review your headache logs online to see how you are doing between visits and this can pave the way for confirming a diagnosis, medication adjustments and the identification of triggers. Migraine Buddy is available for Android and iPhone.
Calm
Fluctuations in stress, oversleeping and sleep deprivation are key factors that can cause worsening migraine disease. Calm is reported to have a portfolio of tools to help manage stress and sleep. Calm states that it assists patients with improving sleep quality, reducing stress or anxiety, improving focus, and other practices [5]. Although Calm is known for guided lectures by celebrities such as Lebron James, it has a breathing exercise tool that is personally helpful in centering one’s self [5]. Calm is able to track the number of consecutive days you use the app, how many minutes you meditate, and the number of sessions you complete. In addition, you can attend master classes and track your mood over time. With the free version of Calm, you get access to daily meditations, breathing exercises, mood tracker, select sleep stories, several music tracks, and some guided meditations. However, the paid version of Calm costs $14.99 per month ($69.99 per year) and gives you access to premium features. Calm is available for Android and iPhone.
Headspace
Just like the app above (Calm), Headspace also helps manage stress and improve sleep, which can in turn help manage migraine [6]. Unlike Calm, Headspace also has a focus on movement and stretching, which can be useful for certain patients. Headspace integrates research into their meditation app, and reports that 32% of users experienced a decrease in stress after using the app for 30 days [6]. Mindfulness and meditation can impact both mental and physical health in positive ways. The Headspace app has a free introductory 10-day program with reminders, and sessions can be downloaded and experienced offline. The guided foundation course features 10 sessions that are each 10 minutes, and completing a session will unlock more levels. However, there is a cost for subscription to access additional modules, and requires discipline and time commitment for regular practice. Headspace is available for Android and iPhone.
WebMD
At the Westport Headache Institute, we believe that patients should be fully informed about the treatments that they receive. While we will help you navigate between the different classes of medications, treatments, and procedures to manage migraine, this app can provide you with more information that may not have been covered during your visit. The WebMD app is easy to use and accessible on both iPhone and Android [7]. The WebMD App allows patients to research conditions, access drug and treatment information, review symptoms, and find the latest health news [7].
__________________________________________________________
Bezzy Migraine
The Bezzy Migraine app is a judgment-free space that allows members with chronic conditions to create meaningful connections [8]. When you create your profile on the Bezzy Migraine app, you will provide your age, general location, year of diagnosis, and other information that can help you connect with others. Bezzy Migraine’s goal is to connect people with similar migraine experiences and provide a safe space for sharing stories and experiences. Members of the community can also share tips for coping with migraine attacks[7]. In addition, you can join various groups depending on what topics interest you. For example, members can join a mental health, social life, or alternative therapy thread [7]. The app includes content about alternative therapies, diet and nutrition, living well, and personal stories. Bezzy Migraine is free and available on both Android and iOS. __________________________________________________________
At the Westport Headache Institute, we strive to make sure that you have all the tools you need to manage migraine successfully. For more information about our telemedicine and in-office options with Dr. Deena Kuruvilla MD, feel free to check out our website!
References:
- (2022) 8 of the best migraine apps of 2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319508. Accessed 9 Dec 2022
- Minen MT, Adhikari S, Padikkala J, et al (2020) Smartphone‐Delivered Progressive Muscle Relaxation for the Treatment of Migraine in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 60:2232–2246. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.14010
- FAQs | Juva for Migraine app. In: Juva for Migraine. https://www.juvahealth.com/faq. Accessed 9 Dec 2022
- (2022) Migraine Buddy. In: Migraine Buddy. https://migrainebuddy.com/help-center/category/using-migraine-buddy/
- Experience Calm. https://calm.com/. Accessed 9 Dec 2022
- Meditation and Sleep Made Simple – Headspace. https://www.headspace.com/. Accessed 9 Dec 2022
- WebMD Mobile Apps. In: WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mobile. Accessed 9 Dec 2022
- Bezzy Migraine. https://www.bezzymigraine.com/. Accessed 9 Dec 2022