Michael Stein, M.D., cofounder and medical advisor of the group, will facilitate the meeting and answer questions. If you have a burning question to ask a headache specialist, perhaps about a new treatment option you’ve heard of, now is the time to ask.

Be certain to bring family members and friends who have questions about how to support you when you are down for the count with a severe headache, or if they are headache sufferers themselves.

Mankind has always suffered from headaches. They occur frequently, and if one believes that migraines are associated with high achieving personalities, it is not hard to believe that head-aches not only influence famous people, but may have also influenced history.

Any approach to famous people and headaches, however, is fraught with controversy. Physicians have repeatedly been cautioned against trying to diagnose disease without examining patients. The people discussed in this article are all dead and even the "history" is obtained from nonphysicians, making diagnosis even more difficult. Then too, since affliction with headaches in the past was associated with visitations of evil spirits or was thought to be predominantly psychological in origin, many people had a tendency to obscure their difficulties.

Julius Caesar was one of the most charismatic political figures in history; a brilliant general who conquered Gaul, and an excellent writer and orator. In spite of many accomplishments, his conquest of Gaul is responsible for his high ranking as an influential person. His victories resulted in Romanizing France, and that influence is still felt today. Gaul also provided a buffer that protected the Empire from the barbarians for over five centuries.

During the last several years before his assassination, Julius Caesar suffered from headaches, personality changes, and seizures. It is unclear how the headaches affected Caesar, but one of his seizures apparently occurred while he was offered the crown for life, and that further added to the tensions between the dictator and the senators.

There were no other distinguishing features of other causes of Caesar’s symptoms, so Gomez, Kotler, and Long in a 1995 article (Florida Medical Association) postulated that Caesar might have had a convexity meningioma or a slow-growing supratentorial glioma. This raises an interesting question as to whether history would have been different had Caesar not had such difficulties. History probably would not have changed, but Caesar’s case does raise the issue of the occurrence of headaches with central nervous system tumors. This is the only example of famous people where headaches were probably secondary as opposed to primary.

Thomas Jefferson is considered to have been one of the most brilliant presidents. He was a talented architect, inventor, designer, diplomat, and statesman. Of all his accomplishments, he wanted to be remembered as the author of the Declaration of Independence, creator of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and the father of the University of Virginia. From the standpoint of lasting effects, his most notable government action was the Louisiana Purchase, probably the largest peaceful transfer of territory in recorded history. Jefferson died at the age of 83 years on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after signing the Declaration of Independence.

Dr. John Battle points out that there is a vast literature about Jefferson and there seems little doubt he was plagued with migraine headaches. For his part, Jefferson did not seem to brood about his health, but kept in optimum condition. Some of the treatments he used included cinchona bark, mustard packs, and cold water soaks. Even Jefferson got exasperated with his head pains, however. During one particularly bad spell with headaches, he wrote, "The art of life is the avoiding of pain." Perhaps that might be a good motto for one of the newer headache remedy companies.

Charles Darwin was the originator of the theory explaining evolution by means of natural selection. Both his grandfather, Erasmus, and father, Robert, were physicians, but when Charles began his studies, he found medicine and anatomy dull. As an outdoor enthusiast, he managed to gain passage on the HMS Beagle as a naturalist. This turned out to be the most important ocean voyage in the history of Western science.

Darwin used the data he accumulated on that trip in 1831-1836 to develop his theories. He created quite a furor in 1859 when he published The Origin of Species, and fueled further arguments with his book The Descent of Man, published in 1871.

Darwin did not participate in the discussions about his theories, but by the time of his death in 1882 a large majority of scientists had accepted the basic correctness of his theories. It is interesting to note that Darwin’s theory of natural selection has withstood major changes longer than any present theories of natural science.

If there are "migraine personalities" or if stress factors cause headaches, then Charles Darwin would top the list of people with head pains. Charles was a sensitive, constant worrier who shunned crowds. If that was not enough, Charles’ father, Dr. Robert Darwin, was particularly stern and overbearing. The combination of Charles’ demeanor and dictatorial father would probably have been enough for anyone to develop headaches. Darwin’s migraines apparently began in his twenties, and, at one point, he told his fiancée that he might not make it to the altar because of an attack. He also noted some characteristics, complaining that a headache had "a mind of its own," and that they seem to be triggered by deviations from his routine.

A study appeared in the October 1999 issue of "Neurology" on the impact of a headache education program in the workplace. Groups of employees were presented a program called "Managing Headache in the Workplace." The program described migraine and tension-type headaches and provided advice on their management. Management techniques included dietary changes, exercise, keeping a diary, and relaxation techniques.

Individuals who participated in the study were asked if they had headache and if so, they were questioned on the type of headache they had, their degree of disability, quality of life, and ways they managed their headaches. The same questions were given again four weeks later. There was an improvement in many areas, including using fewer medications, increased quality of life, and fewer days of disability. This suggests that educational programs in the workplace can positively benefit headache sufferers and should be encouraged.

The FDA has expanded the indication for Excedrin Migraine (aspirin, acetaminophen, caffeine; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.) to the treatment of the full migraine syndrome, including nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, and functional disability. The non-prescription drug was previously indicated only for the treatment of mild to moderate migraine pain.