Libsyn Directory

Ep 7. Pregnancy and Parenthood

Heads Up

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast What happens when cluster headache and pregnancy collide? In this episode, Daisy joins our host Dr Katy Munro to talk honestly about managing attacks during pregnancy and with a toddler, navigating medication decisions, and the importance of specialist support for anyone planning a family. For more information visit: National Migraine Centre: OUCH UK: Heads Up Episode on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: *Disclaimer* This podcast episode contains discussions about cluster headaches, including topics that may touch upon sensitive subjects such as mental...

Ep 6. When pain meets the Law

Heads Up

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Cluster headache can affect every part of a person's life, including their rights at work. In this episode, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by Mike Smalley who has had Cluster Headache since the age of 14. Drawing on his experience as a former union representative, Mike discusses what the Equality Act 2010 means for cluster headache patients as this is recognised as a disability and what protections are available. Mike is an admin on a patient support forum. For more information: *Disclaimer* This podcast episode contains discussions about...

Ep 5. Searching for Answers

Heads Up

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Isobel West has lived with cluster headache since the age of fifteen. Misdiagnosed for years and left to advocate for herself, she eventually found her way to the correct diagnosis at twenty-one. Now she is channeling that experience into a PhD at Kings College London, investigating the brain mechanisms behind the condition through studying human post-mortem brain tissue donated by individuals who lived with cluster headache and generously donated their brains to research, in collaboration with King's College London. In this episode, she joins our host,...

Ep 4. What’s Going on in the Brain?

Heads Up

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast What happens in the brain during a cluster headache attack? In this episode, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by Dr Phil Holland, a leading headache neuroscientist and previous guest expert on the podcast, to dig into the science behind one of the most extreme pain events the human body can experience. They explore why attacks follow such striking seasonal and daily patterns, the relationship between cluster headache and sleep, the role of brain neuropeptides like CGRP and PACAP, and what emerging therapies targeting these pathways could mean for patients....

Ep 3. Navigating Adolescence

Heads Up

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Frederick was eleven when diagnosed with cluster headache. Now seventeen and heading to university, they join our host Dr Katy Munro alongside their mum Rachael, OUCH's Officer for Children and Young People, to talk about growing up with one of the most painful conditions known to medicine, sharing tips on how they manage and information about support for families. For more information visit the links below: *Disclaimer* This podcast episode contains discussions about cluster headaches, including topics that may touch upon sensitive...

Ep 2. The Youngest Patients

Heads Up

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Alexander was two and a half years old when the attacks began. In this episode, he and his mum, Mel, join our host and a headache specialist, Dr Katy Munro, to share what it is like to be a child with cluster headache, from the experience of the excruciating attacks and the fight for diagnosis to navigating treatment and family life. A rare and important conversation about the impact on the youngest patients. For more information visit the links below: *Disclaimer* This podcast episode contains discussions about cluster headaches, including...

Ep 1. Cluster Headache, Chris Addison shares his story

Heads Up

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Cluster headache has been called the most painful condition known to medicine. Comedian and actor Chris Addison, known for The Thick of It and In the Loop, knows that firsthand. In this episode, he joins our host Dr Katy Munro, Senior GP Headache Specialist at the National Migraine Centre, to share his experience of living with cluster headache. This is the first of seven Spotlight episodes launching on Cluster Headache Awareness Day, exploring every dimension of the condition, from childhood and pregnancy to the science of what happens in the brain...

Mast cell activation syndrome and migraine

Heads Up

In our final Heads Up episode of the year, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by GP headache specialist Dr Cyriac Athappilly and Dr Tina Peers, an expert in mast cell activation syndrome, to explore the fascinating and often under‑recognised connection between MCAS and migraine. Together, they unpack how mast cell activity can influence migraine triggers, discuss the shared symptoms that can complicate diagnosis, and share insights on practical approaches to managing both conditions. Tune in for an engaging, information‑packed conversation that could shed light on new ways to...

Endometriosis and migraine- a personal story (Part2)

Heads Up

Join headache specialist Dr Katy Munro for part two of this discussion exploring the connections between endometriosis, adenomyosis, and migraine. In this episode, Dr Munro speaks with patient advocate and campaigner Victoria Hardy, who shares her personal journey of living with these conditions. Her story offers an honest account of the challenges of diagnosis, the impact on daily life, and the importance of being heard and believed within the healthcare system. Together, they consider practical strategies for managing symptoms, the value of integrated care, and the crucial role of...

Endometriosis, Adenomyosis & Migraine - exploring the links. Part 1

Heads Up

Join headache specialist Dr Katy Munro as she hosts a lively conversation with Dr Aziza Sesay from . This episode unpacks the complex connections that migraine has with endometriosis and adenomyosis, conditions that affect women and which are widely misunderstood and overlooked. Discover how these conditions intertwine, why greater awareness matters, and practical insights to better recognise and manage symptoms. Whether you’re living with these challenges or caring for someone who is, this episode offers expert knowledge combined with empathy and real-world guidance. For further...

TOPICS