Headache Through the Ages (Hardcover)

~ Seymour Diamond (Author), Mary A. Franklin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With so many books now available on the science of headache and the various ways to manage Cephalalgia. The authors sought to explore the path of headache through the centuries via world literature, art history, and anecdotal material, noting the famous headache suffers and how they depicted their pain.

About the Author

Seymour Diamond, MD is the director and founder of the Diamond Headache Clinic and the Diamond Inpatient Headache Unit, Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago, ILlinois. He is also Adjunct Professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, The Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois. Mary A. Franklin has been a member of the nursing and administrative staffs of the Diamond Headache Clinic since 1970. She is currently the Vice President of Publishing and Administration, and is the managing editor of Headache and Pain - Diagnostic Challenges, Current Therapy. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Chicago Studies at Loyola University of Chicago.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 134 pages
• Publisher: Professional Communications, Inc.; 1 edition (August 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932610065
• ISBN-13: 978-1932610062
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #761,323 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Subject, But Poorly Written, July 14, 2009

By	Diana "lawyerlee" (Lawrence, Kansas USA) - See all my reviews

I love that this book tackles the topic of the history of treatment of migraines and headaches. There is no other book that covers this ground, so it is good in that respect. However, it is very poorly written. I wish they'd done a better job with this fascinating topic.

1.0 out of 5 stars What's the point?, July 14, 2009

By	Kenneth L. Moore MD "TheNeurologist" (BURR RIDGE, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was written by Seymour Diamond MD and Mary A. Franklin. Dr. Diamond is a family physician and not a neurologist. Dr. Diamond became interested in headache many years ago. He was a pioneer in the use of educational forums for medical marketing. Otherwise, he has made no real contribution to our understanding of the neurobiology of head pain. Instead, he continues to promote Wolff's vascular hypothesis of migraine (pages 66-67). This hypothesis states that migraine is a disorder of blood vessel size -- vasoconstriction (narrowing) causes the neurological symptoms of migraine and vasodilation causes the throbbing head pain of migraine. We now know that central and peripheral neural mechanisms are responsible for the symptoms of migraine. The headache of migraine begins before there is vasodilation. Some agents can cause vasodilatation and head pain. But equally potent vasodilators (eg, vasoactive intestinal peptide) may not cause pain despite tremendous vasodilation. The newest treatment for migraine ("calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists") are as effective as ergotamine and Imitrex without the vasoconstriction effect that makes them risky for patients with vascular disease.
As a neurologist who has suffered from migraine headaches since my first year of medical school and a head pain specialist who has seen over 10,000 patients since 1978, I am puzzled why this book was written. The historical descriptions regarding the cause(s) of head pain are unlikely to interest non-physicians. Knowing that some famous people suffered from migraine may have provided some solace to migraine sufferers when physicians believed that migraine was a psychosomatic disorder -- caused by the "resentments and dissatisfactions of life" (Harold G. Wolff). Now that the neural basis of migraine is firmly established, such reassurance seems unnecessary.
Migraine has a prevalence of 11% in the general population (6% of men and 18% of women). Approximately 1 out of 4 women around the age of 40 suffer from migraine. It is hardly surprising that prominent writers, artists, actors, peformers, doctors, generals, and politicians have experienced migraine headaches. Migraine can afflict celebrities and criminals. There is no evidence (unfortunately) that migraine confers special intelligence, talent, or wisdom.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Headache history, October 10, 2005

By	Dawn A. Marcus, MD (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This complete resource of migraine and headache throughout history is written by leading headache expert, Seymour Diamond. This book includes a comprehensive review of headache references, descriptions, and treatments from ancient history to the 20th century. Headache descriptions for a wide variety of famous figures are included, including scholars, artists, politicians, and literary characters. The headache sufferer who reads this book will see that he or she is not alone in experiencing different symptoms and suffering with headaches. Beautiful drawings and color plates depicting migraine symptoms and auras are included. This book provides an invaluable walk through history for those interested in headache.