Celebrities with Chronic Headache Pain: The symptoms of migraine headaches are debilitating; stabbing head pain, nausea, stomach cramping and migraine auras can leave you feeling weak, tired, and depressed long after the migraine attack has abated. While a migraine attack can last for days, the psychological aftermath can be everlasting; many migraineurs struggle with feelings of low self-esteem, inadequacy, uncertainty and despair because of their illness.
Top 10 Headache Symptoms that Point to Migraines
However, many successful, vibrant personalities have suffered from chronic migraines. Some of the most influential people throughout history have been migraine sufferers, including such movers and shakers as Einstein, John F. Kennedy, and Van Gough, whose “auras” are visible in some of his most famous works. Today, celebrity migraineurs such as Desperate Housewives’ Marcia Cross and Friends’ Lisa Kudrow contribute to migraine awareness, in the hope of one day finding a cure for migraines.
Below is our list of the 30 most famous migraine patients throughout history and today:
Film and TV Stars
Marcia Cross
Marcia Cross suffered from severe chronic migraines before 10 years before she learned to prevent migraine attacks by changing her diet, combatting stress, and getting enough sleep. Today, she is a spokesperson for the popular migraine treatment, Imitrex.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck, star of The Town, spent Memorial Day, 2006 in a hospital, recovering from a migraine attack. 4 Headaches that Require Emergency Intervention
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman, aka Wolverine, has had his bouts of migraine symptoms. 6 Migraine Myth-conceptions
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg, whose claim to fame began with her starring role in Steven Spielberg’s The
Color Purple, suffers from chronic migraines.
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow suffered childhood migraines that diminished, as she got older. Coincidentally, her father, Lee Kudrow, is a migraine specialist, who helped with the implementation of lidocaine as a migraine treatment,
Star Jones
Star Jones, former host of The View, lost over 160 pounds after having gastric bypass surgery. Scientists say that weight loss surgery often leads to alleviated migraine symptoms, but there has been no word from Star confirming that hypothesis. Weight Loss Surgery May Reduce Migraines
Virginia Madsen
Virginia Madsen, who co-starred with Paul Giamatti in the blockbuster, Sideways, claims that Botox injections have cured her of her migraine pain. Still on the Fence about Botox for Headache Relief? Read what Scientists and Skeptics have to Say
Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth plays Glinda the good witch on Broadway’s Wicked, but offstage, migraines and nausea leave her feeling more like the green Wicked Witch of the West.
Elle Macpherson
Supermodel Elle Macpherson tries to stay hydrated in order to avoid dry skin, in addition to thwarting migraine attacks. 15 Tricks for Staying Hydrated and Avoiding Migraines
James Cromwell
The man who played Farmer Hoggett on Babe is one of many Hollywood movie stars who suffer from frequent migraines.
Elizabeth Taylor
Liz Taylor suffered from chronic pain, in additional to migraines. The much-adored superstar experienced so many debilitating and life-threatening illnesses that she required hospitalization over 70 times before passing away of heart failure in March of 2011. Brain Tumor, Stroke and 8 other Illnesses you probably don’t have
Musicians
Elvis Presley
The famous crooner once known as the king of rock and roll was also a frequent pill popper, which eventually led to his demise. Elvis suffered from numerous ailments, including migraines.
Carly Simon
Famous singer/songwriter Carly Simon learned how to decrease the frequency of her migraine attacks by cutting out certain food triggers, such as coffee, from her diet. Wine, Cheese, Perfume, and other Headache Triggers
Loretta Lynn
Country music legend Loretta Lynn revealed in her book, Coal Miner’s Daughter, that she began suffering from migraines since the age of seventeen and that her father was also a migraine sufferer.
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson had to cancel a few shows back in 2008 when she started feeling head pain and vertigo from vestibular migraines.
In Sports
Dwyane Wade
NBA star Dwyane wade has had his issues with migraines on and off the basketball court. While wearing tinted glasses help to relieve some of the pain symptoms during an attack, his teammates have expressed displeasure at the Miami Heat player’s pattern of wearing eyewear during a game, claiming that it puts other players at a disadvantage. Migraines Caused by Eye Strain? Tinted Glasses can Help
Percy Harvin
The Vikings’ Percy Harvin had to miss a lot of team practice due to chronic migraine attacks, but he claims that his doctors have cured him of his pain symptoms and that he hasn’t felt better in years. He attributes his well-being to weaning off certain headache triggers in his diet and physical therapy.
Freddie Ljungberg
Swedish soccer player Freddie Ljungerb had to be carried off the field when he started experiencing a severe migraine attack during a match. 5 Sports-Related Migraines You Never Heard Of
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Legendary NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced in 2009 that he has leukemia, in addition to being a chronic migraine sufferer.
Serena Williams
Tennis star Serena Williams, who experiences frequent migraine headaches, is a spokesperson for the “RALLY for Menstrual Migraine” campaign. Treatments for Menstrual Migraines
Terrel Davis didn’t let migraines stop him from performing in the 1998 Super Bowl XXXII. He played his best, despite throbbing head pain and visual distortions.
Historical Figures
Vincent Van Gogh
Had Vincent Van Gogh not suffered from migraines with aura, would he have ever painted the infamous Starry Nights? Migraines with Aura may Signal Birth Defect in Heart
John F. Kennedy
In addition to battling the beginnings of the Cold War, former president of the USA John F. Kennedy also had his battles with migraines.
Napoleon Bonaparte
French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte might have been a man of peace had he not suffered from migraine headaches, perhaps. Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection proves that migraine patients are as vital and capable as non-headache sufferers are, seeing as he, himself, was a chronic migraineur.
Lewis Carroll
Was the famed “Alice in Wonderland” novelist daydreaming of little white rabbits and lazy caterpillars while recovering from a migraine attack?
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson, who was one of the United States’ founding fathers and 3rd president, experienced severe migraine headaches throughout his lifetime.
Robert E. Lee
General Robert E. Lee led our country through one of its bloodiest battles while suffering his own battles with migraines.
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar, the Roman general whose exploits inspired history’s greatest artists and playwrights, would have benefited from using a migraine diary, had he known of its benefits for preventing migraine attacks. 10 Clues your should Include in your Headache Diary Today
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud knew that sometimes, a headache is not just a headache; it can be a debilitating migraine headache.
Read more about migraine prevention:
5 Sports-Related Migraines You Never Heard Of
Strange but True: Migraines can Give You a British Accent
Sources:
Kristin Chenoweth’s Migraine Puts Pause On Emmys Celebration
You Are In Good Company! Famous Migraineurs
Celebs Who Cope With Migraines
How Actress Virginia Madsen Found Migraine Relief | Lifescript.com
