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Splitting: The inside story on headaches
A leading neurologist lifts the lid on head pain--a fascinating, accessible guide to headaches, with some practical advice along the way.
Packed with practical advice and information from a neurologist--from what causes migraines to how sinus pain happens to whether we should just reach for the painkillers and ignore the root causes-- this is Why We Sleep for the head.
There is nothing novel about headache. Since time immemorial, humans have suffered in its grip. Medieval Persia was a hotbed of intense debate over how to avoid and subsequently cure headache, and castor oil seemed to be prevalent as a remedy. Thankfully we have moved on. Darwin became a recluse because of his headaches, but on the bright side, this gave him more time to stay at home and think about the origin of the species. I doubt any modern human sees their headache as being a blessing, but it is trying to tell you something. How do we find out what that is? What is the point of pain?
Packed with practical advice and information from a neurologist--from what causes migraines to how sinus pain happens to whether we should just reach for the painkillers and ignore the root causes-- this is Why We Sleep for the head.
There is nothing novel about headache. Since time immemorial, humans have suffered in its grip. Medieval Persia was a hotbed of intense debate over how to avoid and subsequently cure headache, and castor oil seemed to be prevalent as a remedy. Thankfully we have moved on. Darwin became a recluse because of his headaches, but on the bright side, this gave him more time to stay at home and think about the origin of the species. I doubt any modern human sees their headache as being a blessing, but it is trying to tell you something. How do we find out what that is? What is the point of pain?
240 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2020
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207 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
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June 28, 2020As someone who experiences chronic headaches and the occasional migraine, I was interested in the subject matter of this book, but it was 100% Ellison's writing style that hooked me. I never would've expected to be laughing out loud at a book about headaches, but it happened on more than one occasion (my fiancé definitely thinks I'm a crazy person - "how is a book about headaches so hilarious??"). But truly, Ellison's voice shines through these pages so strongly, and you come away from reading it feeling like you've had an extraordinarily informative and entertaining conversation with a new friend (but really...can we be friends??).
Ellison does a masterful job of explaining otherwise highly complex material in an extremely approachable manner. For example: "All the blood vessels get bigger or dilate - a process called 'vasodilation' - to bring more blood quickly and this stretches their walls beyond comfortable limits, setting off the pain receptors in your blood vessels. 'There is danger here' is their message, 'stop what you are doing'." I also appreciated that Ellison frequently breaks down words into smaller chunks, giving us the etiology of each part so that we can better understand the words as a whole. Another delicate balance Ellison handled beautifully was between the background and medical terminology and the functional information for headache sufferers to put into action.
Over and over as I read her little asides and personal comments, I kept thinking to myself "thank goodness the publisher didn't reign her in" because the book wouldn't have been nearly as magical (and yes, I just described a pretty medically-heavy book about headaches as magical, and I meant it) without her flares of personality! I'll leave you with one of my favorites here: "One word we did lose over the time since Old English was the verb snite, 'to wipe or pick one's nose'. I am rather gutted that this has gone out of modern parlance but will make it my mission to ring it back. Starting now." ...I mean, who wouldn't laugh at this?! Beyond fantastic.
Giving this a 5/5 because it does what it set out to do in the most fabulous way possible, but with the grain of salt that ultimately, this is a book about headaches...although I'd venture to guess that even if you're not interested in headaches, you'd still enjoy this book thanks to Ellison alone!
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Ellison does a masterful job of explaining otherwise highly complex material in an extremely approachable manner. For example: "All the blood vessels get bigger or dilate - a process called 'vasodilation' - to bring more blood quickly and this stretches their walls beyond comfortable limits, setting off the pain receptors in your blood vessels. 'There is danger here' is their message, 'stop what you are doing'." I also appreciated that Ellison frequently breaks down words into smaller chunks, giving us the etiology of each part so that we can better understand the words as a whole. Another delicate balance Ellison handled beautifully was between the background and medical terminology and the functional information for headache sufferers to put into action.
Over and over as I read her little asides and personal comments, I kept thinking to myself "thank goodness the publisher didn't reign her in" because the book wouldn't have been nearly as magical (and yes, I just described a pretty medically-heavy book about headaches as magical, and I meant it) without her flares of personality! I'll leave you with one of my favorites here: "One word we did lose over the time since Old English was the verb snite, 'to wipe or pick one's nose'. I am rather gutted that this has gone out of modern parlance but will make it my mission to ring it back. Starting now." ...I mean, who wouldn't laugh at this?! Beyond fantastic.
Giving this a 5/5 because it does what it set out to do in the most fabulous way possible, but with the grain of salt that ultimately, this is a book about headaches...although I'd venture to guess that even if you're not interested in headaches, you'd still enjoy this book thanks to Ellison alone!
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 4, 2022
A LOW 4 ⭐️, and only bc 3 seemed too harsh. It started off so strong - I was raving about it and learning so much. About halfway through, the author’s personal voice drops off and it becomes much the same.
March 27, 2021
I read this book because I get a lot of tension headaches, and my daughter gets migraines. It was interesting: I liked finding out the biological basis of what causes different kinds of headaches. I learnt that it’s pretty complicated. The takeaway advice for headache/migraine sufferers was something that I already knew: get to know your own triggers by keeping a diary. I found the mixture of pretty detailed science-speak and the author’s frequent ‘funny’ asides quite annoying. I think it needed a good edit. It felt like the author was trying to make the science more approachable through her informal humour, when I think more effort to use more organised, shorter paragraphs and possibly images/diagrams would have been more effective.
I would also like a citation for the statement that “kids are being born nowadays with better musculature and control over their thumb movements, to deal with the requirements of video games and swiping apps”. Really?!?! As an explainer for the theory of evolution through natural selection, this is a pretty amateur error. Evolution in one generation?! This doesn’t help with the book’s credibility. I did like the glossary and index, however.
I would also like a citation for the statement that “kids are being born nowadays with better musculature and control over their thumb movements, to deal with the requirements of video games and swiping apps”. Really?!?! As an explainer for the theory of evolution through natural selection, this is a pretty amateur error. Evolution in one generation?! This doesn’t help with the book’s credibility. I did like the glossary and index, however.
July 6, 2020
As someone who has suffered from migraines for decades, this book was both helpful and fascinating. I thought that my symptoms were rare, but seems like I’m a typical migraineur (a term I learned from Splitting). When I was first diagnosed, my neurologist said that no one knew what migraines were or how to stop them from happening. It doesn’t seem like there has been much progress in that regard, but there are now more studies and some more answers, even if Ellison’s advice to patients is the same my doctor gave me: figure out your triggers and get to know your symptoms. That said, even if the book also covers brain freeze and tension headaches, it will be mostly useful for people who suffer migraines and cluster headaches, but not as interesting to the lucky ones who don’t. Some parts dealing with chemistry and genetics are too technical for laypeople, but I highly recommend it to anyone dealing with this condition.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Bloomsbury USA!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Bloomsbury USA!
October 21, 2020
Did you know that stripes and horizontal lines like those in venetian blinds can trigger migraines? Me neither, it's fascinating isn't it? I started listening to the audiobook of Splitting - The Inside Story on Headaches by Amanda Ellison and I wasn't expecting it to be funny, but found myself chuckling quite often.
Here's an example from Chapter 2 - Brain Freeze:
"This pain lasts as long as it takes to regulate your blood flow. Usually by 10 (or maybe more) seconds after you have introduced the offending cold intruder to your buccal cavity (otherwise known as your mouth; 'shut your buccal cavity' stops any argument, period. You're welcome!) you will feel normal again." Page 20
And another from Chapter 3 - Sinus, Sensation and Snot:
"If you get to watch the television while you are sitting in the dentist's chair, I can predict two things. The first is that you are not with my dentist, and the second is that you will need less numbing agent because your brain doesn't feel pain as much because your attention is diverted." Page 48
However, once the author started to get down into the nitty gritty of her subject, I had to pick up the paperback and apply myself.
Amanda Ellison goes into quite some detail here about what is happening in the body during a headache and a migraine, and how they're different. She also goes into the various types of headaches and migraines, theories which have been proposed in the past and the current medical science in this field.
However, I'm not ashamed to admit that much of the science and biology was a little over my head. Try as I might, I was unable to achieve more than a general understanding of what she was explaining.
I'd say Splitting by Amanda Ellison is for readers familiar with medicine, biology or science or who have a serious interest in the body and human health. I was interested in the subject matter but outgunned here by the science; through no fault of the author I might add.
My key takeaways from reading Splitting are that headaches and migraines are far more complex than I had imagined. Sure, there are de-hydration headaches as well as stress or anxiety induced headaches and migraines. Other times they can be the result of hormones or genetics and can even come down to whether or not you have an hyperactive visual cortex.
Amanda Ellison has been incredibly thorough and Splitting is a deep dive into the subject of headaches and migraines. I believe it would be of most interest to sufferers for whom these events are debilitating. Some chapters may not be applicable, but it could give the reader seeking relief a new avenue to consider in consultation with their Doctor.
* Copy courtesy of Bloomsbury *
Here's an example from Chapter 2 - Brain Freeze:
"This pain lasts as long as it takes to regulate your blood flow. Usually by 10 (or maybe more) seconds after you have introduced the offending cold intruder to your buccal cavity (otherwise known as your mouth; 'shut your buccal cavity' stops any argument, period. You're welcome!) you will feel normal again." Page 20
And another from Chapter 3 - Sinus, Sensation and Snot:
"If you get to watch the television while you are sitting in the dentist's chair, I can predict two things. The first is that you are not with my dentist, and the second is that you will need less numbing agent because your brain doesn't feel pain as much because your attention is diverted." Page 48
However, once the author started to get down into the nitty gritty of her subject, I had to pick up the paperback and apply myself.
Amanda Ellison goes into quite some detail here about what is happening in the body during a headache and a migraine, and how they're different. She also goes into the various types of headaches and migraines, theories which have been proposed in the past and the current medical science in this field.
However, I'm not ashamed to admit that much of the science and biology was a little over my head. Try as I might, I was unable to achieve more than a general understanding of what she was explaining.
I'd say Splitting by Amanda Ellison is for readers familiar with medicine, biology or science or who have a serious interest in the body and human health. I was interested in the subject matter but outgunned here by the science; through no fault of the author I might add.
My key takeaways from reading Splitting are that headaches and migraines are far more complex than I had imagined. Sure, there are de-hydration headaches as well as stress or anxiety induced headaches and migraines. Other times they can be the result of hormones or genetics and can even come down to whether or not you have an hyperactive visual cortex.
Amanda Ellison has been incredibly thorough and Splitting is a deep dive into the subject of headaches and migraines. I believe it would be of most interest to sufferers for whom these events are debilitating. Some chapters may not be applicable, but it could give the reader seeking relief a new avenue to consider in consultation with their Doctor.
* Copy courtesy of Bloomsbury *
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March 22, 2025As a migraine sufferer, I read this book with grey interest. It doesn’t just cover me grains, it covers tension, headaches, cluster headaches, migraines et cetera. The attention headache and cluster headache sessions were very interesting with lots of headache preventing tips and information and explanations, a lot of which are relevant to all headaches including migraines, but the actual section on migraines was very scientific and wordy, without any real day today living tips on preventing and treating migraines. Lots of very fascinating facts and very interesting, but I was hoping that there would be simple little strategies that I could take on board and maybe make a difference to my migraines.
There was a very interesting section on dehydration and how dehydration causes headaches,, but most of the facts disproved common beliefs in such things as trigger foods, chemicals found in Chinese food et cetera. Apart from the dehydration and avoiding processed foods, I didn’t really gain much. One interesting points was that people with migraines should watch their environments to see what visual triggers they have around them such as Venetian blinds, the pattern of straight lines is a huge trigger, even down to striped clothes that people around you are wearing. All very interesting, But my hunt still goes on to find a book that gives me things to do rather than what isn’t working.
One good thing that came out from the book, is that chocolate is actually good for me grains because it increases serotonin and serotonin helps to overcome migraines, so I’m off to buy the biggest box of chocolates I can find, purely medicinal of course! LOL!
There was a very interesting section on dehydration and how dehydration causes headaches,, but most of the facts disproved common beliefs in such things as trigger foods, chemicals found in Chinese food et cetera. Apart from the dehydration and avoiding processed foods, I didn’t really gain much. One interesting points was that people with migraines should watch their environments to see what visual triggers they have around them such as Venetian blinds, the pattern of straight lines is a huge trigger, even down to striped clothes that people around you are wearing. All very interesting, But my hunt still goes on to find a book that gives me things to do rather than what isn’t working.
One good thing that came out from the book, is that chocolate is actually good for me grains because it increases serotonin and serotonin helps to overcome migraines, so I’m off to buy the biggest box of chocolates I can find, purely medicinal of course! LOL!
March 10, 2021
I've read this because my sinuses made me do it. The most fascinating tidbits from the book have been these:
* "the strongest bone in your body is located in your skull - it’s called the petrous temporal bone (latin petrosus - ‘stone-like’ or ‘hard’), covering your temporal lobe above your ear. Incredibly dense, it carefully houses your inner ear, a beautiful spiral structure called the cochlea that converts sound waves into electrical signals your brain can understand as sound. It is the last part of the skeleton to decompose, shows much better DNA preservation than other bones of the body, and so is a rich treasure trove for archaeologists. (It is also the only part of us that cannot be digested by sharks, as it happens; it’s just too dense for their digestive system to cope with.)"
* you can use spicy food to temporarily unclog your congested sinuses
* possible causes of sinusitis include lactose and gluten intolerance, hormones, and a hypoactive thyroid
* stress/ activity in the emotional regions of the brain increases your cardiovascular risk (via overproduction of white blood cells, causing blockages and arterial inflammation)
* cloning does not produce exact copies
* the neurochemistry of brain signalling, involving sodium and potassium
* "the strongest bone in your body is located in your skull - it’s called the petrous temporal bone (latin petrosus - ‘stone-like’ or ‘hard’), covering your temporal lobe above your ear. Incredibly dense, it carefully houses your inner ear, a beautiful spiral structure called the cochlea that converts sound waves into electrical signals your brain can understand as sound. It is the last part of the skeleton to decompose, shows much better DNA preservation than other bones of the body, and so is a rich treasure trove for archaeologists. (It is also the only part of us that cannot be digested by sharks, as it happens; it’s just too dense for their digestive system to cope with.)"
* you can use spicy food to temporarily unclog your congested sinuses
* possible causes of sinusitis include lactose and gluten intolerance, hormones, and a hypoactive thyroid
* stress/ activity in the emotional regions of the brain increases your cardiovascular risk (via overproduction of white blood cells, causing blockages and arterial inflammation)
* cloning does not produce exact copies
* the neurochemistry of brain signalling, involving sodium and potassium
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2020
This was a very informative read that could greatly benefit anyone who has chronic headaches and wishes to figure out why. With quick wit, personal anecdotes and a wealth of solid research, Ellison explores the types of headaches we get, why we get them, and steps we can take to solve the puzzle of our own headache health. The sections on how alcohol and caffeine create headache cycles and the effects of serotonin on headaches were of particular interest.
The only caveat I would apply is that this book is not afraid to get “in the weeds” on science (at least by mass-market standards). This is great because so much science happens in those tricky, and often complicated, details. I often felt like I was back in my Cellular Neurobiology class and I loved it. While the science is highly accessible given the complexity of the topic, the depth could be a slog for those not interested (or well-versed) in research of this nature. That said, I would still recommend this to anyone looking to unravel the cause of their headaches.
The only caveat I would apply is that this book is not afraid to get “in the weeds” on science (at least by mass-market standards). This is great because so much science happens in those tricky, and often complicated, details. I often felt like I was back in my Cellular Neurobiology class and I loved it. While the science is highly accessible given the complexity of the topic, the depth could be a slog for those not interested (or well-versed) in research of this nature. That said, I would still recommend this to anyone looking to unravel the cause of their headaches.
May 22, 2020
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I had personal interest in this book especially, as I've had migraines since I was 12. I've learned how to care for them (avoiding triggers, holistic helps, etc.) over the years but the process of the headache still fascinates me and I was curious as to whether the author had any insight I didn't already know in terms of treatment. Unfortunately this book didn't help much in that respect. It did, however, contain a lot of information that was interesting, such as how auras work and why we feel headache pain in our temples.
I had personal interest in this book especially, as I've had migraines since I was 12. I've learned how to care for them (avoiding triggers, holistic helps, etc.) over the years but the process of the headache still fascinates me and I was curious as to whether the author had any insight I didn't already know in terms of treatment. Unfortunately this book didn't help much in that respect. It did, however, contain a lot of information that was interesting, such as how auras work and why we feel headache pain in our temples.
September 21, 2020
Like many other reviewers of this book, I have migraines—also, cluster headaches. The author does a great job of synthesizing the history and research. There’s a lot of what I already knew here, since I’m 62. I cried most of the way through however, since I’ve tried most of the strategies, there really is no one solution for everyone, treatments readily available in England (the author’s home base) are out of my reach in the US, and I have a deadly trifecta of migraine, TMJ disorder and osteoarthritis of my jaw and face.
Nevertheless, the book is very much worth reading, even for those like me who’ve mostly tried it all.
Nevertheless, the book is very much worth reading, even for those like me who’ve mostly tried it all.
August 5, 2021
An odd book- sometimes too much technical detail and medical terminology and at other moments Dr. Ellison was off on a tangent about what she ate and drank that *might* have caused her headache or something she found interesting and did a side note deep dive. A bit rushed and frenetic. Neither truly for the layperson nor the professional. Definitely needed a good edit and more illustrations. Zero mention of atmospheric migraine triggers (my biggest trigger for chronic migraines), which was shocking since they are so prevalent. The last chapter was particularly rushed. An interesting read, but not helpful for headache sufferers.
August 18, 2021
It took me awhile to dive into this book. I have suffered from headaches all my life. I have learned certain truths. If I don't get enough sleep, I will get a headache. If I don't drink enough water, I will get a headache.
The author does a deep dive into what causes certain headaches, how to relieve them, and the biology of the headache.
I think that this book should be read by biologists or doctors.
There are a lot of technical terms and it was hard to keep it all straight.
OVerall, I loved that the author would break down the different types of headaches and how to "cure" them.
Thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
The author does a deep dive into what causes certain headaches, how to relieve them, and the biology of the headache.
I think that this book should be read by biologists or doctors.
There are a lot of technical terms and it was hard to keep it all straight.
OVerall, I loved that the author would break down the different types of headaches and how to "cure" them.
Thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
July 26, 2021
Definitely a useful and informative book but something about it gave me a headache(!) This is meant with kindness, but I found the style a bit choppy and uneven: lots of technical explanation sometimes missing the very basics, coupled with occasional very informal anecdotes from the author. I appreciate it is endearing but I found it jarring. I also felt it could have been broken down a little more - shorter chapters or ending the chapter with tips for the reader. But really appreciate the author’s hard work as it contains so much knowledge - just needed more structural editing.
August 27, 2021
Книга познавательна, но для научпопа слишком переполнена научной терминологией, что делает ее почти невозможной для спокойного чтения и восприятия. И под большим количеством терминов я понимаю действительно ОГРОМНОЕ их количество.
И нельзя не отметить слабый уровень русской редактуры: много ошибок и очень перегруженные предложения - через книгу приходилось продираться с силой.
И нельзя не отметить слабый уровень русской редактуры: много ошибок и очень перегруженные предложения - через книгу приходилось продираться с силой.
February 20, 2022
Take all the internet articles I've fallen down the rabbit hole with and expand them with solid, scientific information and you've got this book. Some of the more in depth sciencey bits got a little too dry for me, but otherwise a very readable and worthwhile book - especial for those who deal with headaches in one form or another.
June 20, 2025
Nothing conclusive. The tl;dr is: if you feel pain, you should pay attention to it because your body might be warning you about something more serious. Keep a journal because everybody is different, and you need to find your own triggers so you can either reduce or eliminate the number of migraines.
May 31, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
I get headaches and migraines more often than I'd like. This book had some good information that I didn't already know in regards to treatment, along with some additional interesting info.
I get headaches and migraines more often than I'd like. This book had some good information that I didn't already know in regards to treatment, along with some additional interesting info.
August 10, 2020
Fascinating insights
Very readable, even for this non-scientist. And I have finally learned something helpful about my migraines and can justify my chocolate and tea when I feel one coming on
Very readable, even for this non-scientist. And I have finally learned something helpful about my migraines and can justify my chocolate and tea when I feel one coming on
October 5, 2021
A little dry in places but hilarious in others. Generally fascinating look at the current and development of Science in and around headaches. A good science book for a quick catch up on all the relevant research and thinking in headaches.
August 26, 2020
Interesting book and very readable, even by a non-scientist... although there were points where I got lost on some of the more technical bits.
February 17, 2021
Got lost in some of the medical details, but still made for interesting reading.
March 7, 2021
Interesting, but offers very few answers for migraine sufferers.
March 19, 2021
Really good chapters on migraine.
April 14, 2021
A useful book for headache sufferers , though sometimes the neurophysiology/ neurochemistry gets complex - even for a doctor!
June 1, 2021
Entertaining and informative but need to reorder from library to read more thoroughly!
August 3, 2021
Disappointing. Not well written, not very informative.
April 10, 2024
Could not see any info on RCVS…Zero on Thunderclap headaches.
December 23, 2022
Ellison writes a good summary of the various types of headaches and how they can be treated. Helpful as someone who frequently suffers from various kinds of headaches including migraines and has gone through the wringer trying to treat them.
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