recognition to the fact that migraine is more than just a simple headache from staying up too late or not getting proper rest. Migraines will shut down your entire body.
HW: Do you think you and Dwyane Wade are bringing awareness to the team as well? JONES: I think so. We’ re two guys who are extremely competitive; our team comes first. So it shows the impact [ migraine has ]. But I think there needs to be more accommodations and more awareness [ of migraine in sports ]. If you’ re not functioning, there’ s no way to be the best.
HW: It seems like a lot of athletes don’ t like to talk about their health. Do you see that? JONES: I see it because it’ s a very competitive sport. A lot of guys view that as a sign of weakness. Until guys are willing to step out and say,“ Hey, I’ m as strong as they come, but this is something that weakens me, this is something I deal with, this is something to be taken seriously,” until guys do that, then the status quo will be that you as one of the greatest athletes on earth should play through it and if you don’ t play through it that means you don’ t have the desire or that you’ re not exerting yourself. As more high-profile guys, with proven track records of persevering and putting their teams first, step to the forefront, I think organizations will respect it and understand and I think fans will too.
HW: Do you and Dwyane Wade ever talk about your migraines? JONES: Yes, normally we talk about them after we dodge a bullet [ a migraine ] or after we both come off of a migraine. Only if you experience them do you recognize the severe aching pain that you [ suffer ].
HW: The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported this summer that retirement was on the table for you. How have migraines impacted that decision? JONES: Just for the record, there was no way I was retiring. But as you get older and playing sports starts to take a toll on your body, it becomes more difficult to fight through and combat your migraines. So much of what we do is physical. At the end of the day you do want to play this game as long as possible, but you also want to be conscious that you don’ t leave the game and be in a bad state of health.
HW: What would you have to say to others who have missed out on important days due to headache? JONES: It’ s tough, there’ s no doubt about it. [ Missing an important day to deal with your health ] is a tremendous sacrifice, but I think you have to do it because at the end of the day you’ re talking about your health. We want life experiences and when you’ re in the moment, they’ re the most important thing you can think of. But really there’ s nothing more important than your health. The more you can get under control, the more you can avoid migraines, the better you are. Outside of the birth of my children, everything else is an experience that could be possibly replicated in the future.
HW: You’ re an NBA champ, a father, winner of the 2011 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout— you even run your own Legacy Foundation to give back to youth. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? JONES: It’ s a perfect storyline: I was born in Miami. I went to high school here. I went to college here. I was the first male in my family to graduate, the first Academic All-American in the family, the first professional basketball player in the family, three-point champion and NBA champion. Individually it’ s tough to say because it seems like my accomplishments have been a bundle and it’ s all happened here in Miami.
Winning the championship in Miami is by far one of the greatest accomplishments. But I think graduating from the University of Miami with my bachelor’ s degree in finance as an Academic All-American, for my family and for the people who helped me achieve, I think that was a very big moment. HW
Do you experience migraine or other headache types? Remember that treatment is available. To avoid increased severity of your condition, seek treatment early with the help of a headache specialist. A list of headache specialists is available at www. headaches. org or call 888-NHF-5552 for more information.
www. headaches. org | National Headache Foundation 39