Did you know that June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month?
Migraine is rated by the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease Study as the third most common and eighth most burdensome disease in the world. From our research on the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study, we estimate that between 38 to 40 million American adults (or one person in every four households) experiences migraine. This translates to 1 billion people on the planet. However, less than half of people with migraine and even fewer people with chronic migraine (migraine with headache on 15 days or more per month) are diagnosed and treated.
Migraine is an “invisible” disease. While it can have a big impact on peoples’ lives, it may not be seen and understood by people around them. This can lead to misunderstanding about the level of pain and disability that someone endures and frustration by family, friends and coworkers. While migraine can be perceived as “just a headache,” a migraine attack can actually last for multiple days and encompass many phases. The headache pain portion of the migraine attack can include moderate or severe head pain as well as sensitivity to light, sound, odors and increased skin sensitivity. In addition, migraine attacks are often accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting. These symptoms can make it extremely difficult to function. A migraine attack can make you want to turn the lights off, shut the door and remove yourself from the rest of the world. Migraine can significantly impact all aspects of one’s life, including work, school, social, family and leisure time. Migraine can also lead to anxiety between attacks worrying about when the next one might occur. And living with this chronic condition can lead to feelings of depression.
[See: Coping With Depression at Work.]
We recently surveyed people with migraine as well as their spouses and children to learn how migraine affected their family as part of the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes Study. Results showed that people with migraine and their families missed family activities, leisure time and vacations due to migraine. We also found that 41 percent of people with migraine and 23 percent of their spouses stated that they believed they would be better parents if they did not have migraine. Approximately one-third of people with migraine and 21 percent of their spouses reported that they worried about the long-term financial security of their family due to migraine, among other worries. Adolescent respondents told us that their parent’s migraine affected their school work, sports, hobbies and time with friends. Across the board, the perceived burden was the greatest among people with chronic migraine.
The good news is that there are a range of safe and effective pharmacologic (medication) and nonpharmacologic (non-medication) treatments available. Pharmacologic approaches can be acute, meaning that they are taken when the attack occurs. Preventive medications and treatments are taken on a daily or regular basis to prevent attacks. Non-pharmacologic treatments for migraine management are equally as important and can be used in conjunction with meditation treatments or on their own. They include biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation practice and other forms of stress management.
Another important aspect of migraine management is managing triggers and maintaining healthy habits. Triggers for attacks can include stress, relaxation after a stressful period, too much or too little sleep, skipping meals or dehydration, bright or flickering lights, weather changes, certain foods and hormonal factors. It can be helpful to keep a diary to notice which factors may trigger a migraine and to live a healthy lifestyle by getting plenty of sleep, exercise, eating well and managing stress.
[See: 9 Tips to Tame Work Stress.]
Migraine is not a recent occurrence; in fact, it was documented in Egyptian scrolls from 1500 BC. However, our scientific understanding of the cause and treatments for migraine are constantly evolving. We’ve learned that migraine is most likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Someone with one parent with migraine has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the disease, and someone with both parents with migraine has a 75 percent chance. More than half of people with migraine have at least one close relative with the condition. Migraine is three times more common in women but occurs in men, too. We’ve also learned that migraine often develops in the teenage years or early adulthood and may last for several decades before tapering off.
Our hope is that new research findings and awareness campaigns such as Migraine and Headache Awareness Month will open the door for more dialogue about the substantial burden of migraine and exchange of information about how we diagnose, care for and treat those living with the condition. Recently, the American Migraine Foundation launched a patient registry, which we hope will help us understand and treat migraine even better.
If you have symptoms of migraine, talk with your doctor to get diagnosed and treated. Organizations that can help locate a headache health care professional and provide more information include the American Headache Society, the American Migraine Foundation and the National Headache Foundation. If you feel that stress, anxiety or depression associated with your severe headache or migraine have become overwhelming, please reach out for help. The American Psychological Association provides referrals and information about mental health wellness, stress management and living with a chronic illness. For links to these and other organizations see: http://dawnbuse.com/resources.html?t=0.
[See: 9 Things to Do or Say When a Loved One Talks About Taking Their Life.]
This is a very exciting time of new understandings and treatment options for migraine. The future is looking brighter than ever. If you or someone you love have migraine or think you might have migraine, speak with your doctor or a headache specialist. We’re here to help!
More from U.S. News
10 Classic Health and Safety Risks Among First-Time Campers
14 Ways Alcohol Affects the Aging Process
The 5 Latest Poison Control Threats Kids Face
Reducing the Burden of Migraine originally appeared on usnews.com
