Interesting Facts about Headaches and Migraines

1. It is the 3^rd most common disease in the world!

• Global Prevalence – 14.7% which equates to approximately 1 in 7 people.

2. It is more common in females – 85% of chronic migraine suffers are women, this is thought to be due to hormonal contributors.
3. Triggers vary widely, which is why it affects so many people.
4. Auras are a warning sign, but not everyone will experience them.
5. Migraines can cause temporary blindness.
6. Hemiplegic migraines – loss of lower limb function?!

• Whilst this is very uncommon, a minority of migraine sufferers experience hemiplegic migraines which results in varying loss of lower limb function for up to 24 hours. As you can imagine, this can be very terrifying.

7. They affect children – in fact, migraines are a leading cause of children visits to the emergency department. Migraines are notoriously under diagnosed in the younger population.
8. Thought to be hereditary – 80-90% of sufferers tend to have at least one close family relative who also suffers.
9. Linked to enteric nervous system – the central nervous system (CNS) is the known contributor to sending pain signals which result in the feelings of a migraine. The CNS is closely linked to the enteric nervous system, which is why some people experience abdominal migraines.
10. Linked to anxiety and depression – both mental health conditions are more common in those who suffer from migraines; it is not yet known how exactly they are related.
11. It is the 6^th most disabling illness worldwide!
12. Historically, migraines have been treated purely by medication, but we now know frequent use of medication increases the occurrence of headaches and migraines.

The above facts are just a brief overview of the concepts surrounding migraines. If anything, it should convey the complexity and variety of migraine as a condition, and why it can be so challenging to find a successful treatment plan.

If you have more questions or would like to know more about the treatment alternatives we provide, contact us on 1800 HEADACHE or [email protected]! We can book you in with an experienced headache clinician today to help find the root cause, and establish a treatment plan now!

For more information:

https://headacheaustralia.org.au/migraine/migraine-a-common-and-distressing-disorder/

https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/

https://www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/migraine-what-is-it/facts-figures/