Migraine Headache

  The National Headache Foundation (NHF) estimates that approximately 20.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraine headaches. Migraines occur most commonly between the ages of 15 and 55 though they are not uncommon in preschoolers and elementary school-age children. Migraines typically peak at 40-50 years of age and subside thereafter in both men and women. Up to 80% of patients have a family history of migraine headache.

The largest subgroup of people who experience migraine headaches is women in their reproductive years. It is estimated that up to 25% of all migraine attacks occur in the perimenstrual period of the menstrual cycle (from two days before up to 3 days after the cycle begins).

It is estimated that less than half the people suffering from migraines receive a correct diagnosis by their physicians. Migraines are severely underdiagnosed and are often misdiagnosed as tension or sinus headaches. When left untreated, a migraine headache can continue for up to 72 hours. They may occur as infrequently as twice a year or as often as daily. For unknown reasons, some migraine sufferers spontaneously go into remission and experience an extended period of time without headaches.

There are several types of migraine headaches including:

• Classic migraine also known as migraine with aura (appearance of visual disturbance shortly before the start of a migraine headache and may last into the early period of the migraine).

• Common migraine also known as migraine without aura. Common migraines may start slower than classic migraine headaches, last longer, and interfere more with daily activities.

• Status migrainous - very severe migraine that lasts longer than 72 hours.

• Basilar migraine - this type presents with an aura, pain in the back of the head, and may be accompanied by dizziness and/or fluctuating hearing loss. Aura symptoms differ from those accompanying classic migraine and may include ataxia (loss of coordination), abnormal sensations, or deafness. It is associated with a strong family history of migraine headaches.

• Chronic migraine - attacks occur at least 15 days a month for 2 months and are often associated with:

  • Frequent headaches
  • Obesity
  • Medication overuse
  • Stressful life events
  • Snoring
  • Female gender
  • Low education/socioeconomic status
  • Head injury

• Transformed migraine - transformation of episodic migraine headaches into daily, chronic, less severe headaches with intermittent typical migraine headaches. The transformation typically happens when the patient is in their 20s and 30s and is often associated with a history of migraines beginning in childhood or adolescence.

The primary goal of treatment for migraine headache is the immediate relief of the acute headache, also called abortive treatment. It is crucial that abortive treatment begin as early as possible after the headache begins since the longer one waits, the more difficult it is for treatment to be effective. Treatment for acute headache includes:

• Nonpharmacologic or supportive strategies
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Migraine-specific medications
• Rescue medications

Learn more by ordering your MediFocus Guidebook on Migraine Headache, the most comprehensive, up-to-date source of information available. You will get answers to your questions, including:

• What are the risk factors of Migraine Headache?
• What standard and alternative treatment options are available?
• Where are the leading doctors, hospitals and medical centers that specialize in Migraine Headache research and treatment?
• What are the results of the latest clinical trials?
• Where are the support groups and additional resources in my area?
• What are the promising new treatments on the horizon?

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