Migraine... the Pain Is Real. So is the treatment. Get Diagnosed.
Updated April 24, 2015.
Did you know?
- More than 32 million Americans have Migraine disease. Migraine attacks typically start during adolescence; however, many children also experience Migraines.¹
- Less than 2% of all headaches are organically caused -- headaches due to infections, structural abnormalities, brain tumors, etc.²
- Migraineurs lose more than 157 million workdays each year.²
- It's estimated that industry loses $50 billion annually to absenteeism, lost productivity, and medical expenses caused by headache and Migraine disease.²
In an effort to educate the public about the impact and severity of Migraine disease, and support America's 32 million Migraine sufferers, the National Headache Foundation (NHF) has declared June 6-12, 2004 as National Headache Awareness Week (NHAW). This year's theme is "Migraine... The Pain is Real. So is the Treatment. Get Diagnosed."
The goals of National Headache Awareness Week are:
- to gain recognition of Migraine pain as a real and legitimate condition,
- to let sufferers know that there are new treatments available,
- and to encourage sufferers to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
According to a recent online survey conducted by the NHF, which received more than 1,300 responses, 43% of respondents indicated they were not aware that prevention was an option, 39% have sought treatment for a Migraine attack in the emergency room. Additionally, 86% of survey respondents experience throbbing pain during an attack, while 72% suffer from nausea.
National Headache Awareness Week emphasizes five strategies for effective Migraine management, which empower sufferers to take control of their condition:
- Get an accurate diagnosis - Make an appointment with your healthcare provider to specifically talk about your head pain problem. If, within three months, you are not receiving adequate relief, ask for a referral to a specialist.
- Ask which treatment option is right for you- There have been many advances in the treatment of Migraine, both medication and alternative therapies, all of which should be discussed with your healthcare provider to determine which treatment option is best for you.
- Find out if prevention is an option - While some Migraine sufferers take acute medications (taken when an attack occurs), prevention is a possibility for others, and should be discussed with your healthcare provider. If you are having two or more Migraines per week, or your attacks are particularly disabling, prevention may be an option.
- Keep a record of what has successfully reduced Migraine pain - All headache and Migraine sufferers should keep a diary, which includes triggers, pain management strategies, time of attack, length of attack, and frequency and severity of attack. A diary may help to identify and eliminate triggers.
- Don't be afraid to ask for support - Family, friends and professional colleagues should know that you are a Migraine sufferer, and that if you are experiencing an attack, they should be supportive and understanding. The NHF offers local support groups around the country. To find a support group in your area, visit www.headaches.org.
Also during NHAW, the National Headache Foundation will introduce its new Headache Sufferer Identification Card, a wallet-sized card that details health information related to their head pain condition, which allows the sufferer to easily access this information when requested by a healthcare professional. The Headache Sufferer Identification Card is available by calling 888-NHF-5552. To further support headache and Migraine sufferers, the NHF, through an unrestricted educational grant from Xcel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has created a brochure about physician-patient communication. Because the information exchange between patient and doctor is critical to diagnosis, this brochure helps breakdown the barriers, and establish effective communication.
According to Dr. Seymour Diamond, founder and executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation,
- "Great strides have been made in the treatment options available to Migraine sufferers, which can reduce their pain and associated symptoms and improve their quality of life. However, sufferers need to see a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis in order to gain the full benefits of a Migraine prevention and treatment program."
For more information about National Headache Awareness Week, visit the National Headache Foundation Web site at www.headaches.org or call 888-NHF-5552.
____________
Resources:
¹ According to the World Health Organization, 6% of men and 18% of women have Migraine disease. Applying those percentages to the official United States Census of 2000, determines that there are more than 32 million Migraineurs in the United States.
² The National Headache Foundation.
For a more detailed article on this topic, click HERE.
National Headache Awareness Week: June 6 -12, 2004.
Did you know?
- More than 32 million Americans have Migraine disease. Migraine attacks typically start during adolescence; however, many children also experience Migraines.¹
- Less than 2% of all headaches are organically caused -- headaches due to infections, structural abnormalities, brain tumors, etc.²
- Migraineurs lose more than 157 million workdays each year.²
- It's estimated that industry loses $50 billion annually to absenteeism, lost productivity, and medical expenses caused by headache and Migraine disease.²
In an effort to educate the public about the impact and severity of Migraine disease, and support America's 32 million Migraine sufferers, the National Headache Foundation (NHF) has declared June 6-12, 2004 as National Headache Awareness Week (NHAW). This year's theme is "Migraine... The Pain is Real. So is the Treatment. Get Diagnosed."
The goals of National Headache Awareness Week are:
- to gain recognition of Migraine pain as a real and legitimate condition,
- to let sufferers know that there are new treatments available,
- and to encourage sufferers to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
According to a recent online survey conducted by the NHF, which received more than 1,300 responses, 43% of respondents indicated they were not aware that prevention was an option, 39% have sought treatment for a Migraine attack in the emergency room. Additionally, 86% of survey respondents experience throbbing pain during an attack, while 72% suffer from nausea.
National Headache Awareness Week emphasizes five strategies for effective Migraine management, which empower sufferers to take control of their condition:
- Get an accurate diagnosis - Make an appointment with your healthcare provider to specifically talk about your head pain problem. If, within three months, you are not receiving adequate relief, ask for a referral to a specialist.
- Ask which treatment option is right for you- There have been many advances in the treatment of Migraine, both medication and alternative therapies, all of which should be discussed with your healthcare provider to determine which treatment option is best for you.
- Find out if prevention is an option - While some Migraine sufferers take acute medications (taken when an attack occurs), prevention is a possibility for others, and should be discussed with your healthcare provider. If you are having two or more Migraines per week, or your attacks are particularly disabling, prevention may be an option.
- Keep a record of what has successfully reduced Migraine pain - All headache and Migraine sufferers should keep a diary, which includes triggers, pain management strategies, time of attack, length of attack, and frequency and severity of attack. A diary may help to identify and eliminate triggers.
- Don't be afraid to ask for support - Family, friends and professional colleagues should know that you are a Migraine sufferer, and that if you are experiencing an attack, they should be supportive and understanding. The NHF offers local support groups around the country. To find a support group in your area, visit www.headaches.org.
Also during NHAW, the National Headache Foundation will introduce its new Headache Sufferer Identification Card, a wallet-sized card that details health information related to their head pain condition, which allows the sufferer to easily access this information when requested by a healthcare professional. The Headache Sufferer Identification Card is available by calling 888-NHF-5552. To further support headache and Migraine sufferers, the NHF, through an unrestricted educational grant from Xcel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has created a brochure about physician-patient communication. Because the information exchange between patient and doctor is critical to diagnosis, this brochure helps breakdown the barriers, and establish effective communication.
According to Dr. Seymour Diamond, founder and executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation,
- "Great strides have been made in the treatment options available to Migraine sufferers, which can reduce their pain and associated symptoms and improve their quality of life. However, sufferers need to see a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis in order to gain the full benefits of a Migraine prevention and treatment program."
For more information about National Headache Awareness Week, visit the National Headache Foundation Web site at www.headaches.org or call 888-NHF-5552.
____________
Resources:
¹ According to the World Health Organization, 6% of men and 18% of women have Migraine disease. Applying those percentages to the official United States Census of 2000, determines that there are more than 32 million Migraineurs in the United States.
² The National Headache Foundation.
For a more detailed article on this topic, click HERE.
Source...