MIGRAINE AWARENESS WEEK – 5th – 14th September – While there is an increasing awareness of migraine and understanding of what it is, not many would disagree that there needs to be more awareness and understanding of how migraines seriously impact lives, with too many people not fully realising what it is like to live with this condition.
Migraine Awareness Week is a moment in the year when everyone affected by migraines and everyone working to help those affected work together to raise the profile of migraine as a complex neurological condition and dispel any ideas that it is ‘just a headache.
They say that an estimate that as many as 25 million working days are lost each year to migraine, and research suggests this is only going to get worse as our working population ages, it is an important health and wellbeing conversation for employers to be embracing.
News Group Ireland writes that The theme for #MAW 2022 this year is ‘The Phases of Migraine’ which delves deep into each specific migraine type (as many are unaware there are more than one) and then into the phases of a migraine attack; before, during and after the attack.
Many patients tell that people assume it is just the headache phase when in fact there are many phases overall which leave patients feeling unwell for days. Over 600,000 people in Ireland are living with migraine. Migraine is a complex neurological condition which affects to 12-15% of our population.
Migraine is a complex neurological condition that affects over 600,000 people in Ireland alone, that’s 12-15% of our population! The Global Burden of Disease states that migraine is the 2nd most disabling disease in the world in their most recent figures (over an eighth of the global population). Migraine is often considered ‘just a headache which could not be further from the truth. “There are many types of migraine, many triggers, and many symptoms before, during and after a migraine attack that many people and health care professionals are unaware of.” – Hazel Breen, Communications Officer, Migraine Association of Ireland.
Migraine Relief Centre wrote this great article on ‘Avoiding Medication Overuse Headaches.
Many people who suffer from migraines regularly use medication to deal with pain and other side effects. But if you take medication more than a couple days a week, you may experience rebound headaches, also called medication overuse headaches.
Everyone reacts to medications differently, and it may take one person longer to feel the effects of medicine for their headaches. When you are prescribed medication to deal with migraines, make sure you talk to your doctor about how often you should take it to avoid overuse.
Many medication-induced headaches are caused by triptans, codeine, ergotamine, paracetamol, and anti-inflammatory painkillers.
If you are experiencing headaches more than 15 days a month for at least three months, or have noticed more intense headaches, it may be a good idea to check in with your doctor about your treatment plan. Always talk to your doctor before stopping any medication, and make a plan for how to deal with medication withdrawal.
We understand that having migraines is exhausting, especially when the medication you take to manage pain can actually cause more headaches.
If your prescriptions are no longer working and you’re interested in exploring other ways to treat your migraines, reach out to our team and schedule an appointment. We are ready to help you find the right treatment plan for you.
Dr. Khorsandi Migraine Relief Center
Source: Optima Health Back Pain Blog News Group Ireland Migraine Relief Center