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Migraine Miscellany







Did you know...

18 percent of all Americans suffer from migraines. In other words, it's a very common disorder!

2-3 percent of migraine sufferers will progress from episodic migraines (occasional) to chronic migraines (suffering migraine several days of the week, every week).

Risk factors for developing chronic migraine include:

  •   increasing frequency of migraine attacks
  •   nausea
  •   allodynia (experiencing pain from something that does not usually cause pain)
  •   risk is increased for persons who also have comorbid disorders such as depression, anxiety, obesity, asthma, stress, sleep apnea, other pain disorders, or neck issues
  •   failed relief after using rescue medications can also lead to risk from episodic to chronic migraine,especially if those medications contain barbiturates or opioids

The risk of progression from episodic migraine to chronic migraine can also be reduced by the following measures:
  • learn what your migraine triggers are (keeping a journal is very helpful)
  • pursue treatment for comorbid disorders if they are present-for example weight loss for obesity or  counseling for anxietyand or depression
  • use of preventive medications for migraine can reduce frequency of attacks


This field of medicine is still very new. In the meantime I can tell you that there has been a lot of progress in the last several years.  There is much more to help a migraine sufferer now than perhaps a decade ago.  But the best is yet to come!

Source: MedPageToday (Richard Lipton, MD);wikimedia



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