Migraines are often thought of as simply a “bad headache”. However, contrary to this common thinking, they’re not. A migraine is a collection of neurological symptoms – usually including a severe throbbing and recurring pain on one side of the head (in roughly 1/3 migraine attacks, both sides are affected). Migraine attacks last between 4 and 72 hours and often encompass at least one of the following symptoms:
- Visual disturbances
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell
- Tingling or numbness in the extremities or face
Migraines are an extraordinarily prevalent neurological disease, affecting 38 million men, women, and children in the U.S. Below are some facts that may surprise you…
You probably know more migraine sufferers than you may be aware of.
- Migraines are the 3rd most prevalent disease in the world
- Roughly 25% of households in the U.S. have at least 1 migraine sufferer
- 12% of the U.S. population (including children) suffers from migraines
- 18% of American women fall victim to migraines (compared to 6% of men)
- 10% of children experience migraines
- 80% of migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines
Migraines can be really, REALLY debilitating
- Migraines are the 8th most disabling illness in the world
- Every 10 seconds someone in the U.S. enters the emergency room complaining of head pain
- 4 million people have chronic daily migraine, having at least 15 migraine days per month
- 90% of migraine sufferers cannot work or function normally during their migraines
Migraines costs…A LOT
- Costs associated with migraines are estimated to be north of $36 billion in the U.S., for healthcare and lost productivity.
- Healthcare for households with a migraine sufferer are 70% higher than those without
- American employers lose more than $13 billion each year as a result of lost work days due to migraines
Migraines are still largely a medical mystery and is often undiagnosed
- In 2015 there were only 500 certified headache specialists in the U.S. and 38 million sufferers
- More than half of all migraine sufferers are never diagnosed with migraines
- Many migraine sufferers never seek medical attention for their pain
- Only 4% of migraine sufferers ever seek a headache specialist
Source: Migraine Research Foundation
