Those who suffer from headaches know perfectly well how annoying and painful they are. Here are some curious facts about headaches, a problem that many people minimize but that can seriously disable those who suffer from them .
“Migraine, especially its chronic form, has a great impact on the quality of life of patients. These people are twice as likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and chronic pain , as well as respiratory disorders and cardiovascular risk factors, so they need more health care. However, many cases wait to be diagnosed and treated ”, explains Dr. David Ezpeleta, Coordinator of the Headache Study Group of the Spanish Neurology Society (SEN).
Here are some interesting facts about this ailment:
1.- Migraine is, according to the WHO, one of the 20 most disabling diseases that exist .
2.- In Spain, more than 3.5 million flattered people suffer.
3.- 42.5% of patients suffer from moderate to severe disability , however 20-25% of patients who suffer migraine have never consulted their doctor about their problem and 50% abandon follow-up after the first consultations .
4.- Migraines are divided into episodic (less than 15 days of pain per month) and chronic (from 15 days per month for at least 3 months).
5.- Patients usually have between 1 and 4 monthly seizures lasting between 4 and 72 hours.
6.- In Spain, 4% of patients who attend a neurology consultation do so as a consequence of a chronic migraine.
7.- It is a very frequent disease and yet the mean time of identification from its onset to diagnosis is 28.7 months.
8.- 80% of patients present their first crisis before the age of 30.
9.- The high percentage of work absenteeism and loss of productivity represents a cost of around 2,000 million euros, according to data from the SEN.
10.- Migraine, especially in its chronic form, greatly affects the quality of life of patients, which increases the chances of suffering from depression, anxiety, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular risk, and so on.
The cause of migraine is unclear, but scientists believe it is due to a disturbance in the balance of serotonin . What researchers have already ruled out is the idea that the disease is caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain.
Most migraines do not have other serious neurological symptoms, but 10-15% of them do.
Can migraine be prevented?
There are factors that accentuate migraine, and it can be prevented to some extent by paying attention to some good lifestyle habits. It can help to maintain a constant sleep rhythm, practice relaxation techniques frequently, avoid loud noises, protect yourself against climatic variations, avoid stress, and exercise regularly.
