Migraine: A painful ailment

WITH an estimated 500,000 Irish people affected, migraine is one of the most common aliments we suffer.

Yet it’s often badly misunderstood and awareness is low.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises migraine as one of the most debilitating lifetime conditions. But a lot of people still think it’s just a fancy word for a headache.

Anybody can suffer from migraines, though they’re more common among women; while children can be affected, attacks usually start during teens.

Currently there’s no cure, but treatments are available which can help and, crucially, understanding migraine can make a huge difference in managing it.

“Everybody gets headaches from time to time, but the difference with migraine is partly the severity — it’s a much more acute, pounding painful headache, and there are other symptoms associated with it, like vomiting and sensitivity to light,” says Dr Tim Woodman.

Woodmam, who suffers with migraine, says that while headaches are a main characteristic of the condition, the symptoms go far wider.

“It’s actually perfectly possible to have a migraine and not even have a headache,” he adds. “Migraine is a whole complex of symptoms, things like visual discomfort, and pins and needles in your hands and feet.”

Some symptoms are known as ‘aura’ symptoms, relating to neurological disturbances like seeing flashing lights and blind spots before the eyes, temporary blindness or tunnel vision and, sometimes, numbness, dizziness and vertigo.

Speech and hearing can be affected too, and some people feel confused, struggle with memory and may experience fainting and vomiting.

A very mild migraine may not be too unbearable and might not prevent somebody from carrying out most daily tasks, while severe migraines can be extremely debilitating and make work and socialising impossible.

WHO figures show migraine is one of the 20 top causes of disability and, worldwide, 25m days are lost from work or school every year.

The first step is to see a doctor and get a concrete diagnosis. It’s believed that around 50% of cases remain undiagnosed and untreated.

Making a note of any pattern — Woodman suggests keeping a diary, noting when symptoms start, what you were doing at the time and anything you’d eaten — can help.

“Headaches can have a range of causes and if there’s another cause, you’ll need to sort that out,” Woodman adds. “And having an official diagnosis is an important step towards managing the condition.”

* Migraine Action Week, 16-22 Sept. See www.migraine.ie