Who feels the impact of headache disorders and migraine? More people than you may think, according to a new video from The Headache & Migraine Policy Forum.
Collectively, 39 million men, women and children in the United States and more than 1 billion people worldwide experience migraine, the third most prevalent illness in the world. As the video explains, migraine has emerged as a common problem for veterans, particularly those who have been deployed or have suffered a traumatic brain injury. While some headache disorders disproportionately affect women, others are genetic, afflicting a family one generation after another. Those who have experienced an injury or stroke are another affected group.
Stress, fluorescent light, sounds and even certain foods can provoke a debilitating headache. And just as triggers vary by patient, so do symptoms. “Those with certain forms of headache or migraine can experience an intense, throbbing pain that disturbs their vision. Some experience nausea or vomiting,” notes the video.
And while headache and migraine have adverse effects on the quality of life of the individual suffering, the impact of their misery has far-reaching effects. “Who Are Headache Disorders & Migraine Hurting?” describes the breadth of the burden caused by these conditions. Families, communities, schools and workplaces all suffer because of incapacitating headache and migraine.
The value of associated health care expenses and lost productivity tops $36 million annually. “Employers experience an estimated $13 billion in losses and 113 million days of missed work,” the video explains.
As the video summarizes, the burden of headache disorders and migraine is wide-reaching. In one way or another, these conditions touch us all.
To learn more, watch “Who are Headache Disorders and Migraine Hurting?”.
