The distinction between a headache and a migraine can be hard to define.
For those who have never been affected, the distinction between a headache and migraines can be hard to define. Headaches affect the head, are caused by stress, exhaustion, et cetera, and are painful [1]. Migraines are a type of headache that display all the same factors but on a greater scale. For individuals who suffer from migraines, the difference in severity is very real.
Migraines are painful headaches that typically center on one side of the head and are often accompanied by nausea and blurred vision [1]. Migraines are a debilitating condition that many suffer through without proper support or treatment. Those who have never experienced one might pass migraine headachess off as a nuisance, but for those who do suffer from migraines, living their lives can become a daily struggle.
There are two types of migraine headachess: migraine with aura and migraine without aura. Most people suffer from the latter [5]. Auras are usually visual disturbances that include issues with light and movement. Sometimes auras can also be touching sensations (sensory), movement (motor), or speech (verbal) disturbances [1]. All of these symptoms can affect a person’s ability to function. Particularly if left untreated, a migraine can last anywhere from four to 72 hours [1].
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, an estimated $36 billion is spent annually on healthcare and lost productivity costs related to migraines [2]. Individuals who suffer from migraine headaches pay an estimated 70 percent more in healthcare costs than those who do not [2]. Despite the higher healthcare costs, many who suffer from migraines do not seek proper treatment. More than half of those who suffer from migraine headaches never get diagnosed, and of those who are diagnosed, the majority does not seek treatment [2].
Migraines are especially common in women, affecting about 28 million women in the U.S. [2]. Women are three times more likely to suffer from the condition than men and are 2.7 times more likely to suffer from chronic migraine headaches (migraines that occur more than 15 times in a month-long period) [3, 5]. Not only are women affected at a much higher rate, they also experience more severe symptoms and a greater range of them as well. Nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual aura are more prevalent in women compared to men [3, 4]. Women are also more likely than men to experience longer and more intense migraine headaches, and have migraines that negatively affect their daily routine [3, 4].
Migraine headaches disproportionately affect women for multiple reasons. Contributing factors to the condition include stress, exhaustion, and tension in the neck muscles, and especially change in hormone levels during menstruation [6-9]. Women who suffer from migraine headaches are shown to have episodes frequently that coincide with menstruation.
By: Society for Women’s Health Research, Contributor
10/05/2016
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