Understanding Migraine
Migraine is understood to be a disorder of nerve activity in the brain. It is a common, often invisible life-span disease. The exact cause of migraine is still not fully understood. There are an 880,000 +migraineurs in Ireland (41m in Europe!)
Migraine is the most common neurological condition in the world, affecting about 12 – 15% of people. It is three times more likely to be diagnosed in women than it is in men and is often inherited. It is a very individual condition. Some people experience only one or two attacks per year while others may experience more frequent attacks.
An attack can last from 4 to 72 hours. However migraine can affect your life outside of attacks too. People who live with migraine can also experience challenging symptoms outside of an attack. Also, many people live with concern and difficulty in planning or making decisions in their day to day life due to what is known as “Inter-ictal burden” – worry or stress about migraine attacks.
Everyone who lives with migraine, has a condition and a life that is unique to them. Making some adjustments in your daily life can help to manage your condition. Learn more about some of the things that might be helpful for you in your life.
Perhaps you are one of the many people who try to manage migraine without support? Migraine is a complex illness that needs the right treatment. Struggling alone can cause many problems. Your quality of life matters! Make an appointment to speak with your GP as soon as possible, to talk about how you can best manage your migraine.
Migraine in children is a significant health issue, though they may present differently from migraine in adults.
Recognizing and addressing migraine in children is crucial to prevent disruption to their school, social life, and overall well-being. Here is some information that can help.