35 Eye-Opening Migraine Facts You Need to Know
What You Need to Know About Migraine Now
Men, women, and kids with Migraine worldwide know the struggle is real! Migraine disease is incredibly common and incredibly misunderstood. The struggle for information and understanding can be nearly as tough as the symptoms themselves.
We understand how overwhelming it can be to try to make sense of your symptoms and the conflicting info out there.
That's why we put together this roadmap with the important evidence-based facts about Migraine.
Understanding exactly what you're dealing with is the first step to making good choices about your care.
Fact #1: Migraine is a disease, not a headache
Simply put - Migraine is not just a headache.
Migraine is a neurological condition that is frequently disabling. It comes with a slew of symptoms that extend far beyond the head.
"One of the very big myths about Migraine is that it's just a headache," explains Dr. Peter Goadsby of NIHR-Wellcome Trust King's Clinical Research Facility, "That's completely wrong."
Neurological condition…wait what?
"Migraine is a disorder of the brain, and it's a disorder not just of sensory attention. What's often forgotten are the phases that occur before a Migraine, the premonitory or prodromal phase of the attack where sufferers will have cognitive dysfunction," Dr. Goadsby told Migraine Again.
Condition and disease are both used to describe it. Those who are most severely impacted may prefer to call it a disease to capture the full impact.
Fact #2: It is more common than asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy combined
There are millions of Migraine warriors around the world.
- Migraine is the 3rd most prevalent illness worldwide.
- It ranks 6th in the world for debilitating illnesses.
In the United States (U.S.) it's common.
- 12% of the population experiences Migraine, including children.
- Every 1 in 4 households includes someone with the condition.
Fact #3: Women are disproportionately affected
Migraine disproportionately affects genders and ages.
Hormones like estrogen likely account for the disparity between men and women.
Fact #4: Even babies can have symptoms
"There does seem to be a connection between infant colic and Migraine in childhood," explained Dr. Amy Gelfand of the University of California, San Francisco to Migraine Again.
"Mothers who have Migraine are more likely to have a baby with colic," she explained.
Babies with colic are also more sensitive to sounds and smells, her research found.
While the colic may pass, Migraine probably won't. Babies with colic will likely turn into children with Migraine, says Dr. Gelfand.
Early Signs in Kids Include Head Tilting
Children will get early warning signs before their attacks. Sometimes they become fatigued and yawn excessively before the pain hits. They will often try to retreat to the dark. Children with Migraine frequently have tummy trouble, too.
Another early warning sign of Migraine in children may be benign paroxysmal torticollis. This condition is typically seen in babies as young as 4 months and in preschool children. Symptoms include things like:
- Head tilt
- Decreased appetite
- Vertigo (spinning sensation)
- Car sickness
- And the feeling of moving when standing or sitting still (visual or sensory)
Fact #5: Migraine attacks begin with a warning
Ever wonder why you get this "feeling" before an attack? That's the prodrome phase – the first of four phases of an attack.
- The prodrome phase can last from several hours to days before the pain starts.
- The most common symptom during this phase is yawning or feeling extra grumpy. This can indicate that an attack is coming on.
Fact #6: At least 1 in 4 people experience Migraine with aura
Aura can be terrifying to experience. One scary symptom of aura is temporary blindness or 'kaleidoscope' vision. (Read about one woman's experience with blinding aura here.)
Fact #7: Most people experience a Migraine hangover
- This final phase - called the postdrome phase - lasts hours to days.
- Fatigue, headache, and difficulty concentrating are common during the postdrome.
Fact #8: There are strong risk factors linked to turning chronic
There is no one cause for Migraine or Chronic Migraine (CM), although some combination of genetics and environmental factors appear to be involved.
There are a handful of factors that increase the likelihood of episodic attacks turning chronic.
Factors associated with CM include:
- headache frequency
- medication overuse
"As treatment is increasingly optimized, the risk of progression from one year to the next declines," said Dr. Richard Lipton. Dr. Lipton is the lead author of the AMPP study, a large population study.
Fact #9: Migraine runs in families
Fact #10: Estrogen could play a role in men (and women)
A 2018 study suggests estrogen levels may play a role in women AND men with Migraine.
Researchers found that men with Migraine had higher levels of estrogen. They also had symptoms of low testosterone levels, like mood changes and sexual disorders.
Fact #11: 9 out of 10 people cannot function normally during an attack
Every person is unique and so is his or her Migraine experience.
For most people, Migraine has a huge impact.
Fact #12: Migraine is disabling
CM can be completely debilitating and accounts for a high rate of disability in Migraine warriors. Nearly 20% of those with CM are disabled.
Fact #13: Migraine comes with 40+ symptoms
- Mood changes
- Food cravings, excessive thirst, and urination
- Neck pain/stiffness
- Visual changes (vision loss, blurred vision)
- Numbness and tingling in the face or limbs
- Difficulty speaking
- Light, smell, touch or sound sensitivity
- Taste changes
- Muscle jerking
- Head pain (one or both sides), head throbbing or pulsing
Fact #14: A strange symptom may have inspired Alice in Wonderland!
A phenomenon called Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is a rare symptom that is experienced by a minority of people with Migraine. It most commonly appears during the aura phase.
- Feeling physically smaller or larger compared to normal surroundings
- Feeling as though surroundings are growing or shrinking
- Changes in vision
- The sensation of being in a fixed position with moving surroundings
Fact #15: Migraine is often misdiagnosed
Because there are several types of Migraine and more than 40 different symptoms, it can be difficult to get the right diagnosis. Doctors usually attempt to rule out other medical causes.
Fact #16: You can have Migraine with no headache
Vestibular Migraine (VM) is another subtype that is tricky to properly diagnose. People with VM typically experience :
This type doesn't always come with a headache, making it trickier to diagnose correctly.
Fact #17: You can have Migraine aura with no headache
It is possible to experience aura that never turns into head pain.
Fact #18: Chocolate doesn't trigger Migraine attacks
People often report "triggers" that bring on an attack. Many are related to food.
However, if chocolate is a trigger for you, be sure to avoid it!
Fact #19: Some food triggers may actually be cravings
Food cravings are among the early warning signs of an attack. UCLA headache specialist Dr. Andrew Charles suspects that Migraine food cravings may trick people into blaming chocolate for triggering an attack that's already happening.
"Then they eat the chocolate and feel that headache – that painful part of the attack - after eating chocolate, he said. ""So they identify chocolate as the trigger when it's actually the chocolate craving that's the indication that they've already started their headache."
Fact #20: When lightning strikes, so do Migraines!
Whenever lightning strikes within 25 miles of your home, your risk of developing a headache that day increases by 31%. And your risk of developing a Migraine attack goes up by 28%, according to a 2013 study.
Fact #21: It can affect mental health
Anxiety and depression are common in those with Migraine, and it's not always clear which comes first. What we do know is that people with the condition are more likely to struggle with one or both of the conditions.
- 25% of people with Migraine experience depression
- 50% of people with Migraine experience anxiety
Fact #22: Migraine is linked to IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a condition of the digestive tract. It causes symptoms of constipation and/or diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and other digestive symptoms.
Fact #23: Men with Migraine have a 42% higher chance of developing heart disease
Fact #24: Migraine may protect against Type 2 diabetes
Fact #25: Migraine has a colossal impact
The disease takes a massive toll on individuals, families, and the community as a whole. Attacks have a ripple effect on caregivers, spouses, children, co-workers, employers and more.
Research studies like the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcome study (CaMEO) demonstrate that the impact of Migraine is measurable and can be more than twice as bad for people with Chronic vs. Episodic attacks.
Fact #26: Migraine is costly
Healthcare costs are incredibly high for families with Migraine and can be 70% higher than the average family.
Fact #27: Many employers don't think Migraine is a valid excuse for missing work
Along with the symptoms comes the stigma of an invisible condition. Migraine warriors are frequently forced to miss work.
Too often, people won't tell their bosses the true reason for calling out, probably because of the negative stigma associated with Migraine.
Fact #28: Migraine takes a toll on relationships
- 20% of study participants missed vacations
- 64% felt that headaches made partners lives difficult
- 57% felt that headaches made their children's lives difficult
- 73% felt they would be better partners without headache
- 59% felt they would be better parents without headache
Don't miss the real-live Journey "Migraine Affects My Marriage In Positive and Negative Ways"
Fact #29: 50% of people never get diagnosed
Check out the real-live Journey "It Took 38 Years To Get the Right Migraine Diagnosis."
Fact #30: There is only 1 headache specialist per 78,000 people with Migraine in the US
Fact #31: Migraine research does not get nearly enough funding
There's also limited funding available for research. Compared to high-profile diseases like Parkinson's, Migraine receives significantly fewer research dollars - even though it is much more common.
Fact #32: Celebrities (and presidents) are impacted too
Celebrity status does not make you immune to Migraine. Several well-known celebrities, leaders, and athletes are also Migraine warriors.
Here are a few celebs:
- Lisa Kudrow
- Kristin Chenoweth
- Terrell Davis
- Ben Affleck
- Marcia Cross
- Janet Jackson
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Thomas Jefferson
- John F. Kennedy
Fact #33: We are experiencing a new era
The first-ever preventative treatments just for Migraine are here.
There is emerging hope for managing this painful disease. A new class of monoclonal antibodies that target the neuropeptide CGRP are the most exciting developments in a generation. (Read all about CGRP meds here.)
Fact #34: Non-invasive devices are now a treatment option
Science is also making strides when it comes to non-invasive treatment without medication.
Neuromodulation is a new development in pain relief. It uses either electrical or magnetic impulses to lower the brain activity associated with an attack.
Currently, there are four portable devices approved by the FDA for use:
- Transcutaneous Supraorbital NeuroStimulator (the Cefaly device)
- Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulator (SpringTMS or sTMS)
- Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulator (nVNS), (gammaCore)
- Remote electrical neuromodulation (Nerivio)
Fact #35: Knowledge is power
Being armed with knowledge is your power. Knowing about your condition and how to approach treatment is key to finding what works for you.
Knowledge is the first step to living well and thriving!