Some information about migraine
Survey data suggests that at least 400,000 people (10% of the country) suffer from migraine in Ireland. It is estimated that migraine costs Irish businesses €252 million every year as a result of lost productivity with the average migraineur missing between 1.5 and 4.5 days from work annually. Despite these staggering figures migraine remains a misunderstood and under managed condition.What makes a migraine different from a normal headache?
Migraine generally features a one-sided throbbing headache which is episodic and lasts hours or even days with total freedom between attacks. The headache is normally worsened by movement or routine physical activity. Migraine has been likened to a power cut, as the whole body seems to shut down until the attack is over. The headache is of course just one of the symptoms, albeit the most well-known.An attack of migraine can be very frightening. The onset of Classical migraine (Migraine with Aura) may be signalled by visual disturbances in what is called the "aura" stage. This affects about 20% of migraineurs. Read more on classical migraine. Common migraine (or Migraine without aura) and classical migraine may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion and in rare cases temporary paralysis and loss of speech. Sensitivity to light, noise and strong smells is also frequently reported.
