Nearly half of patients in the Migraine study¹ said they were significantly affected by fear of an impending headache or migraine, and 25 percent feared a migraine attack to the point of not wanting to leave the house. The study surveyed more than 1,800 women with migraine from nine countries.

"Chronic migraine is a serious ailment that can wreak havoc on people's lives," said Dr Smuts, a local neurologist. "It can have a profound impact on psychological well-being and self-worth, extending its effects beyond the sufferer to those close to them, as well as friends and colleagues."

Women in the study reported that, among the feelings brought on by severe migraine, they experienced frustration, anger, depression, and confusion. Further, one in ten of those surveyed said their migraines made them feel 'out of control or crazy '.

MELT Study Sampling1 My life would be better if I did not suffer severe migraine 86% I often worry about getting a migraine 44% I fear my next migraine 38% I worry that severe migraine will spoil the good things in life 34% I am afraid to leave the house when I think I may get a migraine 23%

"It is important that patients talk to someone about their condition and the emotional impact it has on their lives," said Dr Smuts. "Patients need to realize that if they are not getting fast and effective relief from their migraines, they need to revisit their physician to discuss fast and effective migraine treatments that can help them get on with their lives."

About Migraine
Migraine is estimated to affect 18 percent of women and predominantly affects people in their working year's .Migraines are not just ordinary headaches. They are a complex group of symptoms characterized by unpredictable attacks of typically moderate to severe, usually one-sided, throbbing headaches.

Attacks generally last from 4 to 72 hours and are accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to sound and light. Only about 15 percent of migraine sufferers experience aura (visual, sensory or motor symptoms such as flashing lights, zigzag patterns, weakness or numbness that precede the onset of headache).

Many patients prolong the pain and disability of migraine through continued use of ineffective, non-specific medications.

Recent comparative studies demonstrate that patients achieved significantly faster, all-day pain relief and returned to normal function more rapidly with migraine specific medications (known as triptans) when compared to alternative therapies such as analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and ergotamine

For more information on migraine, visit www.mymigraine.co.za. You can also complete the online questionnaire which will help you in finding out whether or not your headache is a migraine.

Reference ¹ A multinational study of migraine treatment patterns amongst young, active women; The Migraine Effect on Life and Treatment Study (MELT) October 2003

This article was written on behalf of the manufacturer