Migraine or severe headache can reduce productivity at work to the point of limiting opportunities for career advancement, according to results of a new multi-national study1 surveying 1810 women with migraine from nine countries*.

Nearly two-thirds of migraineurs surveyed said that their headache prevented them from fully functioning at work and caused almost half to miss a day at work. Nearly 20 percent were concerned that migraine could negatively affect their careers, and 39 percent reported that severe headaches affected their job performance.

"Migraine, which predominantly affects people during their working years, is a major cause of absenteeism and lost productivity among sufferers," said Dr Smuts, a local neurologist. "It is important that women maintain ongoing conversations with their physician about their headaches to ensure that they can find the best treatment option available."

MELT Study Sampling1
Severe headaches or migraine prevented full functioning at work in the past six months 74%
Missed work in the past six months because of severe headaches or migraine 46%
Arrived at work late or left early in the past six months because of severe headaches or migraine 41%
Severe headaches or migraine negatively affected job performance , such as missing a deadline, important meeting or exam 39%
I worry that severe headaches or migraine prevent me from reaching my goals 39%
I worry that severe headaches or migraine prevent me from advancing in my career 18%
I feel that severe headaches or migraine prevent me from reaching my career goals 16%

Recent comparative studies demonstrate that patients achieved significantly faster, all-day pain relief and returned to normal function more rapidly through treatment with a triptan (migraine specific treatment) than with non-triptan therapies such as analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and ergotamines.

Another study2 showed that migraine patients treated with migraine specific treatments experienced significantly fewer hours of missed work, more hours at work, greater effectiveness at work with migraine, and less difficulty in normal work activity compared to usual care.

About Migraine
Migraine is estimated to affect 18 percent of women and predominantly affects people in their working years.

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

Reference 2: Rizatriptan 10mg reduced the impact of migraine on work and productivity compared to usual care in clinical practice. G. Nocea et al. International Headache Society, X1 Congress; 13-16 September 2003, Rome, Italy.

This article was written on behalf of the manufacturer