Migraine is a prevalent, disabling neurological disease that is greatly misunderstood and highly stigmatized. It is important to know the facts and to educate others. This Migraine Fact Sheet highlights important details everyone should know about Migraine. A PDF copy is included below that you may download to share with others.
What is Migraine?
- Migraine is a genetic neurological disease.
- Migraine is the 3rd most prevalent disease worldwide.
- Migraine is the 7th leading cause of disability worldwide.
- Migraine is the leading cause of disability among all neurological disorders.
- Migraine can strike at any age — from preverbal children to the elderly.
- A Migraine is not a headache. Headache can be one symptom of a Migraine attack.
Who has Migraine?
- Migraine affects 1 in 4 households.
- More than 39 million Americans live with Migraine disease.
- Of that population, approximately 3.2 million live with chronic Migraine.
- Four percent of Americans have headache pain more days than not.
- Approximately 12% of of the population has migraine.
- 10% of school-aged children have migraine.
- 9% of men have migraine.
- 18% of women have migraine.
- If one parent has migraine, the chance of inheriting Migraine is 50%.
- If both parents have migraine, the chance of inheriting Migraine rises to 75%.
Why see a Migraine specialist?
- Only 1 in 3 people living with Migraine talk to their doctor about migraine
- Only half receive the correct diagnosis.
- Fewer than half receive clinically appropriate treatment.
- Medical students receive, on average, only four hours of training about Migraine and headache.
- Neurologists receive a mere 10 hours of training on Migraine and headache.
What is the impact of Migraine?
- A severe Migraine attack is as debilitating as quadriplegia.
- Severe Migraine attacks are responsible for 1.2 million ER visits every year.
- Migraine is the 12th most disabling disease or disorder in the United States.
- Migraine is responsible for at least one percent of the total United States disability burden.
- Migraine costs the US economy over $20 billion each year in lost productivity and health care expenses.
- Migraine is responsible for 113 million lost work days each year, resulting in $13 billion in lost productivity.
What is being done about it?
- The National Institutes of Health allocates research funding of less than 53¢ per Migraine patient per year.
- The Alliance for Headache Disorders hosts “Headache on the Hill” to ask Congress to increase funding for Migraine research.
- These non-profit organizations are dedicated to raising funds to research Migraine:
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