Could it be that more people are experiencing migraines than ever before? If a recent study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is right, then it's true: migraine sufferers are becoming more numerous.
According a press release discussing the study, there was a 1% increase in people who reported having migraines - now 12%, up from 11%. The issue that seemed to puzzle researchers the most was why the increase occurred. They couldn't find one particular cause for the rise.
What is the difference between migraines and headaches? Here is a video that does a good job of explaining the difference.
In a previous blog post about migraines, I gave some basic information about migraines:
Migraines are very common. According to statistics, up to 17% of women and 6% of men have had at least one migraine. Some people have occasional migraines, but some experience chronic migraines. These, according to the MayoClinic.com, are migraines that occur 15 or more days per month. The National Headache Foundation reports that 80% of migraines are severe and up to 24% of people with migraines have had to go to the emergency room.
What causes migraines? We don’t really know but we do know that there are many triggers. The most well-known ones are migraines that occur with a woman’s menstrual cycle or the ones that occur when some people drink red wine or eat chocolate. Other triggers can be:
- Alcohol
- Allergies
- Bright lights
- Changes in weather patterns
- Lack of or too much sleep
- Loud noises
- Skipping meals
- Stress (physical or emotional)
- Strong odours
Do you have migraines? What do you do about them?
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4 comments:
I'm still not positive the headaches I get are migraines. They're triggered by a change in atmospheric pressure and the last one had me vomitting. Sometimes they throb with my pulse, but not always. But they're never (or rarely) one-sided. Ibuprofen (especially the liquid gels) help.
My mom used to have migraines and she always felt better after having black coffee. When a friend of mine suffered from migraine, I suggested it since it worked for my mom and it also worked for her. Really don't know the scientific correlation between the 2.
Hi Emily, many pain relievers we buy contain caffeine because it has an effect on pain. It also turns out that some people react well to a good strong cup of coffee when they have a migraine. To me, they're the lucky ones, because many of us don't get relief from anything.
Yes, I can understand what you meant by Emily's mom being lucky because strong black coffee does not work for everyone. Some say staying in the dark works for them. I myself can't imagine having one since headache (and toothache) are worse for me already.
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