About Migraine
Migraine is a painful neurological condition, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling headache. A chronic illness, migraine is widespread in the population (10% diagnosed, 5% undiagnosed). In addition to being a major cause of pain and suffering, chronic migraine attacks are a significant source of both medical costs and lost productivity.
According to a study by Hu et al (1999), migraineurs required 3 to 6 days of bed rest each year, resulting in 112 million bedridden days. Migraine attacks cost American employers approximately $13 billion a year through missed workdays and impaired work function.

Migraines are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound), worsening on movement, and nausea. Differential diagnosis requires exclusion of other possible causes of pain, such as head injury, stroke, tumors and tension headache.

For more information on headache causes and treaments visit www.headaches.org