Migraines are more than just temporary headaches

Migraine is a common, disabling, expensive, unknown and minimized disease. It is a pathology that is sometimes underestimated and misdiagnosed in daily clinical practice, greatly affecting patients’ quality of life.

Without adequate treatment and good lifestyle habits, the incidence of migraines can range from low to chronic. Chronic migraine is a headache or headache that lasts for 15 or more days and lasts for at least 3 months. The main symptoms include a sharp stabbing or throbbing sensation on only one side of the head, along with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, certain smells, and/or sounds.

Neurologist Dr. Fidel Sobrino, president of the Colombian Association of Neurology (ACN), said that risk factors for migraine chronicity include modifiable factors: overuse of analgesics, being overweight, caffeine intake, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety etc.; and immutable factors such as age, femaleness, and/or whiteness.

Migraines may also enter an inactive phase after being controlled, so early diagnosis and treatment is important. It is worth mentioning that the transition from episodic migraine (EM) (pain lasting 4 to 14 days) to chronic migraine is a gradual process that occurs over time. It is estimated that approximately 2.97% of patients will progress from episodic migraine (EM) to chronic migraine (CM) each year. (Read here: Four Essential Hearing Aid Technologies)

People with chronic migraines are twice as likely as others to suffer from depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. In addition, they are at greater risk for respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity.

Company may be certified as a Migraine Friendly Site

It is estimated that the severity of a migraine attack can lead to disability, altering work efficiency and productivity. In addition to this, research estimates that 62% of sufferers try to hide the effects of migraine in the workplace due to fear of stigmatization. That’s why Columbia Neurological Associates and biopharmaceutical company AbbVie have joined forces to promote healthy and friendly workspaces and lessen the impact of this disease on employees through the Migraine Friendly Workplace certification program.

“Through this program, we seek to increase companies’ awareness and visibility of migraine in the workplace. This certification helps them build a culture of workplace well-being that increases productivity and makes employees feel supported and respected,” explains Eduardo Leyva, manager at AbbVie .

According to a study on the impact of migraines on employment, disability and use of health services, in Colombia, migraines result in an average of 7.31 hours of lost work and 7.5 hours of unpaid work, equivalent to effective working days per month. per person; that is, the country loses 1,650 hours of work per year per 1,000 inhabitants.

Migraine Friendly Workplace is a free professional health support program where companies can seek support to strengthen their practices, policies, knowledge and support around migraine cases within their organisation. The program includes educational, diagnostic and screening phases for employees to ensure and promote a preventive and well-being environment.