Getting rid of Migraines

The Straits Times (Singapore)
June 20, 2007 Wednesday

Some headaches are faked, some are cured with Aspirin, but migraine, the most severe of headaches, cannot be cured. It can, however, be prevented. Elaine Young reports

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Not tonight, darling, I have a headache - the often-used excuse women use worldwide. But real headaches can have sufferers bed-ridden and inactive - with no pestering husband to blame.

According to a survey carried out in Singapore from last November to February this year, 48.1 per cent of patients put up with four or more headaches a month. And 61.1 per cent of patients were diagnosed with migraine - the most severe headache disorder that manifests as a throbbing on one side of the head.

The survey was a clinic-based headache study involving 600 patients across general practitioners' clinics in Singapore.

It was commissioned by the Headache Society of Singapore and supported by Janssen-Cilag, a pharmaceutical company.

Dr Charles Siow, president of the Headache Society of Singapore, said that although only 600 patients took part in the survey, he estimates that around 400,000 people in Singapore are affected by migraines.

The World Health Organisation rates migraines as one of the top 20 causes of disabilities in the world.

Back in Singapore, the survey found that because of migraines, 11.6 per cent of patients missed more than 21 days of work, school and social engagements over a period of three months.

Trigger factors for this severe headache include fatigue, stress, hormones and certain foods such as caffeine, chocolate and red wine.

Said Dr Siow: 'There are medications prescribed for migraine prevention. Patients are candidates for prevention therapy if their migraine recurs and interferes with their everyday functioning, or if they experience more than four days of migraines per month.

'We encourage patients to consult their doctors or neurologists for prevention therapy if they experience more than four days of migraines per month.'

Women suffer most from migraine - on top of all the faking. Doctors say there is a hormonal component along with the genetic factors that predispose someone to a life of migraines.

Housewife Tracy Betteridge, 35, used to have migraine attacks every couple of days, which would then last for one to two days.

She said: 'Topamax (topiramate) is my first preventative medication after heaps of painkillers, and I do not have migraines at all now.'

Topiramate is one of the latest anti-convulsant oral tablets in the preventative medicine group. Others are Valproate and Gabapentin.

If you too are suffering, your GP can prescribe a preventor that is suitable for you.

E-mail: elainey@sph.com.sg