About 39 million people in the United States suffer from migraines, but some doctors believe that number is much higher because many migraine sufferers go undiagnosed.
When a migraine occurs, it can keep you from work, family affairs, and everyday life.
However, there are some early warning signs and new drugs on the horizon that you should be aware of.
The throbbing and pounding effects of migraines can be debilitating.
“It’s common during the most productive years of life. It’s one of the leading causes of disability worldwide,” says Teshamae Monteith, MD, chief of the Headache Division at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Feeling tired can be an early warning sign of a migraine attack. Too little sleep can lead to changes in proteins that help regulate the sensory response to migraines. Aiming for seven to eight hours of sleep per night is ideal for migraine sufferers. Another sign: Vision changes.
“By looking at the small blood vessels in the eye, you can get clues about disease elsewhere in the body,” says Anthony DeMaria, MD, PhD, of Cardiology at UC San Diego.
You may experience blind spots or see flashes or auras when a migraine is about to strike. Taking medication as soon as you notice any of these symptoms can lessen the effects of a migraine. Jaw joint pain is also associated with migraines. Chewing gum with jaw pain can make migraines worse, researchers have found.
“The pressure started in my neck and it just kept building,” says Cherise Irons, who suffers from migraines.
Last year, the FDA approved a drug called Qulipta, which recently came under review for Zavegepant. If the new drug is approved, it will be the only nasal spray available to treat migraines.
“If we can target this CGRP protein very specifically, then we can hopefully prevent migraines from occurring,” said David Kudrow, MD, director of the Southern California Neurological Institute.
