1. Surprising Facts about Migraine
• Migraine is a chronic condition. It usually begins as a dull ache, but becomes a
constant throbbing or pulsing pain in your temples, or on one or both sides of your
head. You may also feel a combination of:
Nausea
Vomiting
Sensitivity to light and noise
• 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine1
That’s 1 out of every 8 American men or women
3 times more women then men suffer from migraine
Migraine most often affects people between the ages of 15 and 55
• An untreated migraine can last from 4 hours to 3 days2
• Migraine can affect your life at work, school, home, or play:3
More than 1 in 4 migraine sufferers have missed 1 day of work over the past 3
months
About 1 in 3 migraine sufferers have to miss a family or social event
Almost 1 out of every 2 sufferers can’t do household chores
• There is no definite answer to what causes migraine, but:4
When both parents have migraine, there is a 75% chance that their children will
have migraine too
Sometimes a food, drink, a change in the weather, your surroundings, or your
mood can trigger a migraine attack
• Migraine is often underdiagnosed, undertreated, and misunderstood
• Because migraine symptoms are frequently mistaken or misunderstood,2
Migraine is often misdiagnosed as simple tension or sinus headache
People who have migraine symptoms may not seek medical help due to denial,
stigma, or the belief that nothing can be done
• Doctors recommend that people concerned about migraine should keep a “headache
diary” (including how often, how long, and how severely headaches strike – and how
you handle them)
Your provider or health plan can provide you with a Headache Diary
Your filled diary can help your provider to diagnose, treat, and/or prevent future
attacks
• At least 40% of migraine sufferers may be candidates for prevention therapy1

2. For More Migraine Information and Support
You are not alone if you think that you suffer from migraine and would like more
information, advice, and support from others like you.
The following organizations and resources may be useful for you to contact by e-mail,
phone, or letter.
American Council for Headache Education
www.achenet.org
19 Mantua Road
Mt. Royal, NJ 08061
Tel: 856-423-0258 or toll-free 800-255-ACHE (255-2243)
Fax: 856-423-0082
The American Council for Headache Education (ACHE) is a non-profit patient /
healthcare professional partnership dedicated to advancing the treatment and
management of headache and to raising public awareness of headaches.
American Headache Society
www.ahsnet.org
19 Mantua Road
Mount Royal, NJ 08061
Tel: 856-423-0043
Fax: 856-423-0082
The American Headache Society (AHS) is a professional society of health care
providers dedicated to the study and treatment of headache and face pain. AHS is
affiliated with the ACHE patient organization above.
National Headache Foundation
www.headaches.org
820 N. Orleans
Suite 217
Chicago, IL 60610-3132
Tel: 312-274-2650 or toll-free 888-NHF-5552 (643-5552)
Fax: 312-640-9049
The National Headache Foundation (NHF) is the oldest and largest organization of its
kind. It serves as an information resource for headache sufferers, their families and
healthcare professionals.
References:
1. National Headache Foundation. American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study Fact Sheet. Available at
www.headaches.org/consumer/AMPP/AMPPFactSheet.pdf. Accessed February 6, 2006.
2. National Headache Foundation. Migraine topic sheet. Available at:
http://www.headaches.org/consumer/topicsheets/migraine.html. Accessed December 29, 2005.
3. National Headache Foundation. American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study Results. Slide
presentation available from Verdana Research.
4. National Headache Foundation. Categories of Headache. Available at:
http://www.headaches.org/consumer/presskit/NHAW04/Categories_of_Headache.pdf. Accessed February 9, 2005.