Putting a Spotlight on Migraines

In February 2011, CBS Reporter Serene Branson was reporting live at the Grammy Awards when her speech became slurred and incoherent.  As the video soon went viral, many speculated that she’d suffered a stroke or worse.

In fact, Branson had suffered a complex migraine, a special type of migraine with aura where marked neurological symptoms can occur.  In many cases, including Branson’s well-publicized episode, the individual is unaware that anything unusual is happening.

If you didn’t know migraines could cause confused speech or auras, you’re not alone.  That’s why Branson has partnered with the National Headache Foundation to launch the “More Than Just a Headache” campaign during National Migraine Awareness Month this June.  The goal is to educate the public on the personal and societal costs of migraines, which affect approximately 30 million Americans and one out of four women.  In fact, women are disproportionately affected, with three times as many women sufferers.

Here at PatientsLikeMe, our membership numbers help illustrate this statistic.  With 1,596 migraine patients as of today, 88% of them are women, and 12% are men.  What else can you learn from our migraine patients?  Here are a few quick facts.

What are the top treatments?

• The most widely used prescription drugs reported by our migraine patients include Topamax, Lamictal, Keppra, Klonopin and Ibuprofen.

What are the major symptoms?

• The five most common primary symptoms reported by our migraine patients include Fatigue, Pain, Anxious Mood, Depressed Mood and Headaches.

What’s the latest forum question?

• Chronic daily migraines and association with fibromyalgia?

Do you suffer from migraines as well?  Share your own “Migraine Moment” to help the Branson and the National Headache Foundation raise awareness about this chronic and debilitating condition.