Migraines 3x more likely for women, triggered by chocolate

Posted by NateWest to Women's Health, Feb 25, 2011 12:28pm

Typical migraine treatments aren’t for the faint of heart. Until recently, the most effective drug had to be delivered with a big needle – something that just isn’t an option for some. (There is a newer option called Alsuma that is essentially an epi-pen for migraines.)

This could make for a great visual segment; essentially a before and after demonstration of migraine treatments. Before: big needle, precise, lengthy injection. After: Pull Alsuma out of a purse, flip lid, and administer in thigh. No visible needle and auto-injected.

Migraines disrupt the lives of more than 30 million Americans each year. Women are three times more likely than men to get migraines – nearly 1 in 5 American women will get a migraine this year, and 1 in 3 will get one in their lifetimes. For example, Serene Branson, a CBS affiliate reporter who appeared to suffer a stroke or seizure while covering the Grammys live, actually was experiencing a migraine.

These debilitating headaches, which typically last 4-72 hours, can be triggered by any number of things including stress, spicy food, red wine, chocolate, aged cheese, NutraSweet, smoke, fatigue, hunger, dehydration, changes of weather, and hormonal changes.

It is estimated that they cause 36 million days of bed rest and 21.5 million days of restricted activity each year. Among a national sample of migraine sufferers, 61% believed that their families were significantly affected by their migraines.