Migraine

Epidemiology

Migraine  is a very common disorder that affects approximately 16% of the adult population. It causes a considerable amount of suffering in affected individuals, but the burden and frequency of migraine attacks varies from person to person. Many sufferers find migraine headaches so disabling that they are unable to function during attacks, and around one-third of the sufferers have more than one attack each month. It affects children as well as adults but the age group reported to be most frequently affected by migraine attacks is that comprised of 22–55 year olds. Migraine runs in families and is three times more common in women than in men. It may be that alterations in hormone levels at the time of menstruation, pregnancy and the menopause trigger or even relieves migraine in some women. There is evidence to suggest that migraine attacks decrease in frequency and severity with age. They do not lead to any lasting physical impairment.