Migraines — a growing problem in TT

There are approximately 28 million sufferers of migraine headaches in the US, and while it is not as prevalent in TT, more and more cases of it is being discovered by local medical practitioners in this country. Studies also show that the illness has caused a substantial amount of economic loss in the US as people take quite a few sick-days away from work and directly affects people’s social lives. This according to Neurologist, Dr Rasheed Adam, who was the feature speaker during a customer education seminar on migraines, hosted jointly by Kappa Drugs and Pfizer at the Chamber of Commerce, Westmoorings, yesterday. Despite the inclement weather, scores of people braved the rain to hear everything they could about the medical complication, a clear indication that there are a large number of sufferers from migraines in TT.

Dr Adam said because more studies were being done on the chronic illness, new discoveries for treatment and more drugs could be administered to help patients. Migraine, a repeated disturbance of blood vessel or brain control, causing headaches and affecting circulation, is more prevalent with women than men. Studies showed that there are several factors which cause migraines: heriditary, gender, certain foods which trigger off the chemical reaction, allergies and stress. Referring to the emotional responses caused by migraines, Dr Adam said: “Migraines affect relations with family, both domestic and sexual relations between husbands and wives, children, people around you and work both at home and at the workplace.” When asked why it was that women get more migraines than men, he joked: “Maybe because women worry a lot more than men.” Dr Adam said now that more research has gone into what causes migraines, medical professionals are working with the two key areas which seem to affect a migraine, that is, the blood and the brain.

In terms of dealing with the problem from the blood, medical practitioners are looking at stabilising the blood platelets with certain types of aspirin. In tackling the problem from the brain, several new areas of medical applications have opened up. They are now looking at administering patients with amityptline, eplim and topomax drugs. Beside the medical approach, Dr Adam said prevention was also a good way to decrease chances of migraine attacks, such as knowing what triggers it off and dealing with it, drinking lots of water, regular and balanced meals, rest in cool, dark places and a regular exercise routine.