Why is chronic migraine so underdiagnosed? And what should people do to get a proper diagnosis?
Learn more about how to get a diagnosis for chronic migraines.
Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING] Hi, Dr. Cohen. I'm wondering, why is chronic migraines so underdiagnosed? [MUSIC PLAYING]
That's a great question. Not only is chronic migraine underdiagnosed, but it's often mistreated. Now, remember migraine is just more than a headache.
Migraine are often very disabling and debilitating. They can cause intense pulsating pain in your head, and they often come with a slew of other symptoms.
And those symptoms can last for days, longer than the pain does. What makes a migraine chronic? The criteria for chronic migraine
is 15 headache days a month, eight of which are migraine attacks, and at least for three months or more.
However, many people who meet the criteria for chronic migraine may not receive a formal diagnosis, even if they're receiving treatment.
Unlike other types of migraine, people with chronic migraine are less likely to receive the correct diagnosis.
Why is that so? It could have something to do with the type of doctor many patients see for their chronic migraine.
Your general practitioner or primary care provider is great and very essential to your health. But they might not have access to the appropriate diagnostic
tools for chronic migraine. They often don't have adequate time to dedicate to an in-depth conversation about the symptoms
and triggers and related factors to it. And evidence also suggests that primary care doctors and general practitioners might be unfamiliar
with the range of how migraine can affect and present and might not have the familiarity with patients, how they're actually experiencing
their migraine attacks. If you're experiencing the symptoms of chronic migraine, ask your health care provider to refer you to a neurologist
or headache specialist. Seeing a specialist is key with chronic migraine because they can be very difficult to manage.
So what should people do to get a proper chronic migraine diagnosis? FRED COHEN: Your health care provider, ideally
a neurologist headache specialist, will start by eliminating other possible causes and getting through a medical history. And sort of what you could do in the process
is speaking up, advocating for yourself, and keeping track of everything. Write down when you have migraine days, your non-migraine days, when you're feeling clear-minded,
and when you're not, keeping a journal of the symptoms you're experiencing, the frequency at which they're happening, and of course, any possible triggers you notice with them.
And it's not just the pain and whatnot, but keeping track of your emotional health and your feelings during all of this, for chronic migraine can greatly affect the quality of life.
Essentially, the more information can provide to your doctor, the better. Detailed history can make a big difference. And again, if you're seeing your primary care physician
for your migraine attacks, and they're not recommending to see a specialist, don't be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself.
headaches migraines
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