Chronic migraines affect nearly 40 million people in the US alone. New research discovered that Australian women experience these migraines at a higher rate than previously recognized, and their severity differs. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health has run a new survey. It shows that one-third of Australian women have experienced a migraine in the last three months. This staggering statistic is a wakeup call to the severity and prevalence of this deadly condition. It’s especially crippling for people between 18 and 49 years old, as migraines have emerged as the top cause of disability for this demographic.
One of those impacted is Kate May, a 30-year-old woman who has been severely impacted by chronic illnesses and pain, including daily migraines. For her, simple activities such as playing sports, socializing, and maintaining a full-time job have become challenging due to her condition. Dr. Emma Foster, a researcher behind the study, discusses how debilitating migraines can be. She illustrates them as an autism spectrum disorder that impedes the ability to process sensory experiences. She tackles the complicated cause of migraines, which are genetic, environmental, and hormonal.
The survey results will ring true with a lot of women. Eight in ten say that migraines have negatively impacted their overall physical health. In addition, all respondents report either frequently or always feeling a lack of confidence and self-esteem, as a result of this debilitating condition. And the consequences extend beyond that. In fact, eight in ten women confess that migraines have affected their work productivity.
The Health Implications of Migraines
Dr. Sarah White, chief executive of Jean Hailes, elaborates on the significant effects migraines have on women’s health in Australia. She says the recently available data indicates the problem is much worse than we had previously estimated. “I did not realize that we would have up to one in three women experiencing migraine in Australia,” she states. Furthermore, she highlights that there is an additional one in ten women who have experienced an undiagnosed migraine attack within the last three months.
Dr. White emphasizes that we need to stop thinking of migraines as an annoying inconvenience. “Migraine is far more than a bad headache. It’s a neurological disease,” she explains. She notes that a lot of women begin having migraines shortly after puberty. These headaches typically worsen as a result of the hormonal fluctuations associated with their menstrual cycles.
Kate May’s experience aligns with these observations. She has noticed that her migraine symptoms intensify around her menstrual cycle, particularly a day or two before or after her period. “I think this really draws attention to how incredibly common it is,” Dr. Foster adds, reinforcing the urgent need for increased awareness and understanding of this condition.
Economic and Social Costs
The cost of migraines to the Australian economy is mind-boggling. According to a 2018 Deloitte report, migraines cost the Australian economy about $35.7 billion per year. This troubling figure shines an important spotlight on health issue that tends to get overlooked. It fails to address the core systemic changes needed to support those most impacted.
Sarah White calls for a broader focus on women’s health issues that goes beyond menstrual and menopause related conditions. “We’ve had a lot of discussion in Australia about having things like menstrual leave or menopause leave or flexible working provisions for women’s menstrual and menopause issues in the workplace,” she notes. She points out that conditions such as migraines need to be included in this discussion.
“We need to have a conversation that gets to whether we’re funding research at the sufficient level and whether we’ve got workplace provisions that might help women with migraines,” White asserts, calling for enhanced support mechanisms.
Raising Awareness and Understanding
Despite the significant challenges posed by migraines, Kate May strives to manage her condition without letting it define her identity. “I am embracing and accepting that as a normal part of my life but not making it central to who I am,” she shares. She sees the very real stigma that exists against chronic illness, especially when it comes to younger women. “I don’t think people realize how sick young women can become. Otherwise, they assume we’re just being whiny, or a little dramatic, or whatever,” said May.
This perception makes an already challenging experience of living with migraines even worse. With increasing visibility and recognition comes a mission from these pioneers to alter public perception. Their goal is to initiate frank conversations about how chronic conditions like diabetes affects women’s lives.
