35 Shocking Migraine Statistics to Think About in 2022
written by Ljubica Cvetkovska / January 12, 2022
If you think migraines are just headaches, you probably don't know enough about them. Migraines are recurrent headaches that cause mild to severe pain, usually throbbing on one side of the head. They're often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
Although they aren't considered a dangerous condition, the migraine statistics show that they still impact a person's life. In fact, according to these stats, acute attacks can be so severe they completely incapacitate sufferers and impair their daily activities.
Read on to find out more about migraines!
The Top 10 Migraine Statistics for 2022 to Keep in Mind
1 in 7 people in the world suffers from migraines.
28 million women in the US experience migraines.
Migraine symptoms can persist for up to 24 hours after a migraine attack ends.
An acute migraine attack can last from 4 to 72 hours.
190,000 migraine attacks take place every day just in the UK, according to migraine statistics.
Neurological symptoms appear in almost 20% of migraine attacks.
More than 20% of adults suffering from chronic migraines are disabled.
Migraine sufferers are 2 to 8 times more at risk of developing a sleep disorder.
Less than 5% of people experiencing migraine symptoms consult a headache specialist.
The cost of American adults getting brain scans because of their headaches is $1 billion a year.
Are Migraines Common?
How common are migraines these days? We'll find that out and more in the following section.
1. Migraines are a primary headache disorder.
(MRF)
After cavities and tension headaches, migraines are ranked third on the list of the most common health conditions. On top of that, they are the sixth most disabling illness.
2. 190,000 migraine attacks take place every day just in the UK.
(National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)
Further research on how many people in the UK suffer from migraines indicates that 6 million Brits report having migraine symptoms every year.
3. 1 in 7 people in the world suffers from migraines.
(The Migraine Trust)
It's estimated that 14.7% of people across the globe have migraines. What's more, around 2% of the world population suffers from chronic migraines.
Migraine Statistics in the US
Here, we'll be looking at the stats on migraines in the United States specifically.
4. 28 million women in the US experience migraines.
Women are affected by migraines three times more often than men. This is mostly due to changes in hormone levels, one of the most common migraine causes.
5. 39 million Americans have migraines.
In addition, recurring migraines affect 18% of women, 6% of men, and 10% of children. This means you'll find someone with this condition in one out of every four US households.
Health Facts Related to Migraines
What do migraines say about your general health? Here, we'll be discussing everything to do with health and migraines.
6. Migraines commonly go through 4 stages.
The four migraine stages include prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome. However, additional headache facts show that not everyone goes through all four migraine stages.
7. There are 2 main types of migraines.
(WebMD)
Those types are migraines with aura or without aura. Aura refers to the sensory and visual symptoms that usually herald a migraine attack. These symptoms can last for as long as 30 minutes.
8. A quarter of migraineurs experience aura.
(Healthline)
Migraines with aura usually happen among 25% of migraine sufferers, statistics show. This typically occurs in the form of blurred vision and dizziness.
9. Migraine symptoms can persist for up to 24 hours after a migraine attack ends.
(American Migraine Foundation)
The postdrome stage, also known as a migraine hangover, lasts up to a day after the acute migraine attack and is characterized by fatigue, weakness, and cognitive difficulties.
10. An acute migraine attack can last from 4 to 72 hours.
How long is too long for a migraine? If the headache does not stop after three days, it would be a good idea to meet with a doctor. In addition, if you're older than 55 and are experiencing a headache that's accompanied by nausea for the first time, it's best to go to the doctor.
11. Neurological symptoms appear in almost 20% of migraine attacks.
What are the first signs of a migraine? Most people notice some of the warning signs of a migraine in the first stage, which occurs one or two days before an attack. These can be in the form of food cravings, mood changes, tiredness, and constipation.
12. Migraines run in the family.
(National Headache Foundation)
70% to 80% of people with migraines also have at least one family member who has suffered from this ailment, as revealed by most migraine stats. Although there's no definitive evidence as to what causes headaches, factors that can trigger severe types of headaches or migraines include skipped meals, the use of various medications, bright lights, disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle, and stress and depression.
13. There is a 50% chance of inheriting migraine pain.
These odds increase to 75% if each parent has the condition. Also, during childhood, boys are more at risk of migraines than girls, while this changes once puberty starts. Migraines in men, as we know, are less common than they are in women.
14. 35- to 45-year-olds are most at risk of getting migraine headaches.
(MRF, ResearchGate)
Migraine symptoms tend to appear during puberty. However, headache statistics show that they can affect much younger children. In fact, almost half of those troubled by migraines had their first attack before the age of 12.
15. Almost 10% of children suffer from migraines.
(Migraine Health Information & Community)
The statistics also reveal that children affected by this type of headache are twice as likely to miss school than children who have never had migraines.
16. Families that live on less than $35,000 a year are more likely to have a family member who suffers from migraines.
(American Headache Society)
This information shows a high migraine prevalence among families living below the poverty line. Also, patients under 65 years of age who get government health care assistance are more likely to suffer from recurring head pain.
17. Cincinnati is the worst city to live in for migraine patients.
(Migraine Again)
Cincinnati and St. Louis are ranked among the cities with the highest prevalence of lifestyle choices and foods that act as migraine triggers. However, according to the migraine statistics by state, California is the best place for migraine sufferers. In fact, 8 of the 20 cities with the lowest prevalence of this ailment are found in the state.
How Common Are Chronic Migraines?
How many people suffer from chronic migraines? In this section, we'll be exploring this and more.
18. Almost 1% of Americans complain of chronic migraines.
Chronic migraines affect 1% of US adults. That is 1.5 million women and over half a million men. Chronic migraine prevalence is notably higher among women, especially in midlife.
19. Headaches that happen on more than 15 days a month are defined as chronic.
Getting painful headaches on a total of at least 15 days each month, with migraine symptoms occurring with at least 8 of them, are classified as chronic migraines. Overuse of certain medications is cited as the most common reason why acute migraines turn into chronic pain.
20. More than 20% of adults suffering from chronic migraines are disabled.
As many as 90% of chronic migraine sufferers say they can't function normally and miss work as a result of a migraine attack, the chronic migraine statistics indicate. Also, some serious health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, have been commonly observed in people affected by chronic migraines.
21. Almost half of the people with chronic migraines have relationship problems as a result.
(Verywell Health)
Migraines not only impair a person's ability to work, but hinder their progress in forming personal relationships as well. Living with migraines can put strains on family and social relations. Plus, the regular expenses for traditional and alternative migraine medications account for more stress and anxiety. Further facts about migraines show that almost 45% of migraine patients spend less time on a family activity at least once a month because of the pain caused by chronic migraines.
22. Suffering from chronic migraines can lead to suicide.
(Global Healthy Living Foundation)
Chronic migraineurs who also have related mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, are three times more likely to try to commit suicide, migraine suicide statistics reveal.
Migraines and Sleep
How are sleep and migraines related? Find that out and more in this section.
23. Most migraine attacks happen between 4 am and 9 am.
Migraines are believed to affect the sufferer in the early morning hours, indicating that a person's circadian rhythm or sleep habits can trigger the appearance of migraine symptoms.
24. Migraine sufferers are 2 to 8 times more at risk of developing a sleep disorder.
When it comes to the migraine facts and figures in relation to sleep habits, there's evidence that people suffering from chronic migraines are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia.
25. Sleeping for 8 hours can help stop migraines.
Regular sleep behavior can prevent the appearance of migraines. Sleep deprivation is proven to cause recurring types of headaches, but so is oversleeping. The majority of migraine facts confirm that healthy sleep habits are the right idea for migraine prevention.
26. Sleep can also offer relief from migraine symptoms.
(NCBI)
In a recent study of 32 people suffering from persistent tension headaches, 81% found sleep to be the most effective coping mechanism for the pain.
Migraines and Treatment
How do you treat migraines? This section will be discussing treatments for migraines.
27. Over half of migraineurs are never diagnosed.
Despite the global prevalence of migraines, this condition commonly remains misunderstood. In fact, migraine symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed as sinus headaches and tension headaches.
28. Only 12% of those troubled by migraines get preventive migraine treatment.
The goal of preventive migraine medications is to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks as well as their severity and duration. Helpful migraine information shows that as many as 25% of sufferers would benefit from preventive medication.
29. More than 50% of migraine patients self-medicate.
Approximately 98% of migraineurs admit to taking medication that temporarily relieves their headache, while almost 50% say they've never used preventive migraine medication.
30. Less than 5% of people experiencing migraine symptoms consult a headache specialist.
In the US, there are 500 certified headache specialists. However, medical schools generally provide only one hour of preclinical headache training and two hours of clinical headache training.
31. Cold packs offer the best relief from migraines.
What gets rid of migraines fast? The stats show that cooling down your forehead for 15 minutes can give you the fastest and most effective remedy for migraine pain.
The Impact of Migraines
What impacts do migraines have on those who experience them?
32. Migraines cost the US budget more than $35 billion annually.
In fact, almost 160 million working days are lost a year in the US due to migraines and migraine symptoms.
33. The cost of American adults getting brain scans because of their headaches is $1 billion a year.
What's more, these migraine stats show that the cost of chronic migraine treatment was higher than $5.4 billion in 2015, while $41 billion was spent on the treatment of conditions stemming from migraines, such as obesity, back pain, and high blood pressure.
34. A third of migraine sufferers worry that they might lose their job due to chronic pain symptoms.
Looking at additional headache stats, it's also clear that migraine sufferers are more at risk of developing psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and chronic stress.
35. Migraineurs pay 70% more for medical services.
(Migraine.com)
In addition to higher health care costs, these patients feel the burden of no or little support, as well as limited access to high-quality health care.
Migraine statistics show that the worldwide rates of this type of chronic pain are pretty high. We need to be aware that this is a very common and serious health issue that can seriously impact a migraineur's work and personal relationships. In addition, it's linked to stress and anxiety, which can lead to many physical and mental diseases. Hopefully, you and your loved ones now have all the facts to better understand the severity of migraine attacks and help you deal with them.
What is the number one cause of migraines?
Stress is the number one trigger that can cause a migraine. Other causes can include sleep irregularities, alcohol, hormones, caffeine, drastic weather changes, dehydration, bad eating habits, certain smells, light, and excessive use of certain medications.
What is the most severe migraine?
This question is difficult to answer as there are many types of severe migraines. Choosing which one is the most severe depends on which symptoms seem most severe to you. That being said, Hemiplegic migraines can cause paralysis, vision problems, and other symptoms that mirror a stroke. These can be extremely disturbing to a person.
Can a migraine kill you?
Migraine pain can lead to migrainous infarction, which in turn can cause a stroke. Although very serious, it is also extremely rare. In fact, doctors say that a person is more likely to get struck by lightning than die from a headache. However, living with any type of chronic pain is hard and can result in many serious health and mental diseases.
Will my migraines ever go away?
Sadly, there is no cure that permanently gets rid of migraines. Nevertheless, there are drugs that offer relief, and there are also migraine treatments that regulate the frequency and severity of the pain during a migraine attack.
What is a silent migraine?
Silent migraines happen when a patient experiences aura but no headache. Aura symptoms can include sensitivity to light and sound, blurry vision, dizziness, and abdominal issues. As aura symptoms are very similar to signs of stroke and meningitis, silent migraines can be very dangerous and require medical attention.
How do neurologists treat migraines?
Neurologists, who are trained in headaches, can diagnose migraines based on family history and MRI or CT scans. Treatment usually consists of preventive migraine medication taken on a regular basis and aimed at reducing how often migraines occur and how severe they are. Painkillers are also prescribed, particularly for acute attacks since they offer relief by preventing the appearance of migraine symptoms.
What are ocular migraines?
Ocular migraines can happen during or after a migraine attack. They're rare, ocular migraine statistics reveal, causing temporary vision loss or temporary blindness in one eye. The symptoms are the result of reduced blood flow in the retina and usually go away after an hour. This condition is often confused with aura. However, an optical migraine affects only one eye, while aura (or visual migraine) impacts both eyes.
Is migraine a serious problem?
Recurring headaches can be a seriously debilitating condition. Apart from experiencing pulsating chronic head pain, migraine sufferers also deal with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and cognitive difficulties, such as not being able to think clearly or concentrate, as well as memory loss and difficulty communicating. The stats indicate that a vast majority of migraineurs cannot function properly during a migraine attack, which impairs their work performance and social activities.
What percentage of the population has migraines?
Around 12% of the United States population experiences migraines, including children. This works out to be many people in the country who live with migraines. This number breaks down to around 6% of men who experience migraines and 18% of women. Migraine statistics also show that around 10% of children suffer from migraines.
American Headache Society
Global Healthy Living Foundation
Healthliine
Migraine.com
Migraine Health Information & Community
National Headache Foundation
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
The Migraine Trust