An extensive campaign to raise awareness of migraine problems was carried out in Bucharest. A number of 15 specialists, neurologists, migraine experts, psychologists, physiotherapists and patients explained the aspects of this condition.
Specialists explained aspects related to migraine management Photo: CREDU Association/Facebook
International Migraine Awareness Day is celebrated annually at European level on September 12! On this occasion, the CREDU Association in partnership with Headache Society Romania ran a campaign covering aspects related to diagnosis, treatment and migraine management. On September 12, a full-day marathon event was organized, in physical format, at the Capital Plaza hotel in Bucharest, where 15 specialists addressed theoretical but practical aspects of the condition.
“Migraine is one of the most common primary cephalalgic syndromes, a pathology coded genetically in us, a part of our life since the beginning of mankind. Today, after perhaps hundreds of thousands of years of unanswered suffering, we have at our disposal a large therapeutic arsenal with which to control disease. In this new era, recently begun, it is perhaps for the first time in history that migraine can and should be fully controlled. It is a time of great change, of reform, when treatment guidelines change, when health systems must adapt to the new wave of therapies, when doctors must change their approach and patients must become part of the process of controlling symptoms .“, said Dr. Vlad Tiu, specialist neurologist at the Elias University Emergency Hospital, former member of the Headache Scientific Committee of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN).
Migraine triggers
By means of a video animation, attention was drawn, within the events, to the triggering factors and the aspects that can be avoided by the patients.
Irregular diet or meals, stress, sleep, intercurrent infections, certain oral contraceptives, hormonal disturbances, certain forms of movement, weather changes, etc. it influences the daily life of people with migraine and intervention strategies are needed to better manage it. They do not exclude but are complementary to acute and preventive treatment.
“In migraine, the headache is only the tip of the iceberg. Migraine is not just a simple headache, but is a complex neurological condition, which involves changes in brain functionality and can be associated with other pathologies. Migraine is one of the leading causes of disability in young adults.“, mentions Dr. Bogdan Pană, neurologist expert in migraine, Emerald Medical Center.
This complex neurological condition affects between 12-15% of the population.
“Migraine is not just a severe headache, but a debilitating disease, accompanied by various other symptoms that can last from a few hours to a few days. However, current therapeutic options and migraine management strategies offer real solutions for migraine sufferers. It is essential that migraine sufferers consult a specialist to receive a correct diagnosis and personalized treatment, which can turn a tormented life into a normal life“, adds Dr. Elena Terecoasă, neurologist expert in migraine, at the Bucharest University Emergency Hospital.
One in seven Romanians lives with migraines
Migraine is a complex neurological condition identified worldwide as the leading cause of years lived with disability in people under 50, the leading cause of disability in young women and the second leading cause of disability worldwide. It is estimated that 2.3 million Romanian adults live with migraines of varying severity.
Specialists claim that migraine does not discriminate against anyone, it is found in people from all social backgrounds and all professions and can significantly interferes with daily activities, intellectual activity and social relationships.
“I am strong. I am capable. I am efficient. I am willing. I am a fighter. I am resilient. I’m so normal. I am a migraine sufferer and proud of myself. We are proud of us. Stigma is only in the minds of others until we can free ourselves from it“said Cristina Vlădău, migraine patient and migraine project manager at the CREDU Association.
The CREDU – Creative Education association was founded out of the desire to promote the concept of creative education in health. In recent years, he dedicated himself to the organization of a series of online and offline projects addressed to adults or children, whose objective was to inform and raise awareness of important topics in the field of health.
How to treat migraine
“Abroad, 90% of patients are managed with the help of the family doctor, 9% with the help of an outpatient neurologist and only 1% have serious forms that require the intervention of a neurologist expert in migraine. In Romania, there are no statistical data regarding the diagnosis of migraine. The vast majority of migraine patients do not go to a doctor, be it a family doctor or a neurologist, but self-diagnose and, unfortunately, self-treat. A large majority of patients who enter a pharmacy for headaches do not have a definite diagnosis or a referral from a specialist, relying on information from television, friends or neighbors“, it is stated in a statement issued by the CREDU Association.
Currently, there are clear diagnostic criteria for this neurological condition. New classes of treatments have also emerged. There is no universal cure for migraine, but the severity of attacks can be reduced and steps can be taken to prevent headaches from occurring.
There are several types of migraine therapies. Acute treatment involves non-specific drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antiemetics) or specific anti-migraine drugs – designed for this condition and issued on the basis of medical prescription, according to the CREDU Association.
Preventive treatment, recommended for patients with severe, frequent and disabling attacks, aims to reduce the frequency, severity of attacks and improve the quality of life. Traditional pharmacological therapies include beta-blockers, some anticonvulsants and candesartan, and the newly-emerged, specially designed for migraine prevention – anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies.
Non-pharmacological therapies, including neuromodulation devices or cognitive-behavioral therapies, are also recommended.
