Migraine and Me: The Invisible Disease

A study of 12,545 migraine patients in 16 countries shows that people living with migraine are coping, not only with the physical symptoms of the disease, but with the impact the condition has on many aspects of their daily life

The numbers are staggering. Over one billion people living with this disease worldwide, making it the world’s third most prevalent disease. 01 It is more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined 02, and peaks in both sexes during the most productive years of adulthood. 03 Furthermore, the disease affects three times as many women as men. 04 Do you know the disease being described?

Migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of headache pain. These episodes may last anything between 4 to 72 hours, and are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and changes in vision. 05

Despite its prevalence and impact, migraine is underdiagnosed and undertreated, directly impacting the lives of people across the world. 06

Recent research carried out on behalf of Teva sought to illustrate the true burden of migraine, as it is experienced by patients. The Beyond Migraine:
The Real You survey, conducted among 12,545 people living with migraine, reveals the personal impact of the disease on many aspects of people’s lives.
As patients surveyed told us, migraine impacts their everyday life in profound ways and does not allow them to seize life’s full potential.

For patients like Amy, migraine can take over many aspects of their daily lives. While the health consequences for a patient may be obvious, the wider impact of migraine on people’s lives can be significant as well. Our research shows that 92% of patients stating state the disease had a negative impact of their quality of life .08 Furthermore, the cascading effect of migraine may be seen through their social interactions and professional development: six in ten research participants noted their social life have been curtailed and over half (56%) indicated a hit to their career. 08

The global survey also revealed the impact of migraine on people’s daily roles, with patients like Amy indicating their ability to be a sportsperson (51%), homemaker (50%), hobbyist (49%) and friend (43%) were all hindered.¹⁰ Living with migraine can also take its toll emotionally, and the survey shows patients feel exhausted (55%), frustrated (54%), depressed (40%) and angry (36%). 08

According to the research, those living with migraine may face periods of isolation due to their inability to participate in simple, everyday activities. Migraine patients like Amy are being prevented from going out (54%), to exercise (45%) or even go on holiday (28%). 08 Migraine may also impact people’s sexual relationships, with over a third of people surveyed highlighting this as an issue. 08

Conclusion

The Beyond Migraine: The Real You survey provides a holistic insight into the personal impact of migraine. The research reveals 86% of responders believe migraine isn’t taken seriously by society, painting a picture of frustration and isolation. 08

Teva is calling on society to support the migraine community and provide them with opportunities to speak more openly about the implications of migraine. By speaking with our family, friends and colleagues who live with this disease, we will not only educate ourselves and those around us, but also shine a light on migraine, demystifying and destigmatizing it for the benefit of all.

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12,545 migraine patients were surveyed in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the UK in November and December 2019, using an online survey administered to adults with migraine who report at least 4 monthly migraine days. All text in quotation marks are direct quotations from study participants. The data is based on surveyed patients reports. The above is a partial representation of the report and as such should not be relied upon for any use.

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Discover more about migraine, including information on the symptoms, the impact on patients and Teva’s expertise in this area.

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