"Migraine Wreaks Havoc": Exploring the Devastating Impact on Individuals and the Economy
In Russia, misdiagnoses of migraines are common, with the condition often mistaken for anxiety, digestive, or vision problems. This is particularly true for women, who may face diagnostic bias and misdiagnosis.
According to a roundtable discussion organized by the All-Russian Patients' Union (APU), common misdiagnoses for migraine include vegeto-vascular dystonia, osteochondrosis, compressed neck vessels, fatigue, impaired venous outflow, and increased intracranial pressure.
Regarding treatments, many patients receive Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and triptans for short-term relief. Hormonal therapies or modifications to birth control methods are occasionally used, especially for menstrual-related migraines, but these must be carefully individualized because they do not work for everyone and can sometimes worsen symptoms.
Emphasized is the need for personalized treatment plans, considering hormonal, lifestyle, and medical history factors, and the use of headache diaries to monitor triggers and efficacy.
Medical students receive only four academic hours of training to recognize headache causes and types, according to Guzel Tabeeva, president of the Russian Society for the Study of Headache. This lack of training contributes to the diagnostic challenges.
Another obstacle to accurate diagnosis and treatment is self-medication after learning about migraine. This can lead to inappropriate use of medications and delay proper medical intervention.
In total, specialists estimate that people with migraine who don't receive appropriate treatment are unable to work fully for about half of their working hours, leading to significant economic losses.
International experience shows that educational measures can add 10-15 high-productivity days per month for employees with migraine. For every 17 people with migraine, one misses work due to an attack, and 16 come to work but have significantly reduced productivity.
It's essential to enhance medical training and include necessary medications in clinical guidelines to improve diagnosis and treatment of migraine. General practitioners and therapists can successfully diagnose migraines, not just neurologists.
Spreading awareness about migraine symptoms, common mistakes, and modern treatment approaches through media and supporting patient communities can help improve diagnosis and treatment. This is crucial for reducing diagnostic bias and misdiagnosis, particularly for women.
References: [1] Tabeeva, G., Skorobogatykh, K., & Voytenko, I. (2023). Problems and Prospects of Migraine Treatment in Russia. All-Russian Patients' Union (APU).
- Medical-conditions like migraine are often incorrectly diagnosed as anxiety, digestive, or vision problems, particularly in women, due to diagnostic bias and misdiagnosis, as highlighted in a roundtable discussion organized by the All-Russian Patients' Union (APU).
- Beyond headache diaries and personalized treatment plans, it's crucial to address the lack of training in recognizing headache causes and types, as medical students in Russia receive only four academic hours of training in this area, according to Guzel Tabeeva, president of the Russian Society for the Study of Headache.
- To reduce diagnostic bias and misdiagnosis, it's essential to spread awareness about migraine symptoms, common mistakes, and modern treatment approaches through media and supporting patient communities, a crucial step that can help both women and those suffering from migraine.
