Approximately 36 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches; for many of them, this will be a life-long struggle. These recurrent episodes of severe pulsating headaches can be debilitating and impose a significant burden on sufferers. The attacks range from moderate to severe throbbing pain, and are often accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. The long-term effort of dealing with them may also predispose the individual to other illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Not only do migraine sufferers endure substantial personal suffering, they also experience impaired quality of life with a constant fear of the next episode. This subsequently can damage family life, social life, and even employment. Migraines are the sixth most disabling condition worldwide, often resulting in missed work and high utilization of health care services.

Although migraines are prevalent, previous studies have shown that treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, stress management, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback may reduce migraine symptoms by 50% or more. However, a new study by NYU, published in the June 5, 2018 issue of Pain Magazine, finds that many migraine sufferers skip recommended behavioral treatments such as stress management and talk therapy. According to Dr. Mia T. Minen, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Population Health at NYU School of Medicine, and Director of Research for NYU Langone’s Headache Division, “it stands to reason that many patients would want to access a treatment that reduces symptoms by half, however, our research shows this is far from the case.” Despite the debilitating effects of migraine headaches, it is ironic that patients are less likely to opt for behavioral treatments to help with their migraine symptoms; especially considering that behavioral treatments can be less costly than drug therapy.

However, a more welcoming approach for migraine sufferers could be mindfulness, says the American Migraine Foundation. According to them, research has shown that those who incorporate mindfulness and meditation into their daily routines have lower stress levels and fewer headaches than those who do not practice these techniques. As a result, many professionals are advocating for complimentary treatment options that focus on mindfulness and meditation. National Vision Administrators, L.L.C. and Benecard Services are two of many companies that have incorporated mindfulness exercises into the daily routine for their staff.

You may want to consider mindfulness meditation for your staff as well. For more information on mindfulness meditation and migraines, click here.

Sources: https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article/19/11/2274/5025076 | https://nyulangone.org/press-releases/why-are-migraine-patients-skipping-effective-behavioral-treatments | https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/understanding-migrainemindfulness-meditation-for-migraine/