The Evolution of Migraine from Episodic Headache to Chronic Disorder
04/06/2009Patients living with migraine have strong reason for new optimism concerning a positive future. Two review articles and an accompanying editorial published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, are the basis for an ironic premise.
“Migraine is a potentially chronic, progressive disease that substantially affects patients, families, workplaces, and society,” according to the editorial written by Roger Cady, M.D., of the Headache Care Center in Springfield, Missouri. “Ironically, this is the springboard for renewed optimism of a more positive future for patients living with migraine.”
Traditionally, Dr. Cady explains, migraine has been considered a pain disorder involving separate or even sporadic episodes. Now, the condition is defined a progressive disease that negatively affects all aspects of an individual’s life. Migraine can erode quality of life during what should be a person’s most productive years, according to Dr. Cady. Because migraine patients’ quality of life has not improved at a pace with medical advances, research is addressing the overall severity and potential progressive nature of migraine.
According to the three articles, these new insights and understandings are requiring professionals to explore well beyond traditional migraine management. “Understanding migraine as a potentially chronic disease mandates a collaborative health care model with patients and health care professionals working in a partnership toward common therapeutic goals,” writes Dr. Cady.
In the future, successful management of migraine will ideally be measured not by stopping an attack but by overall disease management and prevention, according to the researchers.
