In the United States, 1.4 percent of all visits to office-based physicians is due to headache,which represents approximately 12 million physician visits in one year. According to recent studies, 8.7 million females and 2.6 million males in the U.S. experience migraine. Only about one-third of female headache sufferers have ever consulted a physician for their headache problems. The headache attacks greatly impact on the ability of women to work and pursue everyday life activities.
The most common headache type seen in the general population is tension-type headache. However, the headache that most frequently brings a patient to consult a physician is migraine. There is another type of headache which is less widespread and not well-recognized, yet is described as the worst pain a human may possibly experience. This type – cluster headache – is most frequently seen in males.
Patients and physicians are continuing to search for newer and more effective methods for the treatment of headache. The past decade has seen significant advances in the available therapies and with this medications with better safety, reliability and consistency.
Virtually every human being has experienced a headache at some point during his or her life. The majority of individuals can successfully treat their infrequent headaches with simple measures such as ice packs to the forehead or resting quietly for a short period of time. However, in the United States 45 million people suffer with recurrent headache pain, requiring therapy beyond just simple measures. Of these people, 28 million contend with migraine attacks. The most common remedy utilized by migraine patients for an attack is an over-the-counter (OTC) product.
Migraine patients have several alternative headache and migraine interventions available as adjuncts to, or sometimes substitutes for, traditional medications. Among these nonpharmacologic or nontraditional headache treatments are biofeedback, acupuncture, Botox injections, and topical Lidoderm patches.
