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One of the first recorded instances of migraine was from Hippocrates (circa 460 BC) when he described a headache brought on by particular sounds (aka <\/span>phonophobia<\/span><\/i>).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Fast forward a couple of millennia, and you\u2019d be forgiven, based on the general understanding, for thinking not much has changed. When, for instance, was the last time you heard someone refer to a migraine as a <\/span>\u2018bad headache\u2019<\/span><\/i>?<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019re being facetious, of course, because much <\/span>has <\/span><\/i>changed \u2013 but there\u2019s still work to do.<\/span><\/p>\n Commonly experienced by <\/span>over a billion people worldwide<\/span><\/span><\/a>, migraines are also commonly <\/span>misunderstood<\/span><\/i>. This has manifested in a general lack of understanding that can often lead to the dismissal of symptoms and issues accessing the right treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n READ:<\/strong> Dim the Lights: A Narrative Review of Photophobia in Migraine<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Rob Music, CEO of The Migraine Trust, UK expresses his concerns about the state of migraine recognition:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMigraine is a common and complex brain disorder that affects 10 million people in the UK, and which impacts their ability to work, relationships and mental health. It\u2019s poorly understood by the public and even many health professionals, and there are challenges around diagnosis, care and access to the right treatment.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Classified as a neurological disorder in 1962, migraines can severely impact a person\u2019s life, particularly those with chronic conditions that trigger daily attacks. This is exacerbated by the fact that most people don\u2019t understand enough about the debilitating nature of the symptoms to seek a diagnosis and proper treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n READ:<\/strong> The UK\u2019s Migraine Healthcare System: Key Problems and How They Can be Addressed<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n This is illustrated by The Migraine Trust\u2019s research, which found almost a quarter of people in the UK experienced migraine attacks for over two years before diagnosis.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s why The Migraine Trust runs Migraine Awareness Week throughout the first week of September.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n This year, 5-14 September is dedicated to educating people about migraines, so they\u2019re better equipped to seek out <\/span>#BetterMigraineCare<\/strong> and live an improved standard of life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Equally, it\u2019s about recognising that medical science has progressed at an astonishing rate \u2013 <\/span>certainly <\/span><\/i>since Hippocrates, but most importantly, in just the last few years.<\/span><\/p>\n For instance, despite the availability of pharmaceutical therapies, many migraine sufferers may require non-medical options \u2013 leading to non-invasive, non-drug preventives and acute treatments like <\/span>External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (e-TNS)<\/span><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In those who suffer from acute migraine attacks, <\/span>rapid relief treatments like 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B\/1D receptor agonists<\/span><\/a><\/span> play a current and future role in mitigating symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite these (<\/span>and other<\/span><\/a><\/span>) medical advances, there\u2019s still much work to do. But the opportunity is there, as highlighted by Rob Music of The Migraine Trust:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c… with new migraine treatments, updated pathways and a greater focus on migraine at a health and policy level, we have an important opportunity to change things for the better.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s all possible, he insists, but better awareness <\/span>now <\/span><\/i>is vital:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis change must start now though. Migraine has to be given the focus and priority it, and those living with it, need and deserve.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n touchNEUROLOGY supports Migraine Awareness Week and its campaign to raise awareness for people living with migraines, their families and friends and to support fundraising for new treatments. <\/span>Explore our library<\/span><\/a><\/span> of video interviews, conference highlights, journal articles, and clinical trial updates to learn more about migraine and other headache disorders.<\/span><\/p>\n