Painful truth about migraine

Believe it or not, migraine affects one in seven persons and is one of the leading causes of disability all over the world. But even as it is known to be pervasive, migraine remains widely under-diagnosed and under-treated. And what’s worse is the most common brain affliction receives the least research funding than any of the other mental diseases.

In light of these concerns, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) has teamed up with the International Headache Society (IHS) to support the fifth Annual World Brain Day which takes place tomorrow. This year’s event is dedicated to raising awareness for migraine with more than 120 organizations worldwide “to stop the stigma.”

World Brain Day Chairperson Prof. Tissa Wijeratne said, “lack of research support for and publications in the field of migraine from low to middle-income countries is disappointing and alarming … this is where two-thirds of the world’s population live … and the situation in high-income countries is still in tremendous need of progress.”

In definitive terms, migraine is described as a disabling neurological disease characterized by severe head pain, cognitive impairment, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo and sensitivity to light, sound and touch. The WFN said it is highly associated with other diseases such as stroke, heart disease, epilepsy, depression, chronic pain among others and in order to help patients find relief and improve their quality of life, early diagnosis and access to effective treatment are vital.

Tomorrow, the WFN and HIS will hold a 60-minute webinar where key migraine experts from around the world will offer critical insights on the disease as well as outline a strategy to raise the bar on patient care regardless of age, gender, culture or location. Patients, health care professionals, advocates and caregivers are invited to participate in the webinar. July 22 is a special day in WFN’s history as it was on this day in 1957 that the organization was established.

“It’s imperative that the world understands the physical pain and societal impact of migraine,” said WFN president Prof. William Carroll. “The WFN stands beside the more than one billion people living with migraine.” A survey has revealed that in 2016, nearly three billion people experienced a headache and 1.04 billion complained of migraine.

On the local front, the Philippine Neurological Association Headache Council and the Philippine Headache Society will join the WFN and IHS in celebration of World Brain Day as 16 institutions (PGH, Makati Medical Center, UST, St. Luke’s Quezon City, UERM, Jose Reyes, PCMC, TMC, Baguio General Hospital, Benguet General Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Marikina Valley Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center, Asian Hospital and United Candelaria Doctors Hospital) are holding a Lay Fora on migraine tomorrow. 

The medical leads in the PGH fora are Dr. Martha Lu-Bolanos and Dr. Maria Lina Renales. It is scheduled at the Emergency Room Complex from 2 to 4 p.m. At UST, the medical lead is Dr. Joseree Ann Catindig and it will be held at the Neuroscience Institute from 1 to 2 p.m. Dr. Rogie Marie Ignacio-Alcantara is the medical lead at the Makati Medical fora to be held at the Neuroscience Conference Room from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Dr. Greg Dayrit is the medical lead at St. Luke’s Quezon City where the fora will be held at the Heart Room on the ground floor from 2 to 4 p.m. For details on the fora in other institutions, please call Jane Maranan at 8888-999 local 7322 or +639064593998. Registration is free.

The officers of the Philippine Headache Society are Dr. Regina Macalintal-Canlas president, Dr. Ramon Javier vice president, Dr. Socorro Florendo-Sarfati corporate secretary and Dr. Lu-Bolanos treasurer with Dr. Carissa Dioquino, Dr. Nanette Domingo, Dr. Corina Macalintal, Dr. Aida Mendoza-Salonga, Dr. Salome Nicdao-Vios, Dr. Artemio Roxas, Dr. Amado San Luis and Dr. Wilson Tulmo as board members.

The officers of the Philippine Neurological Association Headache Council are Dr. Macalintal-Canlas, Dr. Lu-Bolanos, Dr. Florendo-Sarfati, Dr. Tulmo, Dr. Macalintal, Dr. Nicdao-Vios, Dr Marietta Olaivar, Dr. Glicerio Alincastre, Dr. Dayrit, Dr. Erman Fandialan, Dr. Javier, Dr. Anna Marie Sage-Nolido, Dr. Roxas and Dr. Ignacio-Alcantara.