(SD-SP) Are more people experiencing migraine than ever before? Whether or not you are part of the quarter of U.S. households that includes someone with migraine, chances are if you logged on to social media, turned on the TV or chatted with your friends recently, discussion surrounding migraine may be at the forefront. Not to be confused with general head pain, migraine is a debilitating neurological condition, with symptoms that include a strong headache that lasts hours or days and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Children, adolescents, and adults can all be affected by migraine.

There are a few reasons why it might seem like more people are talking about migraine these days – perhaps a big reason is stress. We all know that the pandemic has thrown off everyone’s schedules, plans and environments. “Stress can certainly be a migraine trigger, along with changes in sleep, hormones, diet or even light,” said Thomas Smith, MD, Chief Medical Officer of BioDelivery Sciences International, a company dedicated to driving innovative solutions for the treatment of serious and debilitating  conditions like migraine. “So, it would be logical to believe that people who may be vulnerable to migraine attacks are getting them more frequently or intensely as their lives have shifted in ways beyond anyone’s control.”

Another reason could be that people are paying attention to their health and wellbeing more than ever and have a desire to understand the big picture behind their symptoms.  A survey reported by Healio.com found 80% of Americans intend to regularly practice self-care after the pandemic. “Part of self-care means recognizing when you may need some help managing when migraine attacks get in the way of your work, family, or doing what you love,” said Dr. Smith. “Therefore, it is our goal to make sure that there are accessible resources for those that need them. We want to help to ensure migraine is better understood.”

Everyone who experiences migraine should feel supported. “We know that migraine attacks have an impact on so many, yet more than half of all people with migraine are never diagnosed. It is so important to seek the help of a medical professional if you or a family member experiences migraine. With numerous new treatment options available, you can work with your healthcare provider to find one that can help provide quick relief so you can get back to doing what you love,” said Dr. Smith.