Cure Migraines with Age

Migraineurs – those who regularly suffer migraine headaches – will be pleased to know that migraine relief is possible. You simply have to wait until you get old enough.

According to the American Headache Society, approximately 28 million people in the United States suffer from migraine headaches. But results of a new study offer migraine relief hope – of sorts.

Migraine Relief

Most physical complaints worsen with age. The disease progresses, and the sufferer can expect increasing problems. Not so with migraine, says Carl Dahlof, M.D., Ph.D, a neurologist and medical director and founder of the Gothenburg Migraine Clinic in Gothenberg, Sweden. “It does seem that in most people migraine is not a progressive disease,” says Dahlof.

Dahlof presented the results of a 12-year study at the American Headache Society annual meeting in June 2007. Those results were that, with age, migraineurs can expect to experience fewer, less excruciating migraine episodes, and individual episodes will not last as long. In other words, migraine relief comes with age.

Beginnings and Endings

Most migraineurs begin to have migraine around age 20. The study of Dahlof and his colleagues indicates that the average duration of migraine is about 25 years. That means that you can expect migraine relief around age 45. If you had your first migraine around age 30, you will have to wait until 55 or 60 for migraine relief.

The Rest of the Story

Dahlof admitted that age was not the only factor involved in migraine relief. Heredity seems to play a part, with those having a family history of the complaint experiencing more difficulty gaining migraine relief. It seemed, too, that migraine relief was more easily gained by men than by women.

The old advice of “nip it in the bud” also seemed to be a factor in migraine relief. Studies show that those who undertake early management of migraine are more likely to experience migraine relief over time.

Seymour Diamond, M.D., founder of the Diamond Headache Clinic and executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation in Chicago was not a study participant. But Dr. Diamond has observed similar migraine relief in his own patients. “Migraine problems do tend to decrease with time,” he says. “We find as people age they get fewer migraines. After age 50 or 55, they often decline. But in some people, they never do.”

Helpful Tip

If you are a migraineur looking for migraine relief, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of finding it. Exercise and diet, if necessary to reach and maintain a healthy body weight. Establish and maintain a consistent, regular sleep pattern. Reduce stress.

CAUTION: The author is not a medical professional. This information is for educational purposes only. If you are seeking migraine relief, please speak to your doctor.