Migraine

Twelve per cent of the adult population - three times as many women as men, and five per cent of children - suffer from migraine.
This illness is little understood, both by the public at large and by some practitioners, and is often relegated to the ranks of psychological afflictions. As a result, sufferers often do not dare talk to their doctors about it: 50 per cent have never asked for medical help, and nearly half of those who have think there is little that can be done for them.
And yet, over the past few years, researchers have made progress in understanding the physiopathological mechanisms of migraine, confirming that it is an extremely complex and multi-faceted illness.
- Why do attacks occur and how can we pinpoint the factors that cause them?
- Why do some attacks involve an "aura" and not others?
- What can cause an attack to stop spontaneously?
- When and how should migraine be treated?
New anti-migraine drugs have appeared on the scene, while epidemiological research has highlighted the problems of migraine sufferers and shown how their quality of life is reduced. Therefore migraine has finally achieved the status of a "real" illness.
This extremely useful and well-researched book gives an overview of current knowledge about the very varied causes of migraine, the basic indicators for diagnosis, and the forms of treatment that may be considered.
On a practical level, the author provides a guide to the first consultation which enables the doctor to recognize the signs of a migraine attack and to give patients the best possible information.
Faced with one of the most insidious and misunderstood illnesses - yet also one of the most common - this book gives doctors the information they need to recognize and treat migraine sufferers.