• Awareness campaign across the UAE launched to shed light on the burdens the neurological disease has on individuals’ lives
• Migraine is the second-highest cause of disability in the United Arab Emirates
• Migraine is a seriously debilitating condition, being the third-most common disease in the world
• Migraines are often undiagnosed and untreated
• Sufferer’s way of life is compromised; education is imperative to reducing stigma and driving awareness of this condition
Migraine is a highly disruptive neurological disease that affects all aspects of life, yet its impact on both personal and professional life is vastly underestimated.
Migraine not only compromises a person’s way of life, but also results in lost productivity and can directly impact the sufferer’s livelihood. It has a profound and limiting impact on an individual’s ability to carry out everyday tasks and can also lead to them being stigmatized.
Farah Ashoka, a patient suffering from migraine, said, “I have seen first-hand the extent to which migraine can compromise a person’s quality of life. It can have an adverse mental and emotional impact on families. People suffering from this condition often miss important events in the lives of loved ones, and there is a social stigma associated with it that needs to be addressed. Education is important to driving awareness and I wish that more people were aware of the fact that migraine is so much more than just a headache.”
Mohammed Ezz Eldin, Head of Novartis Gulf Cluster, said, “Migraine affects not only those who suffer from it, but their friends and family as well. Through education and awareness, we can challenge commonly held stereotypes and aim to change public perception.
With this in mind, and with the aim of driving a new conversation around the neurological disorder, we are pleased to announce a nationwide awareness campaign in the UAE, where migraine is the second-leading cause of disability. The campaign speaks directly to the community in the country and paves the way for a dialogue on the issue of migraine,” he added.
A migraine can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on just one side of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days and can be so severe that the pain is disabling.
Symptoms known as aura may occur before or with the headache. These can include flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling on one side of the face or in on the arm or leg. Risk factors include family history, age, gender, as well as hormonal changes.
In addition, Dr. Taoufik Alsaadi, Consultant Neurologist and the Chief Medical Officer at the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology (ACPN) said, “Migraine is a debilitating condition and yet, is often mistaken by others as a mere headache. The World Health Organization classifies severe migraine attacks as among the most disabling illnesses, comparable to dementia, quadriplegia and active psychosis. Attacks are characterized by a headache of moderate or severe intensity and nausea, with sufferers developing sensitivity to light and sound and experiencing vomiting.”
“Episodes can be triggered by stress, lack of food or sleep, diet or changes in hormones2. Despite its severity and impact on quality of life, it remains under-recognized and under-treated,” added Dr. Alsaadi.
Dr. Abu Baker Al Madani, Consultant Neurologist at Mediclinic City Hospital, also noted, “Healthcare for migraine must be improved, and education is an essential component of this. Appropriate treatment of headache disorders requires the training of health professionals, accurate diagnosis and recognition of the condition, appropriate treatment with cost-effective medications and patient education.”
“As of 2016, Migraine is the second-highest cause of disability in the United Arab Emirates. On its own, migraine is the cause of 1.3% of all years of life lost to disability, noted Dr. Al Madani.
Novartis has a strong commitment to neuroscience and to bringing innovation to patients suffering from neurological conditions where there is an unmet need, by working to discover new ways to improve care.
