A new study has found that if a spouse or family member suffers from chronic migraines, the whole family suffers.
This study has not yet been published.
Around 38 million people in the United States suffer from migraines and between 3 and 7 million suffer from chronic migraines.
A chronic migraine is defined as having a migraine for 15 or more days out of a month. Migraines can be described a throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head and are usually accompanied with nausea and sometimes even blurred vision.
Most people who suffer from migraines say that their relationships in life have suffered due to the pain that they experience, according to HealthDay. Chronic migraines can have an effect on family relationships, daily activity and sexual intimacy.
Lead study author, Dawn Buse, says that she hears firsthand about the tragic effect that chronic migraine has on every aspect of people's lives, including work and home life. She wanted to study further on how each person’s life was affected when it came to someone close to them having migraines.
Those who don’t have migraines are not able to understand how the illness can affect the entire family.
Data was gathered through an online survey in which 1,000 people who suffer from chronic migraines took. 812 of the participants were women. Those who suffer from the migraines as well as their spouses and children took the survey, according to Tech Times.
Practically 75 percent of spouses said they believe they could be a better husband/wife if they did not suffer from chronic migraines and 60 percent said they would be better parents if it were not for the illness.
Many who suffer from the migraines often feel guilty because they become angry more easily. The headaches can also often make people opt out of family vacations and other activities. Those with chronic migraines say that they miss out on quality time with their spouses seven days a month, on average, due to the illness.
Buse hopes the study helps people better understand migraines. "I think the results may surprise some who hold the view that migraine is 'just a headache' and hopefully shed light on the far-reaching effects of this debilitating condition."