Migraine epidemic that's impacting a third of the nation

A new study has uncovered migraines are more common than first thought and it's women bearing the brunt. One in three suffers from the debilitating condition which is estimated to cost the economy $35 billion every year.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Kate May has chronic migraine, a rare form of the
neurological disease, which means she has severe symptoms every day.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
And I've had to make a lot of adaptions to
my life. I work from home, I'm a freelancer. I've
had to give up a lot of hobbies and things
I would have used to do.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
And she's not alone. New data shows one in three
Australian women suffer from migraines, far worse than previously thought.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
I think this is going to be I opening to
a lot of people.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
It's estimated a further thirteen percent go undiagnosed.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
I know that many people aren't getting the support or
diagnosis or treatment options that can help them feel a
lot better.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Like Kate. Eight in ten women say migraines impact their
ability to work and it's having a major impact on
the economy.

Speaker 4 (00:50):
Thirty seven billion dollars.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Attacks are often triggered by hormonal changes.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
Often the migraine worsens during the cycle, often when people
are menstuating a few days beforehand or a few days
into that cycle, and often in the peri menopausal state.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
Health experts hope this new data will lead to more
research and conversations about the disease, including more flexible working
provisions for women who suffer from migraine.

Speaker 4 (01:19):
It might be flexibility around working hours, it might be
the conditions, and it might believe

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Beth and Yeomen seven News