Risk Factors Determining Progression From Episodic To Chronic Migraine
Non-modifiable risk factors are older age, female gender, Caucasian ethnicity, low educational level, low socioeconomic status, and genetic factors. Modifiable risk factors are obesity, snoring, head or neck injury, comorbid depression, stressful life events or major life changes. Only about 25% of patients achieved remission, specifically moving from more than 15 headache days a month to less than 10 headache days a month, over a period of 2 years. The most important factor that favors obtaining remission is a lower baseline of headache frequency. Recognizing risk factors leads to behavioral modifications such as weight loss, checking for sleep apnea, treating anxiety and depression. Using effective abortive therapy, mainly triptans and treating each headache early, is also helpful.
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