Poets and other wise people have argued for centuries whether or not time heals all wounds. For at least one painful condition time seems to help in some cases. Recent research at the Gothenburg Migraine Clinic in Gothenberg Sweden seems to indicate that migraine symptoms lessen or disappear as migraine sufferers age.
In a direct contrast to most maladies that become worse with age, migraine symptoms tend to improve in a surprising number of cases. Migraines don’t get progressively worse they tend to get progressively better
The bad news is that you may have to wait for 25 years to realize a significant improvement in your condition. At least 28 million Americans are suffering with migraine headaches of one kind or another.
Patients interviewed reported that they had at least six migraines per month. Over the twelve years of that the surveys continued symptoms tended to disappear completely or improved significantly. At least 91% of the respondents were completely free of migraine symptoms by the time that the survey concluded. Even the people that were still symptomatic for migraines reported that their symptoms where far less severe than at the beginning of this study.
Anecdotal evidence has long indicated that migraines decrease in severity as people age. This is especially true of people as they enter their six decade. Some people do continue to be plagued by migraines well into old age, however.
A Cautionary Note or Two
Unfortunately this study had no way into account for the improvement in medical treatment for migraines over the past number of years or strategies for coping with migraines that are now well publicized and practiced by migraine sufferers.
Coping strategies include watching one’s weight and reducing and intake of foods that are known causes of migraines in some people such as chocolate and dairy products.
Patients should also pay careful attention to the medications that they use to combat symptoms and tried to reduce the amount of headache medication and caffeine that they consume.
Although there was a generalized improvement in symptoms over time, migraine headaches were still reported to have interfered with work and leisure activities by many respondents.
Reduction in migraine symptoms still seems to be directly linked to early management of migraines in general. This involves consulting with health care professionals once migraines are experienced for the first time. This generally occurs in the patient’s early 20’s.
Drug therapy also has a definite role to play in treating symptoms. The new triptan based drugs seem to achieve the best results, especially when taken early in the onset of the migraine.
Hereditary Factors
Researchers have already been pointed out that heredity is a major factor in the onset of migraines. It also seems to play a role as people age. Patients with a family history of migraines were more likely to continue to experience more frequent migraines as they aged. More research seems to be called for in this area as well. Researchers aren’t about to run out of subjects any time soon.