Andalusian neurologists published a guide to improve the diagnosis and treatment of headache.

-Is the reason for more frequent, both primary care and specialized neurological consultation

-experts emphasize their high cost health, labour and social

Spain, January 2013.- headache is one of the neurological reasons for more frequent, both primary care and specialized. consultation in our midst87% referred headache in the past year, 80% of men and 93% of women ”, explains Dr. Javier Viguera, Coordinator of the Group of headaches of the Andalusian society of Neurology (SAN).

This situation this Andalusian study group has published a new guide to the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology, with the aim of improving its assistance. Not infrequently headache becomes an important suffering to the patient, causing serious repercussions to family level, labour and economic. To which should be added that in (fortunately rare) occasions the headache can cause the existence of an injury severe underlying ”, recalls the neurologist.

However, despite being recognized as a real public health problem, headache is considered one minor pathology, being even undervalued by own health professionals ”, says Dr. Viguera, who remembers that for patients can be a disabling pathology with impact at the personal level and decreased job performance ”.

Regarding migraine (more frequent in medical consultations headache type), in Andalusia estimated prevalence is 14%, still one million two hundred thousand people affected. An episode of migrainous pain leads the individual to reduce his activity in 50% of cases, and even to require bed rest in 20-30% ”, said.

Economic and social costs

All this doctor Viguera adds that if we value the headache from another indicator, no less important, as it is the economical, produces high direct costs (number of visits, care in emergencies and drugs services), although they are older indirect costs (lost hours of work and low productivity) and social and family involvement ”.

Average per patient per year cost in Europe is 600 euros ($ 10 billion euros per year in the total European population). So much so that the World Health Organization (who) classifies migraine among the main causes of disability, ahead of diseases such as asthma and diabetes. If considered the years of life lost to disability, migraine occupies the nineteenth place (ahead of ischemic heart disease) and the ninth for women (ahead of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis) ”.

Information about group study Andaluz, headache

The Group’s study of cluster headaches (SANCE) of the Andalusian Neurology society, was established in the year 2008 being formed by Andalusian neurologists with special dedication and training in headache, with the objective to improve attendance, defining common criteria and elaborate clinical guides. After a progressive walk in the field of cluster headaches have been the formation of a working group with great perspectives both on assistance, training and research on migraines.