Get out your purple and show some support. June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. For the estimated 1,000,000,000 people in the world who suffer the relentless, unforgiving pain of migraine headaches, the National Headache Foundation is there to help.

The foundation’s mission statement:

Over the past 42 years, our mission at the National Headache Foundation has been to further awareness of headache and migraine as legitimate neurobiological diseases. Much has changed during this time, and with aid from advanced technology and clinical innovation, there are more treatment options than ever before. However, we understand that these diseases are still largely misunderstood and that finding the right treatment options for you requires nuanced and adaptable insight.

Headaches currently rank among the top ten causes of disability on a global scale. It’s estimated that 12 percent of the population suffers migraine headaches. These headaches can often lead to missed work and school. The ailment also results in health care costs that average almost $7,100 per year per patient.

Migraine headaches are often described as a throbbing, continuous pain. Typically, migraines are often accompanied by vomiting, sensitivity to light, and/or nausea. There is currently no one-size-fits-all remedy. Some may get relief with over-the-counter medicines like Advil or prescription medicines from their doctor. Others turn to more non-traditional methods like biofeedback, hypnosis, Reiki, and/or acupuncture.

If you want to write about your own experiences with migraine headaches or read about other people’s experiences, Migraine Monologues is a popular site on the web.

This is how Mandi Howard, 45-years-old, describes her daily battle with migraines:

Every single morning I wake up with pain in the left side of my head. It feels like a vice has been attached to one half of my head and it’s being squeezed tighter and tighter, as the day goes on the right side joins in. This then feeling like a tight belt has also been wrapped around my forehead and is being pulled tight. I get this every single day but in addition to this, usually 3-5 times a week, I get a migraine attack too. This feels like someone has buried a chainsaw right into the left hand side of my head!!!

If you suffer from migraines or want to learn more, you can get educational information regarding doctors and total health care at The National Headache Foundation’s website, www.headaches.org. You can also find out all the necessary information if you want to make a donation.

Image via Wikimedia Commons