The patients who come to our migraine and headache natural care clinic do not require a medical diagnosis or referral to consult with us. The first visit consists of an interview (anamnesis) and a full examination of the cervical region based on orthopaedic, neurological and postural assessment tests. Following an analysis of results, a diagnosis will be made. You will then be given information about the treatment care that your condition requires and whether or not it is treatable at the clinic.
The National Population Health Study (NPHS) revealed that 8% of Canadians aged 12 and up (i.e., close to two million people) have been diagnosed as having migraines. Earlier studies have shown that migraines have severe repercussions for both productivity and life-style. They can lead to loss of workdays, undermine performance and output, limit activity and disrupt relationships. Beyond this, the direct costs of medical consultation, visits to the emergency ward, and pharmaceutical treatment connected to migraines are considerable.
Migraines are thought also to be behind the loss of seven million work days per year in Canada. An American study estimated recently that migraine-sufferers are confined to bed 112 million days per year, at a cost of 13 billion dollars (U.S.) to employers, due to work days missed and loss of output, not counting the billions of dollars in direct costs for medical care. This said, and although the impact of migraines on society is considerable, the extent and scope of this health problem among Canadians remains very poorly understood.
This is a widespread malady indeed
Around 3.2 million Canadians of both sexes, or 14% of the population, suffer from migraines.
In Canada, migraines affect around 5% of men, and between 15 and 17% of women.
Women are twice as likely to suffer from migraines as men.
Between 200 000 and 300 000 children in Canada suffer from migraines.
About 50% of those who suffer from migraines have not been diagnosed.