Where to go: Urgent care or emergency room for migraine
Globally, about 1 billion people are affected by migraines each year. Approximately 30 million of those are from the United States. Generally, women are slightly more susceptible than men, with a 19% chance of occurrence over 11% for the latter group. Although instances of migraines are slightly lower in Africa and Asia compared to the Western countries, they still occur in roughly 1.4% to 2.2% in those regions. Age also plays a factor in their occurrence, with figures varying substantially over several demographics. Between 15 and 24 years of age is when migraines most commonly begin, culminating in a significant frequency of occurrence during the ages of 35 to 45. Children can also be affected by the condition—and although it is more common in boys than girls especially before puberty, the entrance into adolescence and subsequent adulthood gradually shifts the statistics toward women being the more common sufferers.
These stats prove that migraines are a serious and widespread problem globally, as well as within the local population of the United States. But what is a migraine, and does the seriousness of the condition, if it manifests itself in a person, warrant a trip to the urgent care center or the emergency room?
A migraine is considered a primary headache disorder according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, and is typified by chronic moderate to severe headaches. An episode typically lasts from 2 to 72 hours and includes symptoms of sensitivity to light, sound, or smell, and nausea and/or vomiting. Any form of moderate physical activity also exacerbates the pain.
If an individual suffers from these symptoms, they most likely have a migraine—a serious and painful condition by all accounts. Urgent care centers may be able to provide first aid care, but for advanced cases, one should go to your nearest ER in Texas to get treatment. An ER has a more varied stock of pain medication and is fully equipped in case the individual’s condition complicates into something like a seizure.
