ALMOST half of patients who go to their doctor with migraines have their symptoms misinterpreted, it was claimed today.
ALMOST half of patients who go to their doctor with migraines have their symptoms misinterpreted, it was claimed today.
The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (Sign) - which advises GPs on treatment - is urging doctors to have greater discussion with patients suffering from headaches, in a bid to reduce the number who take the wrong medication for their condition.
Around 4% of Scots have a chronic form of headache and roughly 50% of these are thought to be "rebound headaches" - caused by the over-use of painkillers.
Sign wants GPs to discuss over-use of medication with their patients.
It also aims to raise the profile of migraine sufferers, whose symptoms can be severely debilitating, amid warnings they are regularly misdiagnosed as suffering less-serious forms of headache.
