Pro Football Legend Troy Aikman Puts a New Face on Migraines

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Countering the common myth that migraine is a “women’s disease,” former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman is speaking publicly about his experience with migraines as part of a new effort to educate men about the condition.

It is estimated that seven million men in the United States suffer from migraines. The Pro Football Hall of Famer and current NFL broadcast analyst is speaking out about his personal experiences with migraines in hopes that other men will follow his lead and talk to a doctor.

“It’s too easy for men to believe that a migraine is simply a headache, and no man wants to believe a headache’s got the best of him,” said Aikman. “It wasn’t until after I retired from the game that I spoke to my doctor and learned that my headaches were actually migraines. Even more importantly, my doctor prescribed a medicine that effectively treats my migraines.”

According to a survey of 20,000 households, 78 percent of male migraine sufferers had their daily activity restricted. Furthermore, a separate survey of working men revealed that of those who had been diagnosed with migraine, 69 percent said their job performance was negatively impacted by their bad headaches or migraines.

“Migraines in men often go undiagnosed. Research demonstrates that compared to women, fewer men consult a physician about their headaches, and even when they do, men are less likely to be correctly diagnosed,” said Richard Lipton, M.D., professor of Neurology, Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. “I can’t stress enough how important it is that men who are experiencing frequent bad headaches seek medical advice, and make sure they describe symptoms to their physicians in as much detail as possible so they can get an accurate diagnosis, in order to get a treatment plan that can work for them.”

Migraines: Not Just a Headache

Although headache pain is one of the most recognized symptoms of migraine, other associated symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Head pain can last from 4-72 hours in adults. Symptoms of migraine can vary from attack to attack in the same person and different people may exhibit different symptoms. Migraine sufferers may also experience a variety of non-traditional migraine symptoms including sinus pressure and pain in the back of the neck.

A simple tool that can help men talk to their doctor about their symptoms is the Headache Quiz. Men who suffer from frequent bad headaches should visit http://www.headachequiz.com/, take the short quiz and talk to their doctor about their results.

Tough Guy Finds He Doesn’t Need to Tough Out Migraines Anymore

Although Aikman experienced what he thought were only headaches for years, he chose to “tough them out” rather than see a physician. Even though he had a sister who was diagnosed with migraines, he didn’t think his headaches warranted a trip to the doctor. When Aikman began to travel more frequently for work, however, he noticed he would experience throbbing head pain and nausea after almost every flight. Finally, he decided it was enough, and asked his doctor about his symptoms. He was diagnosed with migraines, and prescribed Imitrex(R) (sumatriptan succinate) Tablets, one of the most commonly prescribed migraine-specific prescription medications. Imitrex works on serotonin receptors located on blood vessels in the brain, reducing the dilation of those blood vessels, which is thought to be a source of migraine pain.

“With my work and travel schedule, I can’t always avoid my triggers, but at least I’m better prepared,” said Aikman. “Because I talked to my doctor, I now have a medicine that effectively treats my migraines, which is important to me. My message is simple: Any guy who gets what he thinks are only frequent bad headaches should talk to a doctor.”

About Imitrex

Imitrex is a prescription medication indicated for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. Imitrex should only be used when a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established. Patients should not take Imitrex if they have certain types of heart disease, history of stroke or TIAs, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud syndrome, or blood pressure that is uncontrolled. Patients with risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or smoking, should be evaluated by a doctor before taking Imitrex. Very rarely, certain people, even some without heart disease, have had serious heart related problems. Patients who are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications should talk to their doctor.

Please consult full Prescribing Information, available at http://www.imitrex.com/ or by calling Robin Gaitens at GlaxoSmithKline at (919) 483-2839.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline , with U.S. operations in Philadelphia and Research Triangle Park, N.C., is one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and health care companies. The company is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

GlaxoSmithKline

CONTACT: Robin Gaitens of GlaxoSmithKline, +1-919-483-2839

Web site: http://www.imitrex.com/