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Migraine Matters

Migraine affects life and work.

Migraine is an invisible condition people often struggle with quietly, dealing with chronic, unseen, and severe pain 1. It’s a neurological condition that can cause intense pain in the head for 4 to 72 hours, as well as other disruptive symptoms.2-3 Research reveals that migraine ranks amongst the most disabling disorders, impacting long-term quality of life for individuals.4-5

Migraine and the Workplace

1 in 7 people are living with migraine.6

~40 million in the United States3,7

Attacks typically peak from age 18 to 55

During prime professional years8

Episodic 0-14, Chronic: 15+

Headache days per month9

Around 4.5 workdays missed per year

On average per person10

Around 2 weeks reduced productivity

On average per person per year 10

$36 billion per year

The estimated annual cost of migraine on the US economy 11

3 factors that adversely impact work productivity, and positive actions to take

Section References

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3 factors that adversely impact work productivity, and positive actions to take
References

References:
Begasse de Dhaem. Migraines Are a Serious Problem. Employers Can Help. Harvard Business Review. Disabilities. 2021.(hbr.org) Accessed June 2024.

Begasse de Dhaem O, Sakai F. Migraine in the workplace. eNeurologicalSci. 2022;27:100408. doi: 10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100408.

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Migraine & Pain Symptoms

Migraine attack symptoms such as headache, severe pain, nausea, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, and poor concentration among others can affect people’s ability to focus on their work.

Actions to take:

  • Create a migraine-friendly work environment supported by education programs for HR, Supervisors, and co-workers. This can help promote greater understanding of the challenges colleagues living with migraine might be facing.
  • Help provide access to migraine care, both medical (including medications and patient education) as well as psychological or behavioral support.
  • Encourage employees to make individual rescue plans for when migraine attacks occur with actions that help promote a sense of control.
  • Offer reasonable accommodation to demonstrate understanding and support.
Unpredictability of Migraine Attacks

Migraine attacks can occur suddenly at inconvenient times at work. Whether they come with warning symptoms or emerge unexpectedly, they can be disruptive.

Actions to take:

  • Build company awareness that migraine attacks can be unpredictable (and inconvenient) and debilitating.
  • Ensure employees have access to a quiet and dark environment, and migraine care to manage pain, symptoms, anxiety and emotional stress.
  • Offer schedule flexibility if possible, so employees can take breaks or leave work if needed. This can increase their sense of control and help them manage more effectively.
Stigma & Emotional Impact

People living with migraine may experience a fear of stigma and shame for their condition. This creates a workplace environment that can increase stress and affect their ability to be their best.

Actions to take:

  • Facilitate a supportive and caring work environment through education programs for supervisors and co-workers. Help increase understanding of migraine to eliminate judgmental language and attitudes, and foster greater empathy.

References

  1. Begasse de Dhaem O, Sakai F. Migraine in the workplace. eNeurologicalSci. 2022 Jun 6;27:100408. doi: 10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100408.
  2. Ferrari MD, et al. Migraine. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2022;8(1):2. doi: 10.1038/s41572-021-00328-4.
  3. American Migraine Foundation. Migraine 101. (americanmigrainefoundation.com) Accessed June 2024.
  4. Martelletti P, et al. “My Migraine Voice survey: a global study of disease burden among individuals with migraine for whom preventive treatments have failed.” The Journal of Headache and Pain. Published 2018, doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0946-z.
  5. Steiner TJ, et al; Lifting The Burden: the Global Campaign against Headache. Migraine remains second among the world's causes of disability, and first among young women: findings from GBD2019. The Journal of Headache and Pain. 2020;21(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s10194-020-01208-0.
  6. MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine (US). Genetics. Migraine. Frequency. (medlineplus.gov) Accessed June 2024.
  7. Martin VT, et al. A rational approach to migraine diagnosis and management in primary care. Annals of Medicine. 2021;53(1):1979-1990. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2021.1995626.
  8. American Migraine Foundation. Understanding the Economic Burden of Migraine: Dr. Richard Lipton (americanmigrainefoundation.org) Accessed June 2024.
  9. Katsarava Z, et al,. Defining the differences between episodic migraine and chronic migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2012;16(1):86-92. doi: 10.1007/s11916-011-0233-z.
  10. Leonardi M, Raggi A. A narrative review on the burden of migraine: when the burden is the impact on people’s life. The Journal of Headache and Pain. 2019;20,41. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-0993-0
  11. Bonafede M, et al. Direct and Indirect Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs Among Migraine Patients in the United States. Headache. 2018;58(5):700-714. doi: 10.1111/head.13275. Epub 2018 Feb 15. PMID: 29446063.
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Demy can help demystify migraine.

Demy takes a personalized approach to making what could be overwhelming, more understandable through simple, actionable steps.

  • An easy-to-use attack log
  • Personalized insights
  • Practical courses on behavioral and mindfulness skills to help build resilience in daily life
  • Healthy Lifestyle Exercises

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Three simple steps:

Step1

Set up your employer account.

Register your organization and share a list of eligible employees. Get your activation code, get your Employer Playbook, and get going.

Step2

Promote Demy downloads.

Share your activation code with employees and encourage them to download Demy from the App Store or Google Play.

Step 3

Encourage logging and learning.

Remind employees to track every attack and take advantage of all the learning opportunities Demy has to offer.

Questions about Demy?

How does the Demy workplace program work?
A Pfizer representative will help you set up your employer account. Once you’ve completed your employer profile and provided a list of eligible employees, you’ll receive a unique activation code that will allow employees to gain access to the app. They can easily download the app from the app store and set up their own account using your employer activation code.
How do I set up an account?
To set up your account, select “Connect with us” on the Demy website home page and a Pfizer representative will get in touch to help you get started.
How do employer activation codes work?
Each participating business will receive a unique code when setting up an account. This code can be distributed to your employees to access the app. Each employee’s eligibility will be validated using the list you provided the Pfizer admin when setting up your account. Codes cannot be shared outside your organization.
Can employees share codes with people outside my organization?
Codes cannot be shared outside your organization. Once users enter the employer code into the app, they will be asked to enter a unique identifier (typically their employee ID or work email.) This identifier will be validated through the employee list you provided in your account profile. Only those on this list will be able to access the app. You can add or remove individuals from the list at any time.
Does Demy provide resources that can be used during a migraine attack?
Demy is NOT intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent migraine or any other disease; however, it does include information on mindfulness practices and relaxation techniques that may help your employees manage stress and better understand how to build resilience in their daily lives.
Who is eligible to use Demy?
When setting up your employer account, you will provide a list of eligible employees. You can add or disable employees at any time.
How do my employees access the app?
Employees can download the app directly from the App Store or Google Play. They will need your employer activation code and their employee ID or work email address to set up their own account.
Do my employees need a smart phone to use Demy?
Demy app is designed to work on iOS or Android smartphone devices.
Who should I reach out to if an employee is experiencing an issue with the app?
Contact [email protected]

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