'For those who don't have migraines, it is often difficult to understand the pain and life-altering effect these headaches have on the sufferer and their family.'

Data provided by the migraine sufferers participating in the research -- sponsored by the National Headache Foundation and the largest ever of its kind -- indicate that only one in five Americans with the condition currently use preventive therapies; however, millions could benefit from these treatments.

The results underscore the need for more dialogue between healthcare providers and migraine sufferers to ensure all treatment options are explored, say the researchers.

Preventive Therapies Underused

"The ultimate goal of every migraine patient and their healthcare provider is a life with fewer interruptions caused by migraine pain and disability," said Richard B. Lipton, M.D., lead study researcher, professor and vice chair of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, and director of the Montefiore Headache Unit.

"Preventive medications can decrease migraine occurrence by 50 to 80 percent," he noted, "as well as reduce the severity and duration of migraines that do occur. Preventive treatment is considerably underused as demonstrated in this study."

Quality of Life Plummets

Almost 98 percent of people with frequent migraines take medications, but a large majority report their lives are still negatively impacted by the pain and debilitation associated with migraine, the study results show.

Nine out of 10 sufferers report they can't "function normally" during days in which a migraine strikes, the study says, and nearly three in 10 require bed rest.

More than 25 percent say they missed at least one day of work over the preceding three months due to a migraine, and almost 50 percent report their migraines prevented them from doing household chores.

Approximately 80 percent of migraine sufferers experience abnormal sensitivity to light and noise, and almost 75 percent report nausea and vomiting. Nearly 79 percent experience pulsating, throbbing pain.

Neurobiologic Disease

"For those who don't have migraines, it is often difficult to understand the pain and life-altering effect these headaches have on the sufferer and their family," said Suzanne Simons, executive director of the National Headache Foundation in Chicago.

"Our goal is not only to help those suffering from migraines but also to educate Americans that migraines are a legitimate neurobiologic disease with profound social and economic costs," she added.

Treating migraines differs from helping to prevent them. Treating migraines means taking medication after a sufferer's migraine starts and waiting for relief. Preventing means taking a daily prescription medication to help reduce the number of migraines a sufferer gets and possibly reduce their length and intensity.