The High Costs of Migraines Can Be Lowered

Migraines are expensive. Recent studies show that the chronic, debilitating headaches have a high cost not just for the sufferer, but for their family, and, surprisingly, their employer as well.

One of the ways that have been shown to substantially lower these costs to both employees and their employers is through the increasing use and effectiveness of natural remedies for migraines. Increasing numbers of migraine sufferers are finding that these natural provide an effective and long lasting solution to their suffering, and one that allows them to escape from the side effects and other harm caused by long term use of subscription medicines.

People who suffer from migraine headaches pay an huge quality of life cost, and their wallets take a substantial hit as well. The health care costs for families with a migraine sufferer are, on average, seventy two percent higher than those of families without sufferer. Migraine sufferers also pay for their pain in lost income from work or self employment. Sometime this is due to unpaid time away from work, or being unable to work in their business. Sadly, at other times it is because raises and promotions are available to them because they are deemed unreliable due to their condition.

The costs to employers are high as well. In the U. S., it is estimated that migraines cost employers well over twenty billion dollars each year. About half of that amount is indirect costs, such as absenteeism, short-term disability, and worker's compensation. It is estimated that these costs would be even higher if "presenteeism" were included. Presenteeism is the estimated cost of lost productivity that employees with migraines experience while actually on the job.

Of the estimated twelve point six billion dollars migraines cost employers directly each year, the number one contributor to these expenses is outpatient care. This care for migraines costs employers an estimated .3 billion annually. It is followed closely by prescription drug costs at .3 billion per year, and the remaining percentage is split amongst inpatient care and emergency costs.

This is not just an American problem. In the U. K., an estimated twenty-four million working or school days are lost each year due to migraines. Costs of absenteeism and lost productivity have risen so high that employers are being asked to encourage migraine sufferer employees to seek treatment as a cost-saving measure.

One of the ways that have been shown to substantially lower these costs to both employees and their employers is through the increasing use and effectiveness of natural remedies for migraines.

Increasing numbers of migraine sufferers are finding that these natural provide an effective and long lasting solution to their suffering, and one that allows them to escape from the side effects and other harm caused by long term use of subscription medicines.