A survey by a leading UK charity has found that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to experience worse migraine care and fear discrimination because of their condition.
Migraine is characterized by a severe headache, along with other symptoms including dizziness, numbness, and vision problems. About one in seven people in the UK are affected by this condition.
The Migrain Trust’s representative survey of 2,200 people found that 23% of mixed race, 19% of Asian, and 16% of black people said their race negatively impacted their care – citing mistreatment and even racism – compared to just 7% of white respondents.
Blacks were also more likely to fear discrimination or a negative impact on their career due to migraines, at 37%, compared to just over a quarter (26%) of white participants.
Nearly one-fifth (19%) of Asian participants and 14% of Black participants said they felt anxious about not being believed about their migraines, compared to 8% of white participants.
Abigail Cabero, 26, said her ethnicity negatively affected her experience with migraine treatment. “As a Black woman, the stereotype that we can handle more pain deeply affected the care I received,” Kabiru said. “Migraines are already difficult enough to explain; there shouldn’t be additional barriers like gender or skin color that make it more difficult.”
Rob Music, chief executive of the Migraine Trust, said the inequalities in care people face were “unsustainable”.
“It is sad to see that so many people avoid seeking support or even talking about their migraines for fear that it carries social consequences, including job loss and stereotypes. For some, migraines are not just a health condition but add an additional layer of inequality, as gender, race and social class influence how they are treated or expected to be treated,” Music said.
“We cannot allow this to continue and we need to take action at all levels of society so that people with migraines feel understood, safe and heard.”
The research found that for all people who experienced migraines, 91% of participants spoke to a health professional, but many reported being misdiagnosed, dismissed, or inadequately treated.
Examples include women being told that their migraines are hormonal or “just part of being a woman,” while young men felt they were being dismissed as “exaggerating or looking for attention.”
Georgina Carr, chief executive of the Neurological Alliance, said: “This report shines a harsh and necessary light on the fact that not all migraines are experienced equally. Your gender, race or income should never determine whether you are validated, supported or able to access the care you need, but that is exactly what many people with migraines face.”
She added: “These findings mirror what we see in the neurological community: people are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left to cope on their own because the system was not designed with them in mind.
“We urgently need action by employers, health care leaders and policy makers to close these gaps. Addressing the inequalities revealed by this report is essential if we are serious about improving neurological care and ensuring no one is left behind.”
An NHS spokesperson said: “All patients, regardless of their background, race or gender, should have access to high-quality care, and everyone deserves to feel that their concerns are being heard. We know that migraines can be very debilitating for those who suffer from them, and we encourage people to reach out to their local GP for support as there are a range of treatment options available on the NHS.”