The Reality of Living with Migraine

Migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder impacting over a billion people worldwide. At Pfizer, we’re dedicated to understanding the causes of migraine. With that goal in mind, we’ve put together a series of articles exploring different aspects of migraine management.

This week, we’re focusing on who the condition impact, what it’s like to live with migraine, and the challenges and obstacles to accessing care.

Migraine is a serious neurological disorder that is not merely a strong headache but includes an intense headache among its many symptoms. While both men and women are affected by the condition, 75% of those living with migraine identify as female.¹ Given that women’s health has been underprioritized for years, it’s no surprise that migraine treatments have also faced a lack of attention.

And until everyone recognizes migraine as a serious condition, treatment advances will continue to lag.

An underprioritized condition

Pfizer conducted a survey among 1,000 people with migraine in the U.S. to hear their thoughts on the state of migraine care.* The responses, and those from a separate survey⁺ from the Headache & Migraine Policy Forum, speak to a larger care access issue and highlight a few common experiences for migraine sufferers.

A staggering 89% of people surveyed say that the inability to access treatments they need has impacted their ability to manage their migraine.⁺ And with the majority of patients still struggling to find reliable and consistent options to help manage their migraine, it’s clear that something needs to change.

Supporting people with migraine

Though migraine is widespread, many feel isolated in facing its challenges. In fact, 78% of people have experienced mental or emotional burdens associated with migraine, and 63% feel or have felt disrespected by friends or family who underestimate the severity of migraine.

It’s time we come together to help people with migraine get the care they need. When we treat migraine like the serious disease it is, we can help everyone navigate the challenges with more support and understanding.

Help us demand change and cut through the red tape that makes it hard for people with migraine to get the prescribed treatments they need. Learn more at migraineblackout.com.

¹https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/migraine

*In an online survey conducted from July 16-31, 2024, among n=1,000 U.S. adults 18 years of age and older who are living with migraine, all qualified respondents were screened to ensure they experience a migraine attack at least 2 days per month. All respondents in the sample are currently employed, and an oversample of women (n=693) and chronic migraine sufferers (n=299 who experience a migraine attack at least 15 days per month) was included in this survey sample.

+ In 2023, The Headache & Migraine Policy Forum completed an online survey of 498 U.S. respondents to determine how people with migraine are experiencing delays in accessing migraine therapies due to insurance denials and non-medical switching.