Most of us have probably had a headache before. It can feel like a band squeezing around your head. Or like a throbbing sensation in your temple. Sometimes the headache leaves without fanfare, or after a couple of painkillers, and we go on about our day.
But for migraine sufferers, the experience is often more severe.
A migraine is the third most common illness in the world, affecting over 1 billion people. That’s according to the American Migraine Foundation.
Women are especially susceptible to migraine attacks. Three times as many women experience migraine compared to men. It’s also the leading cause of disability among women aged 18 to 45. That’s according to a study from the Journal of Headache and Pain.
Why do migraines affect women more? And what has this meant for how the condition is understood and treated by the medical community and beyond?
Like what you hear? Find more of our programs online . Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a .
Copyright 2024 NPR
