Its well established thatracial disparities in health careexist across the board in the U.S.and migraine treatment is no exception.
Reminder: Migraine isnt just a run-of-the-mill headache.
Several negative incidents have made me feel like I never want to go back.
Antonio Rodriguez / Adobe Stock
When it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of migraine in Asian and Indigenous people, theres limited data.
Here are some othersplus whats being done to end the gap.
Why do people of color often receive worse migraine care?
Anyone who lives withmigraineknows that getting diagnosed and treated can be an uphill battle.
And if youre part of a marginalized group, it can be even more difficult.
These biases are thoughts and feelings youre unaware of that influence your perception of a person or group.
doctors called security, saying I was angry and belligerent, she recalls.
She said when she goes in wearing sweatpants, she isnt taken as seriously.
Thats the game us people of color have to play.
Socioeconomic status, insurance status, and geography can all present obstacles when it comes to gettingmigraine care.
Whats more, migraine prevalence is strongly associated with annual household income as well.
Insurance can also be an issue.
Another problem she experiences is not being able to get the medications she needs.
Where you live may also be an obstacle to migraine care.
There are many people of color who are not diagnosed.
Migraine isnt something you get, which isnt true.
This stereotype could be part of the reason why marginalized groups are underrepresented in migraine studies.
How can we be sure our treatments help everybody if we dont have good representation in research studies?
Theres also a lack of diversity amongst doctors and researchers designing and conducting studies.
Its still very much in the medical culture, she says.
How can greater equity in migraine care be achieved?
Currently, people at the highest ranks in migraine medicine are white men, she says.
I told them I was getting thesefrequent headaches, and they didnt know what they were, she says.
They just kept telling me to watch what I eat and lose weight.
The diagnosis has been a game changer since its allowed her to finally get the treatment she needs.
But thats not true, and I just want them to understand.
I want to be understood just like everyone else.
