Migraine awareness

Breaking through misconceptions and stigma

Explore stories, facts, and ways to better support people living with migraine. By changing perceptions and breaking stigma, we can transform lives.

Migraine awareness videos

Hear directly from colleagues at Lundbeck as they break down what migraine really feels like.

What stigma looks like

What we wish you knew

Workplace support

Watch

Quiz about migraine

Think you know migraine? Test your knowledge in our short quiz.


Question 1 of 4
### How many people live with migraine globally?
A) 300 million
B) 700 million
C) 1.1 billion
D) 2 billion


Answer
### 1.1 billion
Migraine affects more than 1.3 billion people worldwide. It is the third most common disease globally, according to Global Burden of Disease data.
Source: GBD 2021 Nervous System Disorders Collaborators. Lancet Neurol 2024;23:344-81


Question 2 of 4
### Which of these are symptoms of migraine?
A) Nausea
B) Headache
C) Visual disturbances
D) Sensitivity to light and sound
E) All of the above


Answer
### All of the above
Migraine symptoms can include nausea, visual disturbances, and sensitivity to light and sound. These can be disabling and often occur before or during an attack.
Source: Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38:1–211;


Question 3 of 4
### How long can a migraine attack last?
A) Under 1 hour
B) Around 4 hours
C) Up to 24 hours
D) Up to 72 hours
E) All of the above


Answer
### All of the above
Migraine attacks can last from 4 to 72 hours without treatment. Attacks may vary in length and intensity, but the impact on daily life can be significant.
Source: Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38:1–211;


Question 4 of 4
### What’s the most common misconception about migraine?
A) It’s “just a bad headache”
B) It affects genders equally
C) It can be cured with painkillers
D) All of the above


Answer
### All of the above
These are all common myths. Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that affects over 1 billion people. Acute migraine often responds to painkillers, but migraine is more than a headache. Migraine affects people of all genders, but women (biologically female) are most affected due to physiological differences. Migraine is the most prevalent neurological disorder in people <50 years of age and is 3 times more likely to occur in women (biologically female) than men.
Source: European Migraine & Headache Alliance (EMHA), 2022 Migraine in Europe Report, Steiner TJ et al. J Headache Pain. 2018; 19: 17,Gasparini CF et al. Curr Genomics. 2013; 14: 300–15, CGRP Forum. Unmet needs in migraine prevention. Available at: https://www.cgrpforum.org/about-cgrp/unmet-needs-in-migraine-prevention/.Accessed 28 October 2019.

Living with migraine

In their own words: Colleagues describe what a migraine day actually feels like.

"There's always a hint of guilt involved, that it's my own fault, that I could avoid migraine attacks."

Pernille Birch Vestergaard - Sr. QP Delegate, CMC

"People with migraine become experts at hiding it."

Elin Löf - Global Director, Head of Neuro-specialty

"The most stigmatizing voice is probably my own."

Lotte Wehding Møller - Assistant to Vice President

"One of the stigmas about migraine is this feeling that it is just a really bad headache."

Shereen Caruana - Global Engagement Lead

"I have episodes with such an overwhelming and constant pain which is staying with me all day."

Aneta Kraj-Gawlik - Sr. Compliance & Sustainability Manager

Personal stories

Lundbeck colleagues and other patients share their experiences of living with migraine.

Migraine awareness

Lived experiences reveal the unseen battles

Behind lived experience are numbers revealing how widespread stigma and impact of migraine are.

Facts about migraine

93 %

of people with migraines say the public doesn’t truly understand the condition.

62 %

feel migraine has influenced how their employers assess them.

43 %

of people with migraine hide their condition at work due to fear of judgment.

54 %

report feeling like a burden to family, friends and co-workers because of their disease.

80 %

of non‑full‑time workers report negative career impact due to migraine.

Migraine awareness