Home / Health / Migraines: The Debilitating Disease We Underfund
Migraines: The Debilitating Disease We Underfund
10 Mar
Summary
- Migraines are the second-leading cause of disability worldwide.
- The disease is severely underfunded despite its vast impact.
- Migraines cost millions in lost workdays annually.
Migraines represent a significant global health challenge, impacting one in every five women and holding the position of the second-largest contributor to years lived with disability worldwide.
Though often dismissed as 'just a headache,' migraines are aggressively debilitating, with potential causes including hormonal fluctuations and abnormal brain activity. Their severe impact results in an estimated 25 million sick days taken annually in the UK alone.
Despite the substantial health and economic costs associated with migraines, the disease suffers from severe underfunding, a stark contrast to its widespread disability impact, which has been consistent from 1990 to 2016 according to global health surveys.
