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 1.1 billion people worldwide. It is the third most common disease globally, according to Global Burden of Disease data.¹

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.²

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.^2,3

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 1.1 billion people.^1,4Acute migraine often responds to painkillers, but migraine is more than a headache.^5,6 Migraine affects people of all genders, but women (biologically female) are most affected due to physiological differences.⁷ 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.^4,7

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

"For those living with migraines, the hardest part isn’t always the pain. It’s the missed memories with the people who matter most."
Denika Fletcher - Marketing Manager, Lundbeck UK

"I have episodes with such an overwhelming and constant pain which is staying with me all day."
Aneta Kraj-Gawlik - Sr. Compliance & Sustainability Manager

"One of the stigmas about migraine is this feeling that it is just a really bad headache."
Shereen Caruana - Global Engagement Lead

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

90 %

of people with migraines believe most people think migraine is just a bad headache.⁸

27 %

felt the impact migraine has on their employment has had a significant impact on their finances.⁸

58 %

of people had avoided telling an employer about their migraine.⁹

25 %

report that migraine negatively affects their family life.¹⁰

~59 %

felt less able to work due to migraine.⁸

80 %

participated less in social occasions due to migraine.⁸

Migraine awareness

Breaking through misconceptions and stigma

Migraine awareness videos

What stigma looks like

What we wish you knew

Workplace support

Quiz about migraine

How many people live with migraine globally?

1.1 billion

Which of these are symptoms of migraine?

All of the above

How long can a migraine attack last?

All of the above

What’s the most common misconception about migraine?

All of the above

Living with migraine

Personal stories

Lived experiences reveal the unseen battles

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

90 %

27 %

58 %

25 %

~59 %

80 %

More stories from Lundbeck

References

90 %

27 %