Although it’s been framed as a “middle-aged white woman’s disease,” migraine doesn’t discriminate; it affects one in seven people across all genders and race. But the right diagnosis is often more difficult to find for people in marginalized communities.

In the second of a two-part episode, Sarah Shaw and her doctor Courtney White, MD, discuss the need to educate the medical profession, especially in Black, Brown, and low-income communities, on the many symptoms of migraine so they can better serve patients in the BIPOC and LGBTQA+ communities.

Some highlights in this episode:

• : 53: How Sarah found out she was having a migraine attack
• 2:00: “The emergency room is the worst place to go when you have a migraine attack.” — Dr. White
• 4:00: The younger generation of migraine patients benefit from social media
• 4:44: What patients with chronic illness have taught Dr. White
• 5:36: “The medical system is not fair for anybody, but especially for low-income people.” — Dr. White
• 6:35: What does a good provide- patient relationship look like?
• 7:12: Creating a comfortable atmosphere for patients to be able to speak up
• 7:58: Sarah discussing how doctors made her feel ashamed
• 8:24: Migraine and the healthcare system
• 9:44: How a podcast like ours helps people dealing with migraine in Black and Queer communities
• 10:19: “Migraine does not discriminate, and that even though it's been framed as a middle-aged white woman's disease, that's not the only population.” — Dr. White
• 11:48: Migraine disease affects men, women, non-binary people, all races, there is no discrimination

Contact Our Hosts

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: jcoe@ghlf.org

Sarah Shaw, BIPOC Patient Advocate, Community Outreach Manager: sshaw@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to talkingheadpain@ghlf.org

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