Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Americans More Likely to Have Migraines
/By Pat Anson, PNN Editor
A groundbreaking survey has found that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) Americans are significantly more likely than straight people to suffer from migraines, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Neurology.
Researchers at University of California-San Francisco surveyed a nationally representative sample of nearly 10,000 adults aged 31 to 42, asking about their sexual orientation and whether they experienced migraine headaches.
Nearly one third — 30.7 percent — of those who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual reported having migraines, compared to 19.4 percent of those who said they were exclusively heterosexual.
Interestingly, participants who said they were mostly heterosexual but somewhat attracted to people of the same sex had nearly the same likelihood of migraine (30.3%) as those who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual.
The researchers did not identify why LGB Americans are more likely to have migraines, but one possibility is the stress of living in families or communities that are not always tolerant of sexual minorities.
“Many members of sexual minority groups experience prejudice, stigma, and discrimination termed sexual minority stress, which could trigger or exacerbate migraine. Furthermore, members of sexual minority groups may encounter barriers to health care and experience greater physical and mental health problems, which could contribute to migraine,” wrote lead author Jason Nagata, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at UCSF.
“It is notable that even people identifying as mostly heterosexual had higher odds of migraine compared with those who identified as exclusively heterosexual, in accordance with other physical health disparities noted among nonexclusively heterosexual populations.”
The research is believed to be the first national study to show disparities in migraine based on sexual orientation. Previous studies found a high prevalence of migraine in sexual minorities in California and higher rates of health problems among LGBs who experienced prejudice.
Migraine affects more than 37 million people in the United States, according to the American Migraine Foundation. In addition to headache pain, migraine can cause nausea, blurriness or visual disturbances, and sensitivity to light and sound. Women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than men.
