June Awareness

Migraine & Headache Awareness Month

This is personal. I have been living with migraines for as long as I can remember. And I am not alone. Not by a long shot.

I have been suffering from migraines for as long as I can remember. The kind that shut everything down. The kind that people who have never had one do not fully understand. And the more I looked into the numbers this June, the more I realized how many of us are carrying this, quietly, every day.Tanya Terrell Sampong · The Kharis Company

The Numbers

40M+
Americans living with migraine disease
1 in 7
Adults worldwide affected by migraines
3x
More common in women than men
9 in 10
Sufferers cannot function normally during an attack

Did You Know

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Migraine is a neurological disease, not just a bad headache. It is the 2nd leading cause of disability worldwide.

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Migraines are triggered by light, sound, smell, stress, sleep changes, and hormonal shifts. Many sufferers live in constant anticipation of the next attack.

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Purple is the official migraine awareness color, designated in 2012. Red is added for chronic migraine, which is defined as 15 or more headache days per month.

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1 in 4 U.S. households includes someone with migraine disease. This is a family issue, not just a personal one.

For Parents: What to Watch For

Half of all migraine sufferers have their first attack before age 12. Twenty-eight percent of teenagers experience migraines. In children, migraines often look different: stomach pain, dizziness, and mood changes can show up before the head pain does.

Children describe pain differently than adults. A child saying their head feels weird, that lights bother them, that they feel sick to their stomach before a headache — those are signs worth paying attention to. Talk to your pediatrician if this sounds familiar.

June Campaigns Worth Joining

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Shades for Migraine — June 21

The Association of Migraine Disorders asks everyone to wear sunglasses on June 21 to represent photosensitivity, one of the most common and disabling migraine symptoms. Over 1 billion people worldwide live with migraine. Put your shades on and show them they are seen. Learn more

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Chronic Migraine Awareness Day — June 29

Designated specifically for the 4 million Americans who experience chronic migraine: 15 or more headache days per month. This is not occasional pain. This is life-altering. Chronic Migraine Awareness

Organizations & Resources

National Headache Foundation

Education, support, and provider referrals for headache and migraine sufferers.

headaches.org →
Migraine Research Foundation

Funding research to better understand and treat migraine disease.

migraineresearchfoundation.org →
Miles for Migraine

Community, walks, and events supporting migraine patients and families nationwide.

milesformigraine.org →

Designs Coming Soon

The Pain Is Real.

Purple tee for the people tired of explaining what a migraine actually feels like.

Coming Soon
My Head Said No.

For the days you canceled, rescheduled, or just disappeared. No explanation needed.

Coming Soon
Put the Shades On.

Tied to the Shades for Migraine campaign. Wear it June 21 and every day after.

Coming Soon

You Are Not Alone In This

Forty million people in the US live with migraines. Most of them feel alone in it. You are not.
Wear the color. Share the facts. Stand with the community.

See All Awareness Months