© 2026 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

When headaches take over: Living and working through migraines

Photographer is my life
/
Getty Images

One in six people suffer from migraines — debilitating headaches can cause throbbing pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, often leaving sufferers unable to think or function.

When migraines strike, everyday tasks can become impossible. Sometimes, even with medication, the only option is to sit in a dark, quiet room and wait for the pain to stop.

Keeping a job can be challenging, because these headaches can hit at any time, leading to sick days, stigma at work and struggling to keep your career. Migraines also cost companies $13 billion dollars a year in lost productivity.

Laura Miller volunteers with the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, she lives in Meridian and works tirelessly to help people struggling with migraines, and she joined Idaho Matters to talk more.

Stay Connected

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.