KERA's Think The mystery and misery of headaches
Jul 29, 2025
Tom Zeller Jr., co-founder and editor-in-chief of Undark, dives into the perplexing world of headaches, affecting 40% of people globally. He sheds light on why headache disorders often receive minimal research funding despite the widespread suffering. Personal stories reveal the brutal reality of cluster headaches and their impact on mental health. Zeller discusses innovative treatments and the need for greater societal awareness, challenging stigma while calling for improved medical care and understanding of these mysterious conditions.
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Tom's Intense Cluster Headaches
- Tom Zeller Jr. experiences cluster headaches with intense pain like a seizure that lasts an hour or two.
- These attacks come several times daily for weeks or months then mysteriously disappear for months or years.
Invisible Pain Challenges
- Headache pain is hard to prove physically due to lack of biomarkers or tissue damage.
- This contributes to misunderstanding and undervaluing headache sufferers' experiences.
Headache Research Underfunded
- Migraines rank very high in disability-adjusted life years lost globally, yet suffer severe underfunding in research.
- NIH funding for primary headache disorders is disproportionately low despite the widespread suffering and economic burden.
