Qasim Amin Nathari is on a mission to change the narrative around Chronic Migraine, particularly for Black men in America. As an author, independent scholar, and advocate, Nathari has been living with Chronic Migraine for most of his life, but his diagnosis came later in adulthood.
Nathari joined The Head Start: Embracing the Journey podcast to discuss his journey and challenges to find community in his Chronic Migraine diagnosis. “I found out that the occasional headache that I had were also migraine,” Nathari explained in the episode. “It wasn’t until later on in my thirties that these headaches started to become excruciating.” ¹
His First Migraine Symptoms
Like many others, Nathari initially dismissed his symptoms as “just headaches.” It wasn’t until he sought help from his primary care physician that he received a Chronic Migraine diagnosis. This experience led him to realize the importance of awareness and representation in the Chronic Migraine community.
“I’m not exaggerating. I was absolutely horrified that the numbers were that bad,” Nathari says, referring to the statistics of Black men living with Chronic Migraine. “But at the same time, I started to do some introspection… It really shouldn’t surprise me because as Black men, we oftentimes don’t deal with or are proactive about issues regarding our health.”
Creating a Community
Inspired by the segment “Unlocking the Migraine Mystery” on Good Morning America featuring Jaime Sanders, a Black woman discussing her migraine disease, Nathari decided to take action. He founded an initiative called “Black Men Have Migraine Too,” aiming to create a safe space for Black men to discuss Chronic Migraine.
Through his initiative, Nathari has encouraged other Black men like him never to accept subpar care and to seek out headache specialists who will listen. However, building this community has been challenging. “Sadly, and I’m just being candidly blunt and honest, it’s only a community on paper because I can’t get Black men to enter into that space,” Nathari admits. Despite this setback, he remains determined to amplify the conversation and broaden representation.
This resonates with the frequent distrust Black American patients have in the medical community as well as a less positive perception of physician communication, leading to fewer physician visits for migraine care or migraine medication prescriptions.²
Taking It Step by Step
Nathari’s journey with Chronic Migraine has significantly impacted his life. “Chronic Migraine has made me look at things with a different perspective through a different lens,” he reflects. In 2011, the disease became so severe that he had to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Through his advocacy work, Nathari hopes to shed light on the experiences of those living with Chronic Migraine, particularly Black men. “If I can impact one person, that’s a win for me,” he says. “If one person can learn from my experience or if I could share something and one person picks up on something that I say or that I write and it resonates with them, that’s a win for me.”
Nathari’s story highlights the importance of representation, awareness, and advocacy in the Chronic Migraine community. By sharing his experiences and creating spaces for discussion, he’s working to break down stigmas and ensure that no one feels alone in their Chronic Migraine journey.
If you think you are suffering from Chronic Migraine, please speak to a Neurologist or Headache Specialist today.
This article is sponsored by AbbVie. Qasim Nathari was not on an AbbVie therapy when he shared his story. Nathari was not compensated by AbbVie for sharing his story.
References
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- The Head Start: Embracing the Journey Podcast. (2023). Interview with Qasim Amin Nathari: Black Men & Chronic Migraine Advocacy.
- Kiarashi, Jessica et al. (2020). “Factors Associated With, and Mitigation Strategies for, Health Care Disparities Faced by Patients with Headache Disorders.”
- Good Morning America Series, ‘Unlocking The Migraine Mystery’.
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