The Left’s parliamentary group leader advocates a more open approach to illnesses or weaknesses in politics. She herself suffers from migraines.
dpa | The Left’s parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek speaks openly about her migraine condition and the restrictions that come with it. “I have this condition and it weighs heavily on me. I cannot cancel many appointments despite migraines and then have to help myself with medications,” the 37-year-old told the Rheinische Post. In these cases she takes “a very strong medication that leads to not being able to concentrate as well”.
Reichinnek had explained at the end of April on the ZDF talk show “Markus Lanz” that she did not have the answer ready, also because she is currently suffering from migraines. Critics took this as an excuse and ridiculed it.
Reichinnek advocates for a more open handling of illnesses or weaknesses in politics. She criticized that the Bundestag does not represent society in many respects, including with regard to who has chronic illnesses or disabilities. All the more important, she finds, to talk about it.
“I would not urge anyone to do so, because it is a very private decision to make such things public. But of course it is an important sign that creates visibility. Especially with migraines,” she told the Rheinische Post. The illness affects especially women. “And how often are women not taken seriously when they say that they have massive headaches,” criticized the politician.
Migraine is a neurological disorder. The complaints often include throbbing, pulsating headaches, sensitivity to light, sounds and smells as well as nausea up to vomiting. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), 14.8 percent of women and 6 percent of men in Germany are affected. A further 13.7 percent of women and 12 percent of men would have probable migraines, according to the 2020 survey.
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