Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann acknowledged Tuesday that she takes medication to control migraines, while her campaign shot down a story on a conservative Web site that her headaches are "incapacitating." Addressing a crowd in Aiken, S.C., the Minnesota Republican said her condition is under control and would not affect her ability to be president. "Since entering the campaign, I have maintained a full schedule between my duties as a congresswoman and as a presidential candidate traveling across the nation to meet with voters," said Bachmann, 55. "I have prescription medication that I take whenever symptoms arise and they keep the migraines under control. "Let me be abundantly clear," she continued, "my ability to function effectively has never been impeded by migraines and will not affect my ability to serve as Commander in Chief."
Her condition, which has led to several brief hospital stays, was chronicled in a Daily Caller report which cited three unnamed sources who have worked for Bachmann. According to the online publication, the sources spoke out of concern for how her condition might affect her as president. In the past, Bachmann aides have acknowledged several brief hospital stays, including one in Washington last year. But until now they have not disclosed the nature of her condition. Three former Bachmann staffers contacted by the Star Tribune on Tuesday either did not respond or declined to comment. About 36 million Americans – about 12% of the population – suffer from migraine headaches, according to the American Migraine Foundation. While there is no cure for migraine, treatments are aimed at reducing headache frequency and stopping individual headaches when they occur. Bachmann returned to Washington Tuesday after campaign swings through Iowa and South Carolina.
