02-06-2025
Ask A Specialist: National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
HONOLULU (KHON2) — June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, when millions of migraine sufferers are offered a better understanding of this disease and the treatment options available to them.
A migraine is a complex neurological condition stemming from the brain. It affects 39 million people in America and up to a billion people worldwide.
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'It is so common, yet so misunderstood. So, we're working really hard to help patients, their families, even people in healthcare understand what a migraine is,' said Dr. Karen Morgenshtern-Yacoby, Headache Neurologist at The Queen's Medical Center. 'Even though a headache is the most recognizable symptom of a migraine, migraine is so much more than just a headache.'
People can experience nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, irritability, fatigue, even dizziness. Vision changes, numbness, or weakness on one side of the body and trouble speaking.
'There is no specific diagnostic test for migraines. It's diagnosed clinically where you go in and discuss it with your doctor. Your physician will want to know all of your symptoms, both pain and non-pain symptoms, your past medical history, any medications you're taking, family history, your lifestyle, they'll ask about your habits. They'll do a physical exam and then all of this together will help doctors diagnose,' said Dr. Morgenshtern-Yacoby. 'I really encourage patients to keep a headache log or a symptom log. You can keep track of how many days a month you're having these symptoms. Did you take any treatments, did they work, did anything trigger them? So, keep track and bring it to your doctor.'
There are many new treatment options available, although there is no specific cure currently for migraines.
'So, we focus our treatment on both treating attacks when they come on, as well as preventing attacks from coming on. The most common way people think about it – 'Oh, I get a migraine attack, I take my medication, and I help it go away.' That can work really well if that person isn't having that many attacks,' said Dr. if you are having many attacks and take the medication too often, that can be a problem.
'So, both prescription and over-the-counter medication, if you take them too often and they're meant to be as needed, people can get more headaches in the long run. We call that a rebound headache or medication overuse headache. So once that starts
happening, we recommend preventive treatment, and that can be many different styles of treatment,' according to Morgenshtern-Yacoby.
They include lifestyle changes, supplements such as magnesium.
'And if those don't work, we have prescription medications, injection therapies and neuro-modulation devices. I recommend you really check back with your provider to see if there's anything that can work for you,' said Morgenshtern-Yacoby.
To learn more about the services offered by the Queen's Neuroscience Institute, visit their website at or call them at 808-691-8866.
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