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SearchIt's Headache and Migraine Awareness Month. A physician goes over the latest treatment options available for those who struggle with headaches and migraines.
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CLEVELAND - June is Headache and Migraine Awareness Month.
If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know how painful they can be.
And for some, they happen on a regular basis.
“Migraines are very common. It’s a debilitating headache for those who get it. It can be episodic. It can be chronic in nature,” said Emad Estemalik, MD, headache specialist for Cleveland Clinic. “When we talk about migraines, it really relates to the frequency of headache days in any given month.”
Dr. Estemalik said symptoms of migraines typically include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
It’s unclear what causes migraines.
However, they can be triggered by food, stress, hormonal changes, the weather, certain medications and disruptions in sleep.
The good news is there are treatment options available.
Dr. Estemalik said they can range from lifestyle changes like altering a person’s diet to prescribing different types of medication.
Botox may also be recommended. The injection works by helping to suppress the pain.
“The arsenal and the treatment modalities are huge at this point, and I always tell a lot of patients there is no domain within neuroscience that has seen and witnessed the magnitude or such the amount of new treatments as migraines has,” said Dr. Estemalik.
He said while over-the-counter pain relievers may be useful for the occasional migraine, you shouldn't take them regularly.
That’s because overconsumption can cause a rebound effect, meaning once the medication wears off, the migraine just comes right back.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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