Health
Its Not Just a Headache: Migraines In The Spotlight For Migraine Awareness Month
June is National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month and one medical professional is urging Americans to recognize that migraines arent just bad headaches — theyre complex neurological events that can disrupt a persons entire body
Efrat LaMandre, PhD, FNP-C, a certified family nurse practitioner known to her more than 692,000 TikTok followers as “Dr. E, the NP with the PhD,” says that better care for migraines and headaches starts with more awareness on what causes them.
A migraine isnt just a bad headache, “its a storm in the brain,” says LaMandre, author of “Its Not In Your Head,” focused on validating patient concerns and pushing back against medical gaslighting. She also owns a medical practice in New York and chairs the Staten Island Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees.
“A regular headache is just pain. A migraine is a neurological event that affects your whole system — vision changes, nausea, sensitivity to light, even trouble speaking. Some people lose days to it,” she says.
Unfortunately, women are the majority of migraine sufferers, and they’re “often dismissed,” LaMandre says.
“Hormones like estrogen play a huge role in triggering migraines, especially around periods. Often women are just told its stress and given painkillers,” she says. “This month is about awareness, but also about advocating for better care, including access to specialists and newer treatment options.”
While pills may help some patients, they’re not the only answer, according to LaMandre.
“Medication has its place — but so does looking at root causes. Migraines can be linked to gut health, magnesium deficiency, blood sugar swings, or hormone imbalances,” she says.
When trying to determine the cause of your migraines, “your triggers are your clues,” LaMandre says.
“Common triggers include skipped meals, lack of sleep, certain foods, and stress. Keeping a simple journal can help connect the dots and prevent attacks before they start,” she says.
Migraines can be “life-altering” for sufferers, LaMandre says, even though the effects may be invisible to those around them.
“Migraines affect work, relationships, and quality of life,” she says. “This month is a chance to bring it out of the shadows and make sure those affected feel seen, heard, and supported.”
