In her statement, Associate Professor Nesrin Ergin said:

“June is recognized worldwide as Migraine Awareness Month, with the aim of increasing public awareness of migraine. As a neurologist, I would particularly like to emphasize that migraine is not merely a headache but a complex neurological disease that affects brain function. Affecting more than one billion people worldwide, migraine is also highly prevalent in our country, occurring in approximately one out of every six individuals and more frequently in women than in men. Although migraine attacks are most commonly characterized by throbbing headaches that may last for hours or even days, they may also manifest through a wide range of neurological symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, and odors, difficulty concentrating, visual disturbances, numbness, and speech difficulties.

In addition, due to vestibular migraine, which has become better recognized in recent years, some patients may experience dizziness, imbalance, a sensation of lightheadedness, and motion sensitivity that can be more prominent than the headache itself. Recognizing symptoms that may occur hours before a migraine attack—such as fatigue, frequent yawning, difficulty concentrating, neck stiffness, mood changes, and intense cravings for certain foods—can help identify attacks at an early stage.

Migraine, in which genetic predisposition plays an important role, may be triggered by stress, irregular sleep, hunger, dehydration, hormonal changes, and various environmental factors. Today, through lifestyle modifications, identification of triggers, and appropriate treatment options, the frequency and severity of migraine attacks can be significantly reduced, and patients’ quality of life can be substantially improved.

On the occasion of June Migraine Awareness Month, the aim is to share up-to-date information with the public that migraine is not simply a headache, that it may also present with symptoms such as dizziness and balance disorders, and that it is an important neurological disease that can be controlled through early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.”