In her statement, Associate Professor Dr. Nesrin Ergin, a faculty member of the Department of Neurology at PAU Hospitals, said: “September 5–11 Migraine Awareness Week is important for increasing public awareness of migraine and drawing attention to the importance of correctly recognizing the condition. As a neurologist, I would particularly like to emphasize that migraine is not simply a headache, but a complex neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. Affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide, migraine is also quite common in our country, occurring in approximately one in every six people, and is more common in women than in men. Although migraine attacks most often involve throbbing headaches that can last for hours or even days, the condition is not limited to headaches. A wide range of neurological symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, and odors, difficulty concentrating, visual symptoms, numbness, and speech difficulties, may also occur during a migraine attack. Therefore, it is important to recognize that migraine symptoms can vary from person to person in order to identify the condition correctly. In addition, due to vestibular migraine, which has become better recognized in recent years, dizziness, imbalance, a feeling of lightheadedness, and sensitivity to movement may be more prominent than headache in some patients. It is particularly important for people experiencing dizziness and balance problems to know that these symptoms may be associated with migraine. The fact that migraine can present with different symptoms makes it important for patients to assess their complaints correctly and consult a neurologist when necessary.”

“Migraine Can Be Controlled”

Associate Professor Dr. Ergin stated that symptoms such as fatigue, frequent yawning, difficulty concentrating, neck stiffness, mood changes, and intense cravings for certain foods may also occur several hours before a migraine attack, noting that recognizing these symptoms can help patients identify an impending migraine attack at an earlier stage. She emphasized that, since the same symptoms may not occur in every patient, it is important to monitor individual symptoms and changes that occur before attacks.

Stating that migraine, in which genetic predisposition plays an important role, can be triggered by stress, irregular sleep, hunger, dehydration, hormonal changes, and various environmental factors, Associate Professor Dr. Nesrin Ergin continued: “In addition, identifying triggers that may vary from person to person is important in controlling migraine. Regular sleep and nutrition, adequate fluid intake, reducing stress, and recognizing one’s own triggers can contribute to managing attacks.

Today, thanks to 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. Individualized migraine treatment and regular assessment of patients’ symptoms play an important role in treatment success. During September 5–11 Migraine Awareness Week, it is of great importance to raise public awareness that migraine is not simply a headache and can also present with different symptoms such as dizziness and balance problems. Disseminating accurate information about migraine, an important neurological disorder that can be controlled through early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, will contribute to improving patients’ quality of life and helping them access treatment at an earlier stage.”