How Should Chronic Migraine Be Properly Managed?

Proper Management of Chronic Migraine Disorder On 29 June, World Chronic Migraine Awareness Day, Prof. Dr. Derya Uludüz, Vice President of the Global Migraine and Pain Association, shared tips for proper management of the disease and emphasized the importance of consulting a headache specialist for correct treatment of the condition. Chronic migraine, which has shown increasing frequency in recent years, is a serious condition that significantly affects a person's physical and mental performance and limits daily life activities. Approximately 1 million patients in Turkey have their lives negatively affected by chronic migraine. The disease can cause serious difficulties in people's social lives and can also have extremely negative effects on their work lives. According to research, migraine-related headaches cause significant loss of work capacity. Prof. Dr. Derya Uludüz, Vice President of the Global Migraine and Pain Association, explained that chronic migraine, which occurs in 1.4-2.2 percent of the population, is diagnosed based on the number of days a person experiences headaches within a month: "In chronic migraine, patients experience headaches for 15 days or more per month for at least 3 months, and at least 8 of these headaches contain migraine symptoms. Pain periods are often accompanied by depression, anxiety, and different types of chronic pain. All these symptoms extremely negatively affect a person's life."

Economic dimensions

Prof. Dr. Saime Füsun Mayda Domaç, General Secretary of the Global Migraine and Pain Association, drew attention to the economic dimensions of migraine disease. Domaç stated: "In Turkey, the direct medical cost per patient for migraine exceeds TRY 3,000, and the total economic burden is approximately TRY 27.9 billion. With increased public awareness of migraine in our country and improved access to innovative treatments, the economic burden of migraine on both our country's economy and our social security system can be reduced."

Consulting a specialist is important

According to information provided by Prof. Dr. Derya Uludüz and Prof. Dr. Saime Füsun Mayda Domaç, it is important for people to keep records of how frequently migraine affects their daily lives and how many days per month they experience headaches. Uludüz also emphasized the importance of consulting a specialist in treating the disease. "If you are spending half or more than half of the month with headaches, you may have chronic migraine. For effective management of pain, correct and timely diagnosis of chronic migraine is of great importance. According to research, 7 out of every 10 patients with chronic migraine receive an incorrect diagnosis, and most patients do not receive appropriate treatment. The correct diagnosis based on the character and duration of the headache can only be made by a physician who is a specialist in the field of headaches."