Coffee, alcohol up migraine risk in teens

Teenagers who are physically inactive or who drink coffee may be at an increased risk of suffering from migraine. While smoking and alcohol consumption appears to increase the risk of both migraine and tension-type headaches (TTH), the results of a new study indicate.

Previous studies have suggested that headache is one of the most frequently reported health complaints among adolescents, with 5-15% suffering from migraine and 15-25% suffering from TTH. Modifiable risk factors, such as alcohol use, cigarette smoking and coffee drinking, which have been associated with headaches in adults, have not been fully explored in a teenage population.

German researchers setout to investigate this topic further. They looked at 1,260 secondary school pupils aged 14-20.

The students were asked to fill out a questionnaire on headache and associated lifestyle factors. For example, they were asked ‘did you have a headache during the last seven days/three months/six months?' and were classified as headache sufferers if the response was positive. Migraine and TTH were differentiated by questions regarding headache characteristics and symptoms.

The questionnaire also inquired about diet and lifestyle.

The study found that 83% of the students reported suffering a headache at least once during the previous six months, with 10% reporting migraine, 48% citing TTH and 19% having combined migraine plus TTH.

In relation to diet, 28% of students never had breakfast, 16% did not eat a daily break meal (snack) and only 24% had a daily warm lunch.

The researchers found that 22% of students consumed less than 1 litre of non-alcoholic drinks per day. Alcohol consumption, however, was widespread among students in the study with 38%, 18%, and 25% drinking beer, wine, and cocktails respectively at least once a week.

The results also showed that 73% reported never smoking, while 43% said they did not drink coffee.

The study found that a high consumption of alcoholic drinks and coffee, smoking and a lack of physical activity were strongly associated with migraine plus TTH episodes.

It also noted a significant association between coffee drinking and physical inactivity with migraine.

"Our study confirms, adolescents with any type of headache might benefit from regular physical activity and low consumption of alcoholic drinks. In teens suffering from migraine, a low coffee consumption should also be suggested," explained lead researcher, Dr Astrid Milde-Busch of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich.

However skipping meals or insufficient fluid intake was not associated with any type of headache.

"A great number of teens are engaging in activities such as drinking and smoking which can trigger headaches. Intervention studies that assess psycho-education programs to educate youths about headache-triggering behaviors are recommended," Dr Milde-Busch added.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Headache.

For more information on migraine, click here

[Posted: Tue 08/06/2010]