"There was a significant trend for stronger associations between the number of negative lifestyle factors that were present and the different headache diagnoses and headache frequency," point out the investigators led by John-Anker Zwart, MD, from Oslo University in Norway. "We believe that the associations observed and the additive effect of these negative lifestyle factors on the prevalence of recurrent headache strongly indicates that these lifestyle factors are possible targets for headache preventive measures."
The new study appears in the August 18 issue of Neurology. As part of the cross-sectional study, researchers interviewed more than 5500 students about headache complaints. The adolescents also completed a questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination with height and weight measurements.
Investigators classified adolescents who were very physically fit and who were not current smokers as having a good lifestyle. Negative lifestyle factors were surprisingly common with low physical activity in 31%, smoking in 19%, and overweight in 16% of these teens.
In adjusted multivariate analyses, recurrent headache was associated with overweight (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 – 1.6; P < .0001), low physical activity (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 – 1.4; P = .002), and smoking (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3 – 1.7; P < .0001). The presence of more than 1 negative lifestyle factor heightened the risk of headache.
Table 1. Prevalence Odds Ratios for Headache Diagnoses
| Lifestyle | Total (n = 5588) | Recurrent (n = 1601) | Migraine (n = 392) | Tension Type (n = 950) | Nonclassifiable (n = 259) |
| Good | 2856 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Intermediate | 1920 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Poor | 717 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.8 |
| Very poor | 95 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 5.0 |
| P value | – | <.0001 | <.0001 | <.0001 | <.0001 |
Table 2. Headache Frequency in Relation to Lifestyle
| Lifestyle | Total (n = 5529) | Less Than Monthly (n = 306) | Monthly (n = 790) | Weekly or Daily (n = 446) |
| Good | 2827 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Intermediate | 1897 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Poor | 712 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| Very poor | 93 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 5.0 |
| P value | – | .103 | <.0001 | <.0001 |
This study shows overweight, low physical activity, and smoking are independently and in combination associated with recurrent headache among adolescents, report the study authors.
In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Andrew Hershey and Dr. Richard Lipton say that "this study is a vital step toward a better understanding of lifestyle effects and the potential for behavioral interventions for adolescents with headache disorders."
Dr. Hershey is at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and Dr. Lipton is at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. They point out the effects of each negative lifestyle factor were similar in magnitude for each headache type. "This lack of specificity for headache type raises the possibility that these factors may be associated not just with headache but with all-cause pain."
These results mirror those of another study published in June in the journal Headache. Investigators led by Rudiger von Kries, MD, from Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany, found that being physically active and abstaining from alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco could help prevent headaches in adolescents.
The study included 1260 students, and after controlling for socioeconomic variables, the prevalence of any headache was increased in teens who reported regularly drinking cocktails (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3 – 3.0), who drank at least 1 cup of coffee per day (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2 – 3.5), and who were physically less active (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3 – 3.1). Smoking daily had an OR of 1.8.
These findings, say editorialists, suggest that a better understanding of modifiable risk factors and trigger factors may lead to novel intervention strategies.
Study coauthor Dr. Stovner has received financial support from BTG, Minster Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, AstraZeneca, Allergan, Nycomed, Desitin Pharmaceuticals, GmbH, and EMD Serono. Dr. Stovner has also served as an expert legal witness for Oslo Tingrett. Dr. Holmen receives research support from the Norwegian Research Council.
Neurology. 2010;75:712-717.
2 comments:
Some of my younger officemates are obese because of lack of exercise. According to them they smoke to release the tension out of their bodies. Two weeks ago one of my younger officemates are obese because of lack of exercise. According to them they smoke to release the tension out of their bodies. Two weeks ago one of my lady team mates had mild stroke. She had difficulty in breathing and could not talk properly. She is only 24 year old. It was I guess tension related and adding to injury her smoking habit.
Thanks for sharing these info, doc.
Thanks Jolly for comments, its true that our stress full busy life doesn't gives us time to think about our health but 2 min of smoking gives some psychological relief to a smoke addict person,and all this lead to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes etc.
but half an hour of light exercise can save us from many of diseases as well can keep us healthy.
so it is very important for us to give some attention toward our health and give priority in our busy schedule.
because after all health is wealth!
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