Prevalence and clinical characteristics of migraine in university students in Turkey

Migraine is a significant health problem due to its frequency and accompanying morbidity, which includes disability and loss of performance. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of migraine and assess the disability and preferences of treatment among university students in Afyon, a Turkish city. This is the first cross-sectional prevalence study of migraine conducted on university students in Turkey. The study has been carried out in two stages. The first stage aimed to identify the students with migraine by using a standardized International Headache Society (IHS) questionnaire. In this questionnaire, the students were asked about medical consultations and medicines used during attacks. The standard questionnaire was applied to 1,029 students, and migraine was found in 128 students (12.4%). Of these headache sufferers, 104 students were using non-prescribed drugs during headache attacks, while the remaining 24 students were using the drugs on advice of physicians. At the second stage, we evaluated the impact of disease on daily life in these students by the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) questionnaire, showing that the degrees of disability are minimal in 11 students (8.6%), mild in 30 students (23.4%), moderate in 34 students (26.6%), and severe in 53 students (41.4%). In conclusion, migraine attacks are associated with a considerable degree of handicap in activities of daily living. However, many university students with migraine do riot consult a physician and continue to treat their headaches with simple analgesics. Global. educational programs are required for patients to recognize the importance of effective migraine treatment

The effect of naratriptan on cardiac autonomic function in patients with migraine: a placebo controlled pilot study

Aim. Naratriptan is a new member of the triptans which are used in aborting attacks of migraine. But triptans may cause chest pain, myocardial infarction and arrhythmias in some patients. Naratriptan shows antimigraine effect by activating 5HT(1B/1D) receptors. The activation of 5HT(1B/1D) receptors also reduces the secretion of noradrenaline from cardiac sympathetic nerves. The effect of naratriptan on cardiac autonomic function is not known. The aim of this study is to find out, if any the effect of naratriptan on cardiac autonomic function by evaluating time and frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability. Methods. Nine patients with migraine (8 women, mean age: 37+/-4 years) were included in a pilot, double blinded, crossover and randomized study. All participants took 2.5 mg naratriptan or placebo at least 5 days apart. Both time domain and frequency domain heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were obtained during rest, controlled respiration and handgrip exercise, before and 2 hours later naratriptan or placebo administration. Results. Baseline HRV parameters were similar before administration of naratriptan or placebo. Time domain parameters [and mean RR interval, the standard deviation of R-R interval (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive R-R interval differences (RMSSD)] and frequency domain parameters [low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) spectral powers and LF/HF ratio] obtained after naratriptan administration were not different when compared with placebo. Conclusions. A single dose 2.5 mg oral naratriptan administration did not change sympathetic, parasympathetic reactivity and sympathovagal balance in migraneurs

Effect of magnesium rich mineral water drinking on migraine

Objective: Association of migraine with magnesium levels in the drinking water was investigated

Ocorrência e prejuízos da cefaleia em estudantes universitárias de enfermagem

O estudo teve como objetivos verificar a ocorrência de cefaleia como a principal dor e caracterizar essa experiência e o prejuízo causado por ela nas atividades cotidianas de estudantes universitárias de enfermagem. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado na Faculdade de Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil, de maio a junho de 2008, com 203 estudantes, (idade média de 21 anos; d.p.=1,8), 48,5% da classe econômica A. A cefaleia foi a principal dor para 34,5% das universitárias; de forte intensidade; descrita como latejante (74,3%), pontada (62,9%) e enjoada (55,7%); com episódios à tarde (52,9%), com duração de algumas horas do dia (51,4%). Os fatores relacionados ao início da dor foram: os estudos (17,1%) e o estresse (11,4 %) e as atividades mais prejudicadas: a capacidade de concentração (84,3%) e o humor (84,3%) (p<0,05). A cefaleia é menos frequente nesta população comparada a estudos realizados em outros países e prejudica as atividades cotidianas das universitárias

Prevalence and impact of headache in undergraduate students in Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, characteristics and impact of headache among university students. METHOD: The criteria established by the International Headache Society were used to define the primary headache subtypes and the Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire (MIDAS), to assess the disability. The students were then grouped into six categories: [1] migraine; [2] probable migraine; [3] tension-type headache; [4] probable tension-type headache; [5] non-classifiable headache; [6] no headache. RESULTS: Of all undergraduate students interviewed, 74.5% had at least one headache episode in the last three months. Regarding disability, there was a significant difference between the headache types (p<0.0001). In the post-hoc analysis, migraine was the headache type with most reported disability. CONCLUSION: Headache is a highly prevalent condition among the students at the University of Caxias do Sul. This disease may have a major impact on the students' lives and in some cases, ultimately lead to educational failure