Myth debunked: Caffeine does not cause migraines

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Only a few studies have examined the link between caffeine and migraines, researchers led by Suzanne Bertisch of the Department of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston and their co-authors wrote. Their work was published in the magazine “Headache” at the beginning of February.

As part of the study, they surveyed 101 adults whose doctors had diagnosed episodic migraines and followed them for six weeks. They recorded their health status electronically twice a day. Complete data for 97 subjects were available after the end of the observation period.

The results clearly argued against a link between caffeine consumption and headache attacks. Among 20 participants without habitual caffeine consumption, the average number of days per month with a headache was 7.1 days; this is similar to that of the 65 participants who consumed one to two servings of caffeinated beverages (7.4 days) and the twelve participants who consumed more than three servings of caffeinated beverages. Up to four servings per day (5.9 days),” says the publication’s summary.

Migraine patients do not have to stay away from caffeine

The duration of the resulting migraine attacks was virtually the same in the three groups; each was just under nine hours. On a scale of 0 to 100, the intensity of pain attacks was 43.8 in those who abstained from caffeine, 43.1 in those who drank one to two servings of coffee per day, and 46.5 in the group who drank three to four cups of coffee or similar. drink when it comes to caffeine.

The conclusion of the scientific study was: “We found no relationship between habitual consumption of caffeinated beverages and the frequency, duration or severity of headache symptoms.” The data did not support the recommendation that migraine patients avoid caffeine. The study was funded by the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, among others.

Six to eight percent of men and more than twice as many as women suffer from migraines, according to figures from the Charite University Hospital Berlin. Despite relatively good treatment and prophylactic options, many of those affected bear the brunt of pain attacks.

In Switzerland, the population in high mountain areas complains of headaches more often than in low-lying areas. Bern is the migraine stronghold in Switzerland, according to an evaluation by health insurance company Sanitas last year. (SDA)

Source :Blick