PRECIPITANTS OF HEADACHE IN MIGRAINE PATIENTS ATTENDING NEUROLOGY OPD IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Saravanan S; Ravi S

Volume : IX, Issue : II, February - 2020

PRECIPITANTS OF HEADACHE IN MIGRAINE PATIENTS ATTENDING NEUROLOGY OPD IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Saravanan S, Ravi S

Abstract :

Introduction: Headache or cephalgia is one of the most common of all human physical complaints of which migraine is the most common type of primary headache. It can be triggered by many factors such as dietary, environmental, psychological, medications, change in habits. In prevention of migraine, identification and avoidance of triggering factors of migraine is of paramount importance. Methods: This study included 100 patients with Migraine diagnosed according to HIS criteria who presented to the neurology department at Tirunelveli Medical College between April to June 2019. Demographic details, diagnosis, medication history and a pre–validated structured interview schedule (to collect data about the triggering factors of migraine) were captured in a preformatted data sheet and analysed using SPSS v22.0. Results: Among the 100 patients (17 males, 83 females) included in this study, majority were in the age group 31–40 (28%). Majority had grade IV headache (94%, males–88.2%, females–95.25%). No statistically significant difference was present between gender and various precipitating factors. Sleep and analgesics were important relieving factors. Summer, excessive physical activity, less water intake, processed food intake and strong smell were precipitating factors among males. Salty food, shift work, caffeine intake, food additives, excessive exercise, lack of exercise, back injury and menstruation were precipitating factors among females. Conclusion: Physical activity, strong smells, loud sound, stress were found to be important precipitating factors whereas sleep and analgesics were found to be important relieving factor, Migraine related to summer and excessive physical activity were more in the population studied as compared to other population.