Alcohol and Migraine: What Should We Tell Patients?

Forecasting migraine attacks by managing daily lifestyle: a systematic review as a basis to develop predictive algorithms

Recent studies attempting to develop forecasting models for new migraine attack onsets, overviewing triggers and protectors, are encouraging but necessitate further improvements to produce forecasting models with high predictive accuracy. This updated review of available data holds the potential to enhance the precision of predicting a migraine attack. This study aims to evaluate how lifestyle factors affect migraine frequency in adults with episodic migraine, to contribute to the development of an effective migraine forecasting model. A comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Scopus, was conducted considering studies published from 2018 to December 2023, following the PRISMA guidelines. Critical evaluation was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute's appraisal tools. The lifestyle modifications examined in this review included dietary habits, physical activity, sleep, and stress management. Of the 36 studies analysed, which predominantly exhibited low to moderate bias, 18 investigated dietary habits, 7 explored physical activity, 11 assessed stress management, and 5 investigated sleep patterns. The evidence from these 36 studies advocates for the implementation of lifestyle modifications in migraine management. Furthermore, these outcomes carry valuable implications from the standpoint of migraine forecasting models. The most consistent results were observed in relation to specific diets, dietary supplements, and physical activity. Although trends were noted in stress management and sleep, further research is required to elucidate their influence on migraine frequency and their integration into a migraine forecasting model. This study is registered on PROSPERO (ID CRD42024511300).

Association between wine consumption and migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional

BACKGROUND

It seems that diet is one of the main triggers of migraine; one of the most studied is alcohol, and also, over the years, red wine has been shown to trigger headaches. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to examine the strength of the association between wine consumption and migraine.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases was conducted to assess the association between wine consumption and migraine, covering baseline to December 2023. Pooled Odds Ratio (p-OR) were calculated using the DerSimonian and Laird methods. This study was previously registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024511115). The risk of bias was evaluated using The Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies.

RESULTS

Five studies were included in this systematic review, and only four of them were in the meta-analysis. Using the DerSimonian and Laird method, the p-OR for the effect of wine consumption on migraine was 0.63 (95% CI 0.36-1.09). The included studies after the risk of bias assessment showed a moderate risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that there is no conclusive evidence to support an increased or decreased risk of migraine associated with wine consumption.

Inflammo-immune perspective on the association of eight migraine risk factors with migraine: a multi-omics Mendelian randomization study

Background

Migraine risk factors are associated with migraine susceptibility, yet their mechanisms are unclear. Evidence suggests a role for inflammatory proteins and immune cells in migraine pathogenesis. This study aimed to examine the inflammo-immune association between eight migraine risk factors and the disorder.

Methods

This study utilized inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and colocalization analysis to explore potential causal relationships between eight migraine risk factors, migraine, 731 immune cells, and 91 circulating inflammatory proteins. Mediation Mendelian randomization (MR) was further used to confirm the mediating role of circulating inflammatory proteins and immune cells between the eight migraine risk factors and migraine.

Results

Migraine risk factors are linked to 276 immune cells and inflammatory proteins, with cigarettes smoked per day strongly co-localized with CD33-HLA DR+ cells. Despite no co-localization, 23 immune cells/inflammatory proteins relate to migraine. Depression, all anxiety disorders, and sleep apnea are correlated with migraine, and all anxiety disorders are supported by strong co-localization evidence. However, the mediating effect of inflammatory proteins and immune cells between eight migraine risk factors and migraine has not been confirmed.

Conclusion

We elucidate the potential causal relationships between eight migraine risk factors, migraine, immune cells, and inflammatory proteins, enhancing our understanding of the molecular etiology of migraine pathogenesis from an inflammatory-immune perspective.

Poor healthy lifestyle and life's essential 8 are associated with higher risk of new-onset migraine: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Lifestyle are closely related to migraine. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the association between Healthy lifestyle or Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and the risk of migraine. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between Healthy lifestyle scores and Life's essential 8 scores, and migraine.

METHODS

332,895 UK Biobank participants without migraine were included. Healthy lifestyle were assessed using seven lifestyle factors, and categorized as poor, intermediate, or ideal. LE8, based on the American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health (CVH), consist of eight indicators classified as low, moderate, or high CVH. The Cox proportional hazard model was employed to examine the association between Healthy lifestyle scores, LE8 scores, and migraine, with calculations for population-attributable fraction (PAF) and cumulative incidence.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 13.58 years, participants in intermediate (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.99) or ideal category of Healthy lifestyle (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.91) significantly reduced migraine risk compared to the poor category. Similarly, high CVH (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.92) also lowered migraine risk, while moderate CVH (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.02) did not show a difference compared to low CVH. If all individuals adhered to higher categories of Healthy lifestyle and LE8, approximately 11.38% and 22.05% of migraine cases could be prevented. Among individual lifestyle factors, maintaining an ideal body mass index (BMI), physical activity, sleep duration, sleep pattern, and sedentary time were associated with substantial reductions in migraine risk, by 5.65%, 0.81%, 10.16%, 16.39%, and 6.57%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides evidence that poor Healthy lifestyle and Life's Essential 8 are associated with higher risk of new-onset migraine.

A phenome-wide association and Mendelian randomisation study of alcohol use variants in a diverse cohort comprising over 3 million individuals

BACKGROUND

Alcohol consumption is associated with numerous negative social and health outcomes. These associations may be direct consequences of drinking, or they may reflect common genetic factors that influence both alcohol consumption and other outcomes.

METHODS

We performed exploratory phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) of three of the best studied protective single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding ethanol metabolising enzymes (ADH1B: rs1229984-T, rs2066702-A; ADH1C: rs698-T) using up to 1109 health outcomes across 28 phenotypic categories (e.g., substance-use, mental health, sleep, immune, cardiovascular, metabolic) from a diverse 23andMe cohort, including European (N ≤ 2,619,939), Latin American (N ≤ 446,646) and African American (N ≤ 146,776) populations to uncover new and perhaps unexpected associations. These SNPs have been consistently implicated by both candidate gene studies and genome-wide association studies of alcohol-related behaviours but have not been investigated in detail for other relevant phenotypes in a hypothesis-free approach in such a large cohort of multiple ancestries. To provide insight into potential causal effects of alcohol consumption on the outcomes significant in the PheWAS, we performed univariable two-sample and one-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses.

FINDINGS

The minor allele rs1229984-T, which is protective against alcohol behaviours, showed the highest number of PheWAS associations across the three cohorts (N = 232, European; N = 29, Latin American; N = 7, African American). rs1229984-T influenced multiple domains of health. We replicated associations with alcohol-related behaviours, mental and sleep conditions, and cardio-metabolic health. We also found associations with understudied traits related to neurological (migraines, epilepsy), immune (allergies), musculoskeletal (fibromyalgia), and reproductive health (preeclampsia). MR analyses identified evidence of causal effects of alcohol consumption on liability for 35 of these outcomes in the European cohort.

INTERPRETATION

Our work demonstrates that polymorphisms in genes encoding alcohol metabolising enzymes affect multiple domains of health beyond alcohol-related behaviours. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these effects could have implications for treatments and preventative medicine.

FUNDING

MVJ, NCK, SBB, SSR and AAP were supported by T32IR5226 and 28IR-0070. SSR was also supported by NIDA DP1DA054394. NCK and RBC were also supported by R25MH081482. ASH was supported by funds from NIAAA K01AA030083. JLMO was supported by VA 1IK2CX002095. JLMO and JJMM were also supported by NIDA R21DA050160. JJMM was also supported by the Kavli Postdoctoral Award for Academic Diversity. EGA was supported by K01MH121659 from the NIMH/NIH, the Caroline Wiess Law Fund for Research in Molecular Medicine and the ARCO Foundation Young Teacher-Investigator Fund at Baylor College of Medicine. MSA was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by the European Union Found: Fondo Social Europeo Plus (FSE+) (P19/01224, PI22/00464 and CP22/00128).

Relationship between alcohol and primary headaches: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Headache is one of the most common neurological symptoms. Many previous studies have indicated a relationship between primary headaches and alcohol. Drinking has been associated with increased risk of tension-type headache (TTH) and migraine. However, recently published studies have not confirmed this relationship. The existing literature is inconclusive; however, migraine patients avoid alcohol. Therefore, the primary objective was to provide a reliable assessment of alcohol intake in people with primary headaches; the secondary objective was to identify any potential relationship between alcohol consumption and headache risk.

METHODS

This study was based on PubMed, Embase and Web of Science database searches performed on 11 July 2023. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023412926). Risk of bias for the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Meta-analyses were performed using Statistica software. The Risk Ratio (RR) was adopted as the measure of the final effect. Analyses were based on a dichotomous division of the respondents into "non-drinkers" and "drinkers" for headache patients and matched non-headache groups.

RESULTS

From a total of 1892 articles, 22 were included in the meta-analysis. The majority demonstrated a moderate or high risk of bias. The first part of the meta-analysis was performed on data obtained from 19 migraine studies with 126 173 participants. The risk of migraine in alcohol drinkers is approximately 1.5 times lower than in the group of non-drinkers (RR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.57-0.89). The second part involved 9 TTH studies with 28 715 participants. No relationship was found between TTH diagnosis and alcohol consumption (RR = 1.09; 95% CI: 0.93-1.27). Two of the included cluster-headache articles had inconclusive results.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol consumption and migraine are inversely correlated. The exact mechanism behind this observation may indicate that migraine leads to alcohol-avoidance, rather than alcohol having any protective role against migraine. There was no relationship between TTH and drinking. However, further studies related to primary headaches and alcohol consumption with low risk of bias are required. Additionally, patients and physicians should consider the latest medical data, in order to avoid the myths about alcohol consumption and primary headaches.

Hazard of substance abuse onset among adults diagnosed with epilepsy or migraine

OBJECTIVE

We investigated adult-onset epilepsy as a risk factor for the development of substance use disorder (SUD) by comparing the rate of SUD diagnosis among adults diagnosed with epilepsy with presumably healthy controls with lower extremity fractures (LEF). For additional comparison, we investigated the risk for adults with migraine only. Epilepsy and migraine are both episodic neurological disorders and migraine is frequently comorbid with epilepsy.

METHODS

We conducted a time-to-event analysis using a subset of surveillance data of hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits in South Carolina, USA from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2011. Individuals aged 18 years or older were identified using the International Classification of Disease, 9thRevision Clinical Modification (ICD-9) with a diagnosis of epilepsy (n = 78,547; 52.7% female, mean age 51.3 years), migraine (n = 121,155; 81.5% female, mean age 40.0 years), or LEF (n = 73,911; 55.4% female, mean age 48.7 years). Individuals with SUD diagnosis following epilepsy, migraine, or LEF were identified with ICD-9 codes. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to model the time to SUD diagnosis comparing adults diagnosed with epilepsy, migraine, and LEF, adjusting for insurance payer, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and prior mental health comorbidities.

RESULTS

Compared to LEF controls, adults with epilepsy were diagnosed with SUD at 2.5 times the rate [HR 2.48 (2.37, 2.60)] and adults with migraine only were diagnosed with SUD at 1.12 times the rate [HR 1.12 (1.06, 1.18)]. We found an interaction between disease diagnosis and insurance payer, with hazard ratios comparing epilepsy to LEF of 4.59, 3.48, 1.97, and 1.44 within the commercial payer, uninsured, Medicaid, and Medicare strata, respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE

Compared to presumably healthy controls, adults with epilepsy had a substantially higher hazard of SUD, while adults with migraine only showed a small, but significant, increased hazard of SUD.

The role of avoiding known triggers, embracing protectors, and adhering to healthy lifestyle recommendations in migraine prophylaxis: Insights from a prospective cohort of 1125 people with episodic migraine

OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND

Until recently, guidelines for migraine prevention recommended avoiding known migraine headache triggers. Adhering to healthy lifestyle behaviors is also recommended. In a recent cohort study many triggers were found to decrease the probability of migraine attacks in some individuals. The extent to which people with migraine adhere to healthy lifestyle recommendations is unknown. We set out to determine if known migraine trigger factors and daily adherence to healthy lifestyle recommendations are associated with decreased probability of migraine attacks in some individuals.

METHODS

This was an observational longitudinal cohort study of individuals with episodic migraine who registered to track their headache symptoms and daily exposure to trigger factors prospectively using a migraine-headache electronic diary during 90 days. We assessed whether triggers increased or decreased migraine attack risk in each individual. In addition, we calculated the proportion of days in which the individual adhered to lifestyle recommendations.

RESULTS

We analyzed a total of 1125 individuals contributing 14,080 migraine attacks. Out of 47 triggers, 24 were more often associated with decreased rather than with increased migraine attack risk. Most pronouncedly this was true for caffeine, alcohol, and chocolate; happiness; relaxedness; sleep factors (longer duration, higher quality, and waking up refreshed); and physical activity. People who were more compliant with healthy behaviors, especially keeping good hydration and regular meals, were significantly older and had been diagnosed with migraine disease for a longer period, compared to those who were less compliant. Overall, exercising ≥3 times a week was the least followed recommendation.

CONCLUSION

Many triggers behaved as protectors in a non-negligible proportion of individuals with episodic migraine, challenging the recommendation of avoiding known triggers. Low adherence to healthy lifestyle recommendations demonstrates an opportunity to increase awareness among people with migraine.

Migraine prodromes and migraine triggers

Migraine is characterized by a well-defined premonitory phase occurring hours or even days before the headache. Also, many migraineurs report typical triggers for their headaches. Triggers, however, are not consistent in their ability to precipitate migraine headaches. When looking at the clinical characteristics of both premonitory symptoms and triggers, a shared pathophysiological basis seems evident. Both seem to have their origin in basic homeostatic networks such as the feeding/fasting, the sleeping/waking, and the stress response network, all of which strongly rely on the hypothalamus as a hub of integration and are densely interconnected. They also influence the trigeminal pain processing system. Additionally, thalamic and hormonal mechanisms are involved. Activity within all those networks is influenced by various endogenous and external factors and might even cyclically change dependent on physiological internal rhythms. This might affect the threshold for the generation of migraine headaches. Premonitory symptoms thus appear as the result of an already ongoing alteration within those networks, whereas triggers might in this special situation only be able to further stress the system over the threshold for attack generation as catalysts of a process already in motion.

Alcohol as a trigger of migraine attacks in people with migraine. Results from a large prospective cohort study in English-speaking countries

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether alcohol intake is associated with the onset of migraine attacks up to 2 days after consumption in individuals with episodic migraine (EM).

BACKGROUND

Although alcohol has long been suspected to be a common migraine trigger, studies have been inconclusive in proving this association.

METHODS

This was an observational prospective cohort study among individuals with migraine who registered to use a digital health platform for headache. Eligible individuals were aged ≥18 years with EM who consumed alcohol and had tracked their headache symptoms and alcohol intake for ≥90 days. People who did not drink any alcohol were excluded. The association of alcohol intake ("Yes/No") and of the number of alcoholic beverages in the 2 days preceding a migraine attack was assessed accounting for the presence of migraine on day-2 and its interaction with alcohol intake on day-2, and further adjusted for sex, age, and average weekly alcohol intake.

RESULTS

Data on 487 individuals reporting 5913 migraine attacks and a total of 40,165 diary days were included in the analysis. Presence of migraine on day-2 and its interaction with alcohol intake on day-2 were not significant and removed from the model. At the population level, alcohol intake on day-2 was associated with a lower probability of migraine attack (OR [95% CI] = 0.75 [0.68, 0.82]; event rate 1006/4679, 21.5%), while the effect of alcohol intake on day-1 was not significant (OR [95% CI] = 1.01 [0.91, 1.11]; event rate 1163/4679, 24.9%) after adjusting for sex, age, and average weekly alcohol intake. Similar results were obtained with the number of beverages as exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

In this English-speaking cohort of individuals with EM who identified themselves as mostly low-dose alcohol consumers, there was no significant effect on the probability of a migraine attack in the 24 h following consumption, and a slightly lower likelihood of a migraine attack from 24 to 48 h following use.

The relationship between dietary nutrients patterns and intensity and duration of migraine headaches

Migraine is a complicated brain disorder which affects approximately 12 % of the population, whilst the presence of migraine headaches is typically higher in women than men. Several nutrients are posited to improve headache severity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary nutrients patterns and intensity and duration of migraine headaches. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 266 women. Physical activity, general characteristics, anthropometric values and dietary intake were collected. Nutrient patterns were derived using principal component analysis with varimax rotation, and based on the correlation matrix, after completing the 147 item semi-quantitative FFQ, we discerned three nutrients patterns. The validated Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used for assessing migraine intensity. Duration of headaches were defined as the hours the participants had headache in 1 d in last month. ANOVA, χ2 and linear regression tests were used to interrogate the data. Linear regression showed there was a positive relationship between second pattern rich in vitamin B1, carbohydrate, vitamin B3, vitamin B9, protein, and total fibre and VAS and pain duration. Furthermore, there was an inverse relationship between MIDAS and the first nutrient pattern characterised by dietary Ca, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B2, and Mg among women. Furthermore, there was a positive significant association between vitamin D and B12 (pattern 3) and headache duration. Dietary nutrients patterns should be monitored closely in individuals suffering with migraine.

Dehydration and Headache

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We define dehydration and its relationship to pain physiology including both primary and secondary headache disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

Intravenous fluids administered for acute migraine attacks in an emergency department setting have not been shown to improve pain outcomes. However, increased intravascular volume before diagnostic lumbar puncture may reduce the frequency of post-lumbar puncture headache from iatrogenic spinal fluid leak. Maintenance of euhydration can help treat orthostatic and "coat-hanger" headache due to autonomic disorders. Similarly, prevention of fluid losses can mitigate secondary headaches provoked by dehydration such as cerebral venous thrombosis or pituitary apoplexy. Dehydration alone may cause headache, but oftentimes exacerbates underlying medical conditions such as primary headache disorders or other conditions dependent on fluid balance.

Prospective cohort study of daily alcoholic beverage intake as a potential trigger of headaches among adults with episodic migraine

PURPOSE

To determine whether alcohol intake is associated with occurrence of headaches on the following day.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, adults with episodic migraine completed electronic diaries every morning and evening for at least six weeks in March 2016-October 2017. Every day, participants reported alcohol intake, lifestyle factors, and details about each headache. We constructed within-person fixed-effect models adjusted for time-varying factors to calculate odds ratios for the association between 1,2,3,4, or 5+ servings of alcohol and headache the following day. We also calculated the adjusted risk of headache the following day for each level of intake.

RESULTS

Among 98 participants who reported 825 headaches over 4,467 days, there was a statistically significant linear association (p-trend = 0.03) between alcohol and headache the following day. Compared to no alcohol, 1-2 servings were not associated with headaches, but 5+ servings were associated with a 2.08-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-3.73) odds of headache. The adjusted absolute risk of headaches was 20% (95%CI 19%-22%) on days following no alcohol compared with 33% (95%CI 22%-44%) on days following 5+ servings.

CONCLUSION

1-2 servings of alcoholic beverages were not associated with higher risk of headaches the following day, but 5+ servings were associated with higher risk. KEY MESSAGES 1-2 servings of alcoholic beverages were not associated with a higher risk of headaches on the following day, but higher levels of intake may be associated with higher risk. Five or more servings were associated with 2.08 times (95% confidence interval 1.16-3.73 the odds of headache on the following day. The adjusted absolute risk of headaches was 20% (95%CI 19%-22%) on days following no alcohol consumption compared with 33% (95% CI 22%-44%) on days following 5+ servings.

Cohort profile: COpenhagen ROsacea COhort (COROCO) and COpenhagen MIgraine COhort (COMICO)

PURPOSE

Migraine has consistently been connected with rosacea. Commonalities in epidemiology, trigger factors and associated neuropeptides support shared aetiology and pathophysiological pathways, though underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We established two cohorts of patients diagnosed with either migraine and/or rosacea. All patients were phenotyped in regard to migraine and rosacea. In this article, we describe the baseline parameters of the cohorts. In the future, we expect that these cohorts will help uncover potential disease overlaps and allow for prolonged follow-up through national Danish health registers.

PARTICIPANTS

COpenhagen ROsacea COhort (COROCO) and COpenhagen MIgraine COhort (COMICO) are prospective cohorts based in the Capital region of Denmark. Participants for COROCO were recruited primarily through two tertiary dermatology clinics in Copenhagen, Denmark and patients for COMICO were recruited through a tertiary neurology clinic in Copenhagen, Denmark.

FINDINGS TO DATE

COROCO: 67.7% women (median age 51 years (interquartile range (IQR) 43.0-61.0)). Family history of migraine: 44.3%. Family history of rosacea: 45%. There were 13% who currently smoked, and 36.6% were former smokers. Regular intake of alcohol was present in 79.3% (median 4 items/week (IQR 1.0-9.0)). Median body mass index (BMI): 25.7 (IQR 23.1-29.0). Median Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI): 2 (IQR 1-5).

COMICO

88.5% women (median age 41 years (IQR 29.5-51.0)). Family history of migraine: 73.4%. Family history of rosacea: 18.4%. There were 17.1% who currently smoked, and 26.0% former smokers. Regular intake of alcohol was present in 62.2% (median intake: 2 item/week (IQR 1.0-3.0)). Median BMI was 24.6 (IQR 21.5-28.2). Median DLQI was 1 (IQR 0-2).

FUTURE PLANS

COROCO and COMICO serve as strong data sources that will be used for future studies on rosacea and migraine with focus on risk factors, occurrence, treatment, natural history, complications, comorbidities and prognosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03872050).

What is Needed for Evidence-Based Dietary Recommendations for Migraine: A Call to Action for Nutrition and Microbiome Research

BACKGROUND

The gastrointestinal symptoms of migraine attacks have invited numerous dietary hypotheses for migraine etiology through the centuries. Substantial efforts have been dedicated to identifying dietary interventions for migraine attack prevention, with limited success. Meanwhile, mounting evidence suggests that the reverse relationship may also exist - that the biological mechanisms of migraine may influence dietary intake. More likely, the truth involves some combination of both, where the disease influences food intake, and the foods eaten impact the manifestations of the disease. In addition, the gut's microbiota is increasingly suspected to influence the migraine brain via the gut-brain axis, though these hypotheses remain largely unsubstantiated.

OBJECTIVE

This paper presents an overview of the strength of existing evidence for food-based dietary interventions for migraine, noting that there is frequently evidence to suggest that a dietary risk factor for migraine exists but no evidence for how to best intervene; in fact, our intuitive assumptions on interventions are being challenged with new evidence. We then look to the future for promising avenues of research, notably the gut microbiome.

CONCLUSION

The evidence supports a call to action for high-quality dietary and microbiome research in migraine, both to substantiate hypothesized relationships and build the evidence base regarding nutrition's potential impact on migraine attack prevention and treatment.

Alcohol Use as a Comorbidity and Precipitant of Primary Headache: Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In contrast to well-established relationships between headache and affective disorders, the role of alcohol use in primary headache disorders is less clear. This paper provides a narrative overview of research on alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in primary headache and presents a meta-analysis of the role of alcohol as a trigger (precipitant) of headache.

RECENT FINDINGS

The majority of studies on AUDs in headache have failed to find evidence that migraine or tension-type headache (TTH) is associated with increased risk for AUDs or problematic alcohol use. The meta-analysis indicated that 22% (95% CI: 17-29%) of individuals with primary headache endorsed alcohol as a trigger. No differences were found between individuals with migraine (with or without aura) or TTH. Odds of endorsing red wine as a trigger were over 3 times greater than odds of endorsing beer. An absence of increased risk for AUDs among those with primary headache may be attributable to alcohol's role in precipitating headache attacks for some susceptible individuals. Roughly one fifth of headache sufferers believe alcohol precipitates at least some of their attacks. Considerable study heterogeneity limits fine-grained comparisons across studies and suggests needs for more standardized methods for studying alcohol-headache relationships and rigorous experimental designs.

Chronic Migraine Responding to Intravenous Thiamine: A Report of Two Cases

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a risk factor for thiamine deficiency and Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE). WE is a highly underdiagnosed condition. The misdiagnosis is associated more with early or mild WE. The interrelation between migraine and thiamine deficiency is unknown

CASE REPORTS

Here, we report two female patients with chronic migraine. During examinations, we also noted clinical signs pertinent with a diagnosis of WE. Both patients had low blood thiamine level. Intravenous thiamine supplementation led to the improvement of both WE and associated headaches.

DISCUSSION

Nausea, vomiting, and anorexia of migraine may lead to mild to moderate thiamine deficiency and WE. Review of the literature suggests that WE in early or subclinical form will have nonspecific symptoms that may include frequent headache, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. So, WE in the early stage may simulate migrainous features and this will further aggravate thiamine deficiency and a vicious cycle may be formed, and that will progressively increase the chronicity of headaches and other features. Breaking of this cycle by thiamine supplementation might be a promising therapy in a subset of patients with chronic migraine.

CONCLUSION

Thiamine deficiency due to nausea, vomiting and anorexia of migraine may further aggravate migraine like headaches in cyclical pattern.

Alcohol-induced headaches: Evidence for a central mechanism?

Alcoholic drinks (ADs) have been reported as a migraine trigger in about one-third of the migraine patients in retrospective studies. Some studies found that ADs trigger also other primary headaches. The studies concerning the role of ADs in triggering various types of primary headaches published after the International Headache Society classification criteria of 1988 were reviewed, and the pathophysiological mechanisms were discussed. Many studies show that ADs are a trigger of migraine without aura (MO), migraine with aura (MA), cluster headache (CH), and tension-type headache (TH). While data on MO and CH are well delineated, those in MA and TH are discordant. There are sparse reports that ADs are also triggers of less frequent types of primary headache such as familial hemiplegic migraine, hemicrania continua, and paroxysmal hemicrania. However, in some countries, the occurrence of alcohol as headache trigger is negligible, perhaps determined by alcohol habits. The frequency estimates vary widely based on the study approach and population. In fact, prospective studies report a limited importance of ADs as migraine trigger. If ADs are capable of triggering practically all primary headaches, they should act at a common pathogenetic level. The mechanisms of alcohol-provoking headache were discussed in relationship to the principal pathogenetic theories of primary headaches. The conclusion was that vasodilatation is hardly compatible with ADs trigger activity of all primary headaches and a common pathogenetic mechanism at cortical, or more likely at subcortical/brainstem, level is more plausible.

Headache and Alcohol

BACKGROUND

The notion that alcohol intake may trigger headache is well known. Historical data as well as clinical experience indicate that this may be the case for headache patients as well persons without known headache disorders. This monograph reviews the medical literature about alcohol as a headache trigger, what headache types are triggered, and why.

METHODS

Literature search primarily using the terms "alcohol and headache," "migraine and alcohol," "cluster headache and alcohol," and "alcohol hangover headache," as well as combined search, was performed, limiting the search to the last decade. Relevant articles were picked.

RESULTS

The search "alcohol and headache" yielded 918 hits for the decade 2004-2014. Combined search gave substantially less, and 30 papers were reviewed, of which 25 are included in this review.

DISCUSSION

Epidemiological studies find some correlations between alcohol intake and mainly primary headache disorders, such as migraine and cluster headache. Cultural differences in alcohol consumption are probably reflected in some of the results and conclusions. Both migraine and cluster headaches may be triggered by alcohol; however, which type of alcoholic beverage triggers these headaches is not clear. There is no single mechanism that explains the pathophysiology of alcohol-induced headache, other that hangover headache in some may be triggered by inactive alcohol dehydrogenase 2. Alcohol-induced headache may be diagnosed as a secondary headache, while in patients with migraine or cluster headache alcohol intake may act as a trigger for these primary headaches.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the literature, there is no reason to tell headache patients in general to abstain from alcohol. Individual dispositions as well as cultural factors may play a role in alcohol-induced headache.

Enhancing cognitive-behavioural therapy for recurrent headache: design of a randomised controlled trial

Background

We have argued against the traditional approach of counselling avoidance of all triggers of headaches and migraine. Problems with this approach include the impossibility of avoiding all triggers and the high costs associated with trying to do so, and that avoidance could lead to reduced tolerance for the triggers. We have developed an alternative approach called Learning to Cope with Triggers (LCT) that encourages avoidance of triggers that are detrimental to health and wellbeing, but uses exposure to other triggers to desensitise headache sufferers to the triggers. This approach has been shown to be more effective than advising avoidance of all triggers. Trigger management is only one component of a comprehensive treatment program and the current study is designed to evaluate a new approach to treating headaches in which LCT has been integrated into an established cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) package (LCT/CBT).

Methods/Design

A target sample of 120 adult participants who suffer from migraine or tension-type headache, at least six days per month, and have done so for at least 12 months will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: LCT/CBT; Avoid/CBT (CBT combined with instructions to avoid all triggers); and waiting-list control. Measures will include: daily diaries for recording headaches, triggers and medication consumption; headache disability and quality of life; trigger avoidance; locus of control and self-efficacy; and coping strategies. Treatment will involve 12 60-minute sessions scheduled weekly. Assessment will be completed before and after treatment, and at 4 and 12 month follow-up. The data will be analysed to determine which approach is most effective, and predictors of response to treatment.

Discussion

Migraine and tension-type headache are common and can be disabling. CBT has been demonstrated to be an efficacious treatment for both disorders. However, there is room for improvement. This study aims to increase the efficacy of behavioural approaches and identify factors predictive of a positive response.

Trial registration

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000435684.

Migraine and triggers: post hoc ergo propter hoc?

The influence of environmental factors on the clinical manifestation of migraine has been a matter of extensive debate over the past decades. Migraineurs commonly report foods, alcohol, meteorologic or atmospheric changes, exposure to light, sounds, or odors, as factors that trigger or aggravate their migraine attacks. In the same way, physicians frequently follow this belief in their recommendations in how migraineurs may reduce their attack frequency, especially with regard to the consumption of certain food components. Interestingly, despite being such a common belief, most of the clinical studies have shown conflicting results. The aim of the review is to critically analyze clinical and pathophysiological facts that support or refute a correlation between certain environmental stimuli and the occurrence of migraine attacks. Given the substantial discrepancy between patients' reports and objective clinical data, the methodological difficulties of investigating the link between environmental factors and migraine are highlighted.

Comorbidity of migraine and psychiatric disorders among substance-dependent inpatients

BACKGROUND

Limited and conflicting data exist regarding the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly substance use disorders (SUDs), among migraineurs in inpatient clinical settings.

METHODS

As part of a larger cross-sectional study, 181 substance-dependent inpatients completed a structured psychiatric interview and measures of psychiatric symptoms and migraine. Standardized mean differences were used to quantify differences between inpatients with and without migraine across 4 domains of predictors (demographic variables, non-SUD psychiatric diagnoses, specific SUDs, and self-reported psychiatric symptoms). The predictors within each domain that best discriminated between the migraine and no-migraine groups were identified using a classification tree approach with Bonferroni corrections. These candidate predictors were subsequently entered into a multivariate logistic regression to predict migraine status, which was then replicated using bootstrapping of 500 samples. Associations between migraine status and SUD treatment dropout were also examined.

RESULTS

Forty-four of the 181 (24.3%) participants met criteria for migraine. Migraineurs were more likely to be female (34.8% vs. 18.3%) and reported higher levels of current anxiety symptoms (mean [standard deviation]: 19.7 [11.0] vs. 11.3 [10.3]). Having a lifetime diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (56.8% vs. 27%, odds ratio 3.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-10.58) or a current diagnosis of alcohol dependence (45.5% vs. 24.1%, odds ratio 3.79, 95% CI 1.63-13.62) was associated with more than a 3-fold risk of migraine. These 4 variables in combination were forced into the final multivariate model, which differentiated well between those with and without migraine (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.81; 95% CI 0.73-0.88). Migraine was not differentially associated with increased risk for SUD treatment dropout (13.6% vs. 16.1% dropout among those without migraine).

DISCUSSION

A history of generalized anxiety disorder, high levels of current anxiety symptoms, and current alcohol dependence are the strongest psychiatric predictors of migraine status among substance-dependent inpatients. However, migraine status is not associated with SUD treatment dropout.

Alcoholic drinks as triggers in primary headaches

OBJECTIVE

This project aims to investigate the role of alcoholic drinks (ADs) as triggers for primary headaches.

METHODS

Patients followed in the Headache Centre and presenting with migraine without aura, migraine with aura (MA), chronic migraine (CM), and tension-type headache (TH) were asked if their headache was precipitated by AD and also about their alcohol habits. Individual characteristics and drink habits were evaluated within two binary logistic models.

RESULTS

About one half (49.7%) of patients were abstainers, 17.6% were habitual consumers, and 32.5% were occasional consumers. Out of 448 patients, only 22 (4.9%), all with migraine, reported AD as a trigger factor. None of 44 patients with MA and none of 47 patients with TH reported AD as a trigger factor. Among those patients with migraine who consume AD, only 8% reported that AD can precipitate their headache. Multivariate analyses showed that AD use, both occasional and habitual, is unrelated to TH. Moreover, analysis performed among migraine patients, points out that occasional and habitual drinkers have a lower risk of presenting with CM than abstainers, although statistical significance occurred only among occasional drinkers. Only 3% of migraine patients who abstain from AD reported that they do not consume alcohol because it triggers their headache.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that AD acts as headache triggers in a small percentage of migraine patients. Differing from some prior studies, our data suggest that AD do not trigger MA and TH attacks. Moreover, the percentage of abstainers in our sample is higher compared with that reported in general population surveys.

Alcohol as a dietary trigger of primary headaches: what triggering site could be compatible?

Alcoholic drinks (AD) have been known as migraine triggers in about one-third of migraine patients in retrospective studies. We have reviewed the studies concerning the role of AD in triggering the various types of primary headaches published after the International Headache Society classification of 1988. There are many studies showing that AD are triggers of migraine without aura (MO), migraine with aura (MA), cluster headache (CH) and tension-type headache (TH). About one-third of MO and half of CH patients reported AD as trigger factors. Some studies show that AD are triggers in MA and TH in a similar percentage to that found in MO, but there are also discordant findings. There are sparse reports that AD are also triggers of less frequent types of primary headache such as familial hemiplegic migraine, hemicrania continua and paroxysmal hemicrania. The mechanism of alcohol-provoking headache is debated and should be compatible with the principal pathogenetic theories of primary headaches. If AD are capable of triggering practically all primary headaches, they should act at a common pathogenetic level. Vasodilatation is unlikely to be compatible as common mechanism. An action at cortical or more likely at subcortical level is plausible.

Interactions between migraine and tension-type headache and alcohol drinking, alcohol flushing, and hangover in Japanese

The aim of the study was to investigate associations between headache types and alcohol drinking, alcohol flushing, and hangover. Alcohol consumption is inhibited by the presence of inactive aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) whose carriers are susceptible to alcohol flushing and hangovers. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the 2,577 subjects (men/women: 1,018/1,559) who reported having ever experienced headaches unrelated to common colds and alcohol hangovers among 5,408 (2,778/2,630) Tokyo health checkup examinees. We used a questionnaire inquiring about current and past facial flushing after drinking a glass of beer which identifies the presence of inactive ALDH2 with a sensitivity and specificity of approximately 90%. Based on ICHD-II criteria migraine was diagnosed in 419 (75/344) subjects, and tension-type headache (TTH) in 613 (249/364). We classified the headaches of the remaining 1,545 (694/851) of headaches sufferers into the category "other headaches (OH)". The migraineurs drank alcohol less frequently than the subjects with TTH among current/past alcohol flushers and than the subjects with OH regardless of flushing category. No such difference in drinking frequency was observed between TTH and OH. Current/past flushers drank alcohol less frequently than never flushers, and the likelihood that male migraineurs would avoid alcohol drinking than men with TTH or OH was stronger among current/past flushers than among never flushers. Flushers and women were more susceptible to hangover than never flushers and men, respectively, regardless of headache type. Among never flushers, women with migraine were more susceptible to hangover than women with OH. The difference in alcohol sensitivity may partly explain less alcohol consumption by migraineurs.

Can migraine prophylaxis prevent acute mountain sickness at high altitude?

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) develops in people trekking at high altitude. The underlying mechanism is vasodilation due to low pressure of oxygen. However, individual susceptibility for AMS is unknown, thus, one cannot predict when or to whom it happens. Because AMS usually begins with headache, and because migraineurs are more vulnerable to AMS, we studied by the literatures review on the mechanism and clinical features in common, and assessed the treatment modalities for both disorders. This led to us the following hypothesis that, migraine prophylaxis may prevent or delay the onset of AMS at high altitude. Clinical features of AMS include nausea or vomiting when it progresses. Hypobaric hypoxia, dehydration or increased physical exertion trigger or aggravate both disorders. In migraine, cerebral vasodilation can happen following alteration of neuronal activity, whereas the AMS is associated with peripheral vessel dilation. Medications that dilate the vessels worsen both conditions. Acute treatment strategies for migraine overlap with to those of AMS, including drugs such as vasoconstrictors, or other analgesics. To prevent AMS, adaptation to high altitude or pharmacological prophylaxis, i.e., acetazolamide has been recommended. This carbonic anhydrase inhibitor lowers serum potassium level, and thus stabilizes membrane excitability. Acetazolamide is also effective on specific forms of migraine. Taken together, these evidences implicate that migraine prophylaxis may prevent or delay the onset of AMS by elevating the threshold for high altitude.