In Argentina, one in 10 adults has a migraine, according to the first prevalence study conducted in the country. It is a moderate to severe headache (throbbing, usually on one side), often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light or noise. In severe cases, the discomfort is so great that it occurs unbearable daily activities of those who suffer from it. Exercise is one of the measures that can help prevent the triggers, however, according to a study conducted in the United States, more than two out of three people with migraines do not do enough physical activity.
“Migraine is a deactivation status It affects millions of people and yet regular exercise can be an effective way to reduces frequency and intensity some migraines, “says study author Mason Dyess of the University of Washington in Seattle and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.
Why does physical activity help prevent triggers? “Free exercise natural analgesics called endorphins, it helps people sleep better and reduces stress. But if people with migraines do not exercise, they may not get these benefits, “he says.
Stress and poor rest are triggers for migraines. Shuttertock photography.
Dyess led the study, which involved nearly 5,000 people diagnosed with migraines. Three-quarters of participants had chronic migraine, or 15 or more episodes per month; the rest presented with episodic migraine (up to 14).
Participants completed a questionnaire on the characteristics of migraine, sleep quality, depression, stress, anxiety and the amount of moderate to vigorous exercise they did weekly. The types of exercises they rated moderate to vigorous included jogging, walking very fast, playing a sport, cleaning a lot and cycling.
Participants were divided into five groups according to the level of weekly exercises from moderate to vigorous: completely sedentary people; those who exercised for up to 30 minutes; 31 to 90 minutes; 91 to 150 minutes; more than 150 minutes a week.
The researchers found that those who perform a at least two and a half hours activity with that intensity per week had a low rate of migraine triggers such as stress, depression and sleep problems. The work, the preliminary results of which were announced, will be presented at the 73rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in April.
Two and a half hours a week of moderate to full exercise or 150 minutes is the minimum amount of exercise recommended by the World Health Organization.
Exercise releases endorphins, a natural pain reliever. Photos Shutterstock.
Only 27% of those in the study reported that they exercised the most. Otherwise, higher rates of factors have been observed that may predispose to migraine symptoms.
depression was reported by almost half (47%) of the people in the group who did not exercise and only one in four (25%) of the most active group.
In addition, 39% of people in the sedentary group reported anxiety compared to 28% of people in the high-exercise group. that 77% of sedentary participants reported sleep problems compared to 61% in the high-exercise group.
The researchers also found a association between exercise and migraine risk. Of those who did not engage in physical activity, 5% reported a low frequency of headache (zero to four days of headache per month), and 48% had a high frequency (25 or more). In the group with high exercise, 10% had low frequency and 28% high.
“There are new treatments available for migraine, but they are very expensive. People with migraines should consider Incorporate more exercise into your life daily, as it can be a safe and inexpensive way to manage and minimize some of the other issues that often accompany the schedule, ”the lead author of the paper concluded.
The researchers noted that one of the limitations of the study was that participants reported weekly minutes of exercise, rather than monitoring their activity with a device, so this research only shows associations between exercise and migraine triggers, does not prove the cause and effect.
In migraine, intense, throbbing pain usually occurs on one side of the head.
How to know if you have a migraine
The affirmative answer to four of the questions on the MS-Q (Migraine Screen Questionnaire), an internationally validated questionnaire, could indicate that you suffer from migraines, so you should consult a professional.
1. Do you have frequent headaches?
2. Does the headache usually last more than 4 hours? (without taking painkillers)
3. Do you feel sick when you have a headache?
4. Do you mind light or noise when you have a headache?
5. Does your headache limit your physical or intellectual activities?