Migraines can be debilitating, and now German researchers claim to have identified the culprit.
It might not be much of a surprise, but according to the two-year study, stress is a major factor in causing tension headaches and migraines. (Via National Headache Foundation, HealthDay)
The researchers studied the headaches and stress levels of more than 5,000 people aged between 21 and 71 four times a year. (Via WKRC)
The results: Those who reported having headaches had significantly higher stress levels than those who reported not having any headaches.
According to HealthDay, about 73 percent of the participants said they had some form of headache — whether it was a tension headache, a migraine or a combination of both.
CBS reports the researchers noted a 10-point increase on a stress scale was associated with at least a 4 percent increase in the number of reported migraines a month. For tension headaches, that number jumped to about 6 percent.
Researchers say the findings emphasize the importance of stress management in chronic headache sufferers and explain stress-management techniques can eliminate or reduce the frequency of headaches. (Via YouTube / ExperienceLifeMag)
And if deep breathing exercises or medication doesn't work, some have found relief with a recent FDA-approved device that uses magnetic pulses to treat migraines. (Via eNeura)
The Migraine Research Foundation estimates about 14 million people experience headaches almost daily.
