We are all familiar with having a common headache and the affects that they can have on us. From a continual throbbing to pain behind the eyes to even a stiffening of the neck, the severity of each headache, and for each individual, can vary. However, migraine headaches can be much more severe and, in some instances, literally debilitating.
According to recent research examining 14 years of medical data, women who experience frequent migraine headaches are more likely to develop depression.
Dr. Timothy A. Collins, a neurologist and headache and migraine treatment researcher at Duke University Medical Center who was not directly involved in the study, said that the study “confirms” what experts have long believed.
Frequent Migraines in Women = 30% Increased Risk of Depression
The study was conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital with help from Harvard Medical School. A team of researchers led by epidemiologist Dr. Tobias Kurth examined the health data of 36,154 women who were involved in the Women’s Health Study, which has been ongoing for 14 years. None of the female subjects had depression at the beginning of the study. However, 6,500 of the female subjects had reported a history of migraines.
Over the course of 14 years, just under 4,000 of the female subjects developed depression. The researchers were then able to conclude that women who reported experiencing migraines were 30% more likely to develop depression than those who never experienced migraines.
Why are Migraines and Depression Connected?
According to Collins, no current theories explain why migraines and depression are linked. However, some believe that hormones, and particularly estrogen, may be involved. Collins says that several of his patients experience headaches immediately before menstruation, when estrogen levels naturally drop.
For individuals who experience migraines, Collins says that a visit to a doctor is order. In addition to prescribing medications designed to treat migraine headaches, Collins says that doctors may be able to identify behaviors and habits that can cause or exacerbate migraines. In some cases, making a simple lifestyle change such as chewing gum less frequently can reduce your likelihood of experiencing a migraine headache.
Collins pointed to 2011 Canadian study in which individuals with migraines had a higher likelihood of depression, despite the fact that those with depression didn’t seem to have a higher prevalence of migraines. In another study, it was found that women who experienced over 15 migraines per month were at a four-times greater risk of depression than women with less than 15 per month.
Migraines are Far More Common in Women
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that roughly 10% of Americans experience migraines. However, migraine prevalence is three times greater in women than in men. This would support the notion that changes in estrogen levels may have something to do with migraine occurrence.
If you’ve ever had a migraine, you probably know how debilitating it can be. Migraines typically last a minimum of four hours, though they can last for up to three days. The symptoms of a migraine usually include sensitivity to sound and light as well as vomiting, nausea and throbbing pain.
Frequent Migraines in Women: The Bottom Line
A recent study shows that women who experience migraines are 30% more likely to develop depression than women who never have migraines. Although researchers have yet to determine why the link exists, some believe that it may have to do with periodic changes in estrogen levels. In general, women are three times more likely than men to experience migraines.
Although the findings have yet to receive publication, they’ll be presented in New Orleans at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual April meeting.
