Association Between Migraine Related Headache and Hypoglycemia due to Breakfast Skipping among Undergraduate University Students

Abstract

Headache or migraine has emerged as a common health issue among university students. However, breakfast skipping habit is one of the common bad dietary practice among the students that is directly linked with the hypoglycemia. Whereas, hypoglycemia is one of the neglected complication that causes a person to suffer from headache/migraine related headache. Objective: To assess the link of breakfast skipping with hypoglycemia and headache/migraine among undergraduate students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in University of Lahore, Lahore from December 2021 to April 2022. The data were collected from 100 students by using convenient sampling method, using a self-formulated questionnaire, MIDAS tool and a glucometer. Results: Almost 69% students were suffering from headache/migraine while 46% students were suffering from hypoglycemia (p-value = 0.040). Approximately 36% students marked family history for headache/migraine. Breakfast skipping frequency among undergraduate students was 84% out of which 71% students were experiencing fatigue and lethargy (p-value = 0.039). Almost 75% students experienced hypoglycemia due to breakfast skipping and 85% students experienced headache/migraine due to hypoglycemia (p-value = 0.019). Conclusions: There is a significant link found between headache/migraine, hypoglycemia and breakfast skipping habit among undergraduate university students.