Abstract
(1) Background: Headache is a significant public health problem. Despite the association between headache and neck pain, little is known about the relationships among specific activities that generate neck pain and headache. The aim of this study was to identify the specific activities that result in neck pain and unsteadiness, and determine how they are linked to headache in university students. (2) Methods: One hundred and six patients with physician-diagnosed headache and 92 healthy university students completed surveys assessing demographics; the presence, frequency, intensity, and disability of headaches; and activities generating neck pain and unsteadiness. (3) Results: The presence of headache was related to female gender (p = 0.001), neck pain when reading or watching television (p = 0.024), and unsteadiness when moving the head (p = 0.005). Headache-related disability was associated with intensity of neck pain (p < 0.001), neck pain when reading or watching television (p = 0.033), and stumbling (p < 0.001). Headache frequency was related to smoking (p = 0.004), the duration of neck pain-associated symptoms (p = 0.047), and neck pain when driving (p = 0.039). Intensity of headache was associated with female gender (p = 0.002), smoking (p = 0.013), and neck pain-related sleep alterations (p = 0.024). (4) Conclusions: Female gender, smoking, neck pain, and unsteadiness when moving the head are factors related to headache in university students.
Highlights
Headaches are a significant public health problem in countries of all development levels, with higher prevalence among females, university students, and urban residents [1]
Greater values of frequency and intensity of headache, as well as a higher headache-related disability level were observed in the headache group
The presence of headaches in university students is related to female gender, to neck pain-generating activities such as reading or watching television, and to unsteadiness when moving the head
Summary
Headaches are a significant public health problem in countries of all development levels, with higher prevalence among females, university students, and urban residents [1]. It is estimated that approximately 40.5% of the worldwide population was affected by migraine or tension-type headaches in 2016 [2]. Headaches have an important individual impact [3]. It has been observed that headache patients experience anxiety symptoms and condition their daily activities due to the fear of suffering a new headache attack, which leads to a reduction in useful time and productivity [3]. Headaches have an enormous economic and social impact, because of their high prevalence levels together with the elevated indirect cost associated with these disorders. In Europe, the total annual cost of headaches has been estimated at 173 billion euros [4]
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