People who suffer from migraine or of headache patients are at higher risk of developing a thyroid condition called hypothyroidism, according to results of a study published in the medical journal Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. Hypothyroidism is real when the body can no longer produce enough thyroid hormone. This causes patients to experience mood swings, weight gain, hair loss, chronic fatigue, constipation and irregular menstrual cycles.
Headaches linked to high risk of hypothyroidism
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati in the United States looked at medial data from 8,412 people. They found that participants who lived with headache pre-existing had a 21% increased risk of developing hypothyroidism and those with migraine showed a 41% higher probability of having this thyroid disorder.
“Our study is one of the largest published studies to date suggesting that migraine disorder is a risk factor for the future development of hypothyroidism,” says Andrew Martin, lead author and medical student at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.
If the link between headaches and hypothyroidism seems to be real, researchers have not established the scientific causes. “Headaches activate the immune system, which could predispose to the future development of hypothyroidism. Also, the stress induced by migraine disorders could increase its likelihood. Other environmental or genetic factors could also be at stake”, concludes Andrew Martin.
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