Headache caused by drinking cold water is common and related to active migraine.
The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cold-induced headache and to test if it is associated with migraine. Women attending a population-based mammography screening programme were asked to participate in the study. Fifty-one of 669 women (7.6%) experienced a headache after ingesting 150 ml of ice-cold water through a straw. Women who had experienced one or more migraine attacks in the last year (active migraine) were twice as likely to experience a headache from ingesting the cold water as women who had never suffered from migraine. Ninety-five women who had experienced their most recent migraine attack more than 1 year ago (inactive migraine) were not at increased risk. The prevalence of active and inactive migraine was 19.4 and 14.2%, respectively. Headache caused by drinking cold water is common in women. The results indicate that active migraine facilitates the perception of forehead pain induced by a cold palatal stimulus.
Mattsson
P
P
Department of Neuroscience, Neurology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Peter.Mattsson@neurologi.uu.se
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D012307:Risk Factors