[Prevalence and characteristics of headache in a population of regular physical exercise practitioners].
BACKGROUND
The burden of headache may impede sufferers from adhering to a routine of physical activity.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of headache in a health club population.


METHODS
One hundred attendees of a health club were interviewed. They all were regular attendees for the previous 12 months and practiced aerobic exercises no less than 3 times a week. A questionnaire with characteristics of headache was applied to all who had a headache attack during the previous 12 months. MIDAS questionnaire was used as well.


RESULTS
57 men and 43 women were included. Eighty subjects had a headache attack, which was pulsatile in 63% of the sufferers. MIDAS was lower than 5 days in 83% of the subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Although retrospective and based on recall, this study suggests that most of the regular exercise practitioners presented clinical characteristics of migraine. It is uncertain whether the regular practice of physical exercise has a role in reducing the impact life or those suffering less are the ones who practice exercise.
Miranda
Fabrício
F
Cia Atlhética, Rua Siqueira Campos43/1002, 22031-070 Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
Dantas
Bernardo
B
Krymchantowski
Abouch V
AV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires