Neurology -- Correspondence for Bigal et al., 69 (1) 16-25

QUICK SEARCH:

	Author:		Keyword(s):
Year:		Vol:		Page:

Correspondence: When an article is eligible for submission of Correspondence, a link to the response form is available within the full-text article. You must be a current subscriber who has activated the online portion of your subscription in order to send a Correspondence. Any reader can read published Correspondence.

Correspondence to:

ARTICLES:
M. E. Bigal, R. B. Lipton, P. Winner, M. L. Reed, S. Diamond, W. F. Stewart On behalf of the AMPP advisory group
Migraine in adolescents: Association with socioeconomic status and family history
Neurology 2007; 69: 16-25 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

Correspondence:
Submit a response to this article

Correspondence published:

Migraine in adolescents: Association with socioeconomic status and family history: Gordon J Gilbert (21 September 2007)

Migraine in adolescents: Association with socioeconomic status and family history 21 September 2007

Gordon J Gilbert,
Dept. of Molecular Biology and Physiology, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa, FL
500 Pasadena Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 3The3707
Send Correspondence to journal:
Re: Migraine in adolescents: Association with socioeconomic status and family history

Drgg22{at}tampabay.rr.com Gordon J Gilbert

Bigal et al found a relationship between migraine prevalence and low household income stating that the relationship "mandates a search for environmental risk factors associated with low income which increase the 1-year period prevalence of migraine." [1] The authors plan to investigate "nutrition, emotional and physical stress, and treatment patterns" as possible risk factors.
Recent reports emphasize the close relationship of migraine occurrence to conditions that facilitate hypoxia, such as sleep apnea, mountain climbing, pulmonary AVM, exertion, and smoking. [2] The higher rate of cigarette smoking in those with low income is well recognized, as is the higher incidence of migraine in smokers. [3,4]
It may be interesting to evaluate the relationship of the environmental risk factor of smoking (both primary and secondary) to migraine prevalence in adolescents without family history of migraine. In addition, if hypoxia were the provocative factor, perhaps a correlation between the actual act of smoking (low pO2) or exposure to secondary smoke and the onset of headache could be examined.
References
1. Bigal ME, Lipton, RB, Winner, P, Reed ML, Diamond S, Stewart, WF. Migraine in adolescents. Association with socioeconomic status and family history. Neurology 2007; 69:16-25.
2. Gilbert GJ. The purpose of migraine. Florida Medical Assn. Quarterly J. 2005; 26-27.
3. Chen TC, Leviton A, Edelstein S, Ellenberg JH. Migraine and other diseases in women of reproductive age. The influence of smoking on observed associations. Arch. Neurol. 1987; 44:1024-1028.
4. Aamodt AH, Stovner LJ, Hagen K, Brathen G, Zwart J. Headache prevalence related to smoking and alcohol use. The Head-Hunt study. European J. Neurol. 2006; 13:1233-1238.
The authors had the opportunity to respond but declined.
Disclosure: The author reports no conflicts of interest.