Health.com: Frequent headaches and thyroid disease
A UC migraine expert comments on research that ties headache to hypothyroidism
Previous research has suggested a link between headaches and hypothyroidism, a common medical problem that can cause mood swings and weight gain, among other unpleasant symptoms. Now, one of the largest and longest studies to date provides the strongest evidence yet. University of Cincinnati researchers found that people with headache disorders were 21% more likely to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism when compared to those without.
The group included anyone who’d been diagnosed with migraines, cluster headaches, or tension headaches, or who reported taking headache-specific medicine.
Among migraine sufferers specifically, the increased risk jumped to 41%.
Dr. Vincent Martin, professor of medicine at UC, co-director of the Headache and Facial Pain Center at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, a UC Health physician and lead on the study, provides comment.
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