Scrolling on your phone for too long could leave people at higher risk of debilitating migraines, a new study has found.
Researchers from Taiyuan Central Hospital in China found that extended phone use was one of two habits associated with increased risk of the painful headache condition – along with eating large amounts of poultry.
Drinking coffee, and consuming oily fish such as mackerel and tuna, on the other hand, were associated with a lower risk.
The study is the latest addition linking phone use to migraine – a severe and painful long-term condition causing attacks of head pain, light sensitivity, fatigue and nausea.
A Turkish paper from earlier this year found that smartphone use increased both duration and frequency of headaches in migraine patients.
Overuse of phones was also linked to poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness for those with the condition.
About six million people in the UK suffer with migraine. Most rely on painkillers to dull the agony, or prescription drugs – called triptans – which can shorten the length of attacks.
In recent years, the NHS has begun rolling out a number of revolutionary migraine medicines – known as calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors – which are highly effective at reducing the frequency and severity of the symptoms.
Researchers from Taiyuan Central Hospital in China found that extended phone use was one of two habits associated with increased risk of the painful headache condition
A Turkish paper from earlier this year found that smartphone use increased both duration and frequency of headaches in migraine patients
But these drugs are only offered to patients who have failed to respond to other treatments.
Experts advise migraine patients to identify the habits which trigger their attacks.
Stress, low blood sugar and too much caffeine can all raise the risk of migraines.
‘For some, light or screen glare is a trigger, while for others muscle tension in the neck and shoulders from extended screen time might contribute to an attack,’ says Pippa Coulter, manager at UK migraine charity The Migraine Trust.
‘If attacks are often experienced after mobile phone use, it might be worth experimenting with the brightness of the screen, adjusting the text size if needed, assessing posture during phone use, or monitoring how much screen time seems to cause issues.
‘Taking regular breaks could help reduce the likelihood of an attack being triggered.’
