Food avoidance among patients with headache

Abstract

Objective
To assess food and drink avoidance among patients with headache by means of an online survey.
Methods
Individuals with frequent headaches were invited to answer a Google Form questionnaire [https://form.jotformz.com/200233754863656]. The survey included sex, age and characteristics of headache. Dietary habits were assessed as the number of times the individual consumed certain foods, on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The participants could state up to three foods that they avoided for fear of headache attacks.
Results
120 complete forms were received. Alcoholic beverages were the most frequent trigger factor, reported by 26.7% of the patients. 95.5% of the participants did not consume alcohol regularly. Cheese, caffeine and fat were also recognized as potential triggers of headaches. There was no standard profile of dietary triggers and, therefore, everyone has to be personally approached in this subject.
Conclusion
The online survey confirmed that individual characteristics of headache were dietary triggers in half the participants. Alcohol was the most frequently mentioned trigger, followed by cheese, fat and caffeine.