%0 Journal Article %T An Observational Study on the Association between Migraines and Tension Type Headaches in Patients Diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome %A Eren Gozke %A Muge Unal %A Hayriye Engin %A Nurbanu Gurbuzer %J ISRN Neurology %D 2013 %R 10.1155/2013/147065 %X Background. Our aim was to investigate the association between migraine, tension type headache, and metabolic syndrome. Methods. Presence of tension type headache and migraine was investigated in 120 patients diagnosed as metabolic syndrome. The severity of the headache was recorded according to the visual analog scale. Results. Mean age of the patients was years (range, 29¨C84£¿yrs). Diagnoses of tension type headache and migraine without aura were made for 39 (32.5%) and 18 (15%) patients, respectively. Mean age of migraine patients was significantly lower relative to the patients with tension type headache and no headache. Incidence of hypertriglyceridemia was significantly higher in migraine patients when compared with cases tension type headache and without headache. In the tension type headache group, requirement for analgesics decreased as HDL cholesterol levels increased, while need for analgesic drugs increased in line with higher diastolic blood pressures. In the migraine group duration of headache was found to be prolonged with decreasing HDL cholesterol levels. Conclusion. In patients presenting with headache, its association with metabolic syndrome should be considered, and the patients should be especially observed with respect to response to analgesic and the presence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. 1. Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifaceted clinical entity in which genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors are involved. Interactions between components of faulty life style such as consumption of excessive sugar and high calorie diet and inadequate exercise are important in MetS. Insulin resistance plays a central role in a series of metabolic disorders. Insulin resistance, microalbuminemia, prothrombotic or proinflammatory conditions alone or in combination with abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, or glucose intolerance are fundamental characteristics of MetS. This syndrome has become a serious public health problem in that it increases risk of development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes with its higher prevalence especially in populations with higher welfare level [1]. In recent years, association between metabolic syndrome, obesity, and primary headaches such as migraine and tension type headache has attracted much attention [2¨C6]. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between migraine, tension type headache, and MetS and analyze the relationship between components of metabolic syndrome and headache. 2. Methods In 120 patients who were diagnosed as MetS by internist %U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.neurology/2013/147065/