Fasting Headache a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study was based on online questionnaires which were distributed in the first week of Ramadan 2013. 423 subjects returned validly filled forms. Only fasting subjects were included. Pearson Chi-square and Independent-samples T tests were used for statistical analysis.
The response rate of people reporting headache on the first day of fast was 35.7%. Our results showed that those people who had a diagnosed cause of headache (Migraine, cluster etc.) were more likely to experience the same on the first day of their fast (p= .002). Caffeine withdrawal followed an interesting pattern in this study.
From the data, it is evident that those subjects who are already diagnosed with certain headache disorders are more likely to experience headache. This signifies that fasting itself is not the sole reason for the occurrence of headache. Caffeine withdrawal also appeared to play minor role in the pathogenesis of first-of-Ramadan headache.