Does COVID-19 Vaccination Aggravate Migraines?

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Does COVID-19 Vaccination Aggravate Migraines?

Does COVID-19 Vaccination Aggravate Migraines?

Research indicates that both COVID-19 and its vaccines have minimal impact on the severity of migraines, contradicting the belief held by some patients that symptoms worsen after infection or vaccination.

A recent study published in the “European Journal of Neurology” reveals that the influence of COVID-19 and its vaccines on the severity of migraines is negligible. The study involved 550 adults who had received migraine treatment at a headache clinic in Spain.

Does COVID-19 Vaccination Aggravate Migraines?

Among them, 44.9% (247 people) reported having been infected with COVID-19 at least once, and 83.3% (458 people) had received the vaccine. Among patients infected with COVID-19, 24.7% (61 patients) experienced a worsening of migraine symptoms, while 11.4% (52 patients) reported an increase in migraine severity after vaccination.

Participants who believed their migraines worsened expressed concerns about the possibility of deterioration. Those who had been infected were 2.5 times more likely to worry about migraine worsening compared to other patients, while those who had received the vaccine were 17.3 times more likely.

When researchers examined patients’ electronic diary information, they observed no significant differences in headache frequency one month before and after infection or vaccination. This was consistent even when comparing patients who self-reported worsening migraines with those who did not.

The authors concluded, “Regarding COVID-19, we have previously reported that headaches are indeed a common debilitating symptom after infection; however, it may not necessarily be linked to an increase in migraine frequency. Based on our study results, we believe that clinicians should convey a more reassuring message to patients, indicating that COVID-19 and its vaccine may have a slight impact on the course of migraines, and the effects of infection and vaccination may be smaller than individual disease patterns. This information may help minimize patient concerns.”