The Headache and Neck Pain Clinic

The Headache and Neck Pain Clinic Evidence-based Chiropractic, Naturopathic, and Clinical Nutrition Medicine for the treatment of head

Can Migraine Affect Your Concentration Even When the Pain Is Mild?You’re at work. You can still function. The migraine i...
07/09/2026

Can Migraine Affect Your Concentration Even When the Pain Is Mild?

You’re at work. You can still function. The migraine isn’t “that bad”…
…but is your brain working at its usual level?

A new study published in BMC Neurology found that people experiencing mild to moderate migraine attacks showed reduced cognitive performance compared with people with migraine who were headache-free.

🧠 What did researchers discover?
The study included 259 people with migraine. Those experiencing a headache attack performed significantly worse on a test of attention and information-processing speed.

And here’s the interesting part:
➡️ Cognitive performance was reduced during mild as well as moderate migraine attacks.
➡️ There was no significant difference between mild and moderate attacks.
➡️ This suggests that the migraine attack itself may affect cognitive function, rather than cognitive effects simply increasing as headache pain becomes more severe.

This may help explain why someone with migraine can be physically present at work but find it harder to concentrate, process information or work as efficiently as usual—a phenomenon known as presenteeism.

Importantly, the researchers did not directly measure workplace productivity, so more research is needed to establish exactly how these cognitive changes translate into work performance.

💡 The takeaway: Migraine is not simply about the intensity of head pain. Even a relatively mild attack may have effects on how the brain functions.

📖 Read the full research: Cognitive dysfunction during mild to moderate migraine attacks – BMC Neurology: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12883-026-04782-z

Can Migraine Increase the Risk of Eye Blood Vessel Problems? What New Research Shows🧠👁️ Migraine may be associated with ...
31/08/2026

Can Migraine Increase the Risk of Eye Blood Vessel Problems? What New Research Shows

🧠👁️ Migraine may be associated with more than headaches.

A new systematic review and meta-analysis involving more than 47 million people has found that people with migraine had a significantly higher risk of retinal vascular events—problems affecting blood flow through the blood vessels of the retina.

The researchers found:
🔹 2× higher risk of any retinal vascular event
🔹 2.12× higher risk of retinal arterial occlusion
🔹 1.72× higher risk of retinal venous occlusion
🔹 Migraine with aura appeared to carry a greater arterial occlusion risk than migraine without aura in some studies.

The study also explored possible links between migraine and conditions affecting the macula, including age-related macular degeneration and central serous chorioretinopathy. However, the evidence for these associations is currently limited and inconclusive.

⚠️ An important distinction: this research shows an association—it does not prove that migraine causes retinal vascular disease. The studies were observational, and the authors note limitations including potential miscoding and differences between study populations.

The findings nevertheless add to evidence that migraine can involve vascular and neurological systems beyond the head pain itself.

And if someone with migraine develops new, sudden or unusual visual symptoms, these shouldn't automatically be attributed to migraine aura. They may require prompt medical assessment.

📖 ohamed MI, Halwag MI, Mahmoud NH, Salib M, Nada MA. Migraine as a risk factor for retinal vascular events and maculopathies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 million individuals. J Headache Pain. 2026 Apr 15;27(1):107. doi: 10.1186/s10194

Does Poor Sleep Cause Migraine? New Research Reveals a Strong Connection😴 Could better sleep be an important part of man...
24/08/2026

Does Poor Sleep Cause Migraine? New Research Reveals a Strong Connection

😴 Could better sleep be an important part of managing headaches?
A large study involving 5,311 adults found that people with migraine were much more likely to experience poor sleep and were more likely to be "night owls" than people without headaches.

💡 The researchers found:
🌙 64% of people with migraine reported poor sleep quality.
🧠 Migraine was linked with an evening chronotype (preferring later sleep and wake times).
❤️ Poorer sleep was also associated with lower quality of life and higher stress.

Although this study doesn't show that poor sleep causes migraine, it highlights just how closely sleep and headache health are connected. Talking with your healthcare provider about your sleep habits may be an important part of migraine management.

Read more about the research:
Marschollek K, Martynowicz H, Budrewicz S, Straburzyński M, Waliszewska-Prosół M. Sleep quality and chronotype in primary headache disorders: a nationwide population-based study of 5,311 Polish adults. J Headache Pain. 2026 Jun 19;27(1):160. doi: 10.1186/s10194-026-02425-9
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10194-026-02425-9

Weekend Migraines: Why Do They Happen?Do you often feel fine during the working week, only to develop a migraine on Satu...
17/08/2026

Weekend Migraines: Why Do They Happen?

Do you often feel fine during the working week, only to develop a migraine on Saturday or Sunday?

New research suggests you're not imagining it.

Researchers analysed electronic headache diary data from more than 7,600 people with migraine and found that around 1 in 7 people had a clear pattern of experiencing migraines more often on weekends.

Why?

The study found that people with weekend migraines were more likely to be working, suggesting that the shift from work to relaxation may be an important trigger. Changes in sleep, caffeine, alcohol and daily routine over the weekend may also contribute.

The good news is that recognising your own migraine pattern is one of the first steps towards better management.

Keeping a headache diary can help identify:
✔️ Changes in sleep
✔️ Stress and "let-down" periods
✔️ Caffeine intake
✔️ Alcohol consumption
✔️ Other lifestyle triggers

Every person with migraine is different, and understanding your individual pattern can help you and your healthcare practitioner develop a more personalised management plan.

Have you noticed your migraines are more common on weekends?

Research: Ruscheweyh R, Dresler T, Gossrau G, Kraya T, Neeb L, Raffaelli B, Ruschil V, Scheidt J. Weekend headache in migraine - fact or fiction? An observational study from DMKG-app data. Cephalalgia. 2026 Jun;46(6):3331024261444664. doi: 10.1177/ https://unsplash.com/photos/scrabble-letters-spelling-out-the-word-yay-weekend-VjBL5PvEkbM?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

🦴 Does Chronic Migraine Affect Bone Density?Did you know that migraine may affect more than just your head?New research ...
10/08/2026

🦴 Does Chronic Migraine Affect Bone Density?

Did you know that migraine may affect more than just your head?

New research has found that women with frequent or chronic migraine had poorer bone health than women without migraine. Researchers reported:
🦴 Lower bone density at the hip
☀ Lower vitamin D levels
💪 Reduced bone quality
🚶 Associations with lower physical activity and less sun exposure

The changes were seen even in women under 50 years of age, suggesting bone health may deserve attention earlier than many people realise.

This doesn't mean everyone with migraine will develop osteoporosis, but it does highlight the importance of looking after your overall health—not just managing headache symptoms.

If you experience frequent migraine, speak with your healthcare professional about whether your lifestyle, nutrition, physical activity or bone health should also be assessed.

Looking after your whole body is an important part of long-term migraine care.

Haro M, Muñoz-San Martín M, Gárate G, De La Guerra L, González-Quintanilla V, Madera J, Pérez-Pereda S, Valero C, Olmos JM, Hernández JL, Pascual J. Impaired bone status in high frequency episodic or chronic migraine women: A case-control study with blood and densitometric parameters. Cephalalgia. 2026 Jun;46(6):3331024261453582. doi: 10.1177/03331024261453582

What Causes Cervicogenic Headaches? New Research Highlights Important CluesNot every headache is a migraine.New research...
03/08/2026

What Causes Cervicogenic Headaches? New Research Highlights Important Clues

Not every headache is a migraine.

New research comparing people with cervicogenic headache (a headache that originates from the neck) with people who have migraine found several important differences that may help improve diagnosis.

People with cervicogenic headache were more likely to:
✔️ Have neck pain even when they weren't experiencing a headache.
✔️ Have tenderness at the base of the skull (greater occipital nerve).
✔️ Develop headaches later in life.
✔️ Sleep on their stomach (belly sleeping).
✔️ Smoke.
✔️ Have low vitamin B12 levels.

The researchers concluded that these factors were independently associated with cervicogenic headache. However, because this was an observational study, the findings show an association rather than proving these factors are the cause.

If you experience persistent headaches together with neck pain, an accurate assessment is important. Identifying the type of headache is one of the first steps towards selecting the most appropriate treatment.

Nowaczewska M, Kierońska-Siwak S, Straburzyński M, Waliszewska-Prosół M, Gryglas-Dworak A. Clinical, demographic, and lifestyle characteristics of patients with cervicogenic headache: comparison with an age- and sex-matched group of individuals with migraine. J Headache Pain. 2026;27(1):161. doi: 10.1186/s10194-026-02401-3

💙 Could your everyday habits influence your back and neck health?A new study found that people with poorer lifestyle hab...
27/07/2026

💙 Could your everyday habits influence your back and neck health?

A new study found that people with poorer lifestyle habits—especially lower levels of physical activity—were more likely to report low back pain, neck pain, and difficulties with everyday activities related to back or neck problems.

The researchers also found that the combination of poor metabolic health and unhealthy lifestyle habits was linked with the highest likelihood of low back pain and functional limitations.

✨ The takeaway? Looking after your overall health matters. Staying active, maintaining metabolic health, and making healthy lifestyle choices may all play an important role in supporting musculoskeletal wellbeing.

Remember: this study shows an association, not proof that these factors directly cause pain.

Xie C, Li Q, Xin J, Jiang X, He Q, Bian W, Yu D, Lin Y, Yao Z. Individual and combined associations of modifiable metabolic health and lifestyle with low back pain, neck pain, and functional limitation: evidence from a nationally cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2026 May 1;26(1):1902. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-27651-3

Read more: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-27651-3

🌍 Did you know?Tomorrow, an estimated 642 million people around the world will experience a headache.A major internation...
20/07/2026

🌍 Did you know?
Tomorrow, an estimated 642 million people around the world will experience a headache.

A major international study found that:
💙 About 1 in 8 adults has a headache on any given day.
🧠 Nearly half of those headaches are migraine.
📉 Many people underestimate how often they experience headaches, meaning the true impact of headache disorders may be larger than we realise.

Headaches aren't "just a headache." They affect work, family life, study, and overall wellbeing for millions of people every day.

Greater awareness, earlier diagnosis and better access to effective care can make a real difference.

📚 Learn more: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10194-026-02359-2

🩺 New research highlights another reason why movement matters in chronic pain.A large study involving more than 453,000 ...
13/07/2026

🩺 New research highlights another reason why movement matters in chronic pain.

A large study involving more than 453,000 adults found that people living with chronic pain had a higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE)—a condition that includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Researchers also looked at how we spend our 24 hours each day. They found that physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep may help explain part of the link between chronic pain and VTE risk.

💡 In exploratory analyses, replacing one hour of sleep with physical activity was associated with a lower VTE risk in people with multisite chronic pain. However, the researchers emphasise that these findings are observational and do not prove that making these changes will reduce risk.

This study adds to growing evidence that healthy movement behaviours may play an important role in overall health for people living with chronic pain—and highlights the need for more research.

🔗 Read the study to learn more. Huang X, Gao D, Ji M, Zhang Y, Dai Y, Pan Y, Liu Y, Wu A, Zheng F, Xie W. 24-h movement behaviors and the association of chronic pain with venous thromboembolism risk. J Clin Anesth. 2026 Jun;112:112227. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2026.112227. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0952818026001054?via%3Dihub

Photo by Clément Proust

💡 Did you know that 1 in 5 people living with migraine may also have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?A new research review ...
06/07/2026

💡 Did you know that 1 in 5 people living with migraine may also have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?

A new research review found that RLS is significantly more common in people with migraine, especially those with:
✨ Migraine with aura
✨ Chronic migraine
✨ Poor sleep quality
✨ Higher levels of pain and disability

RLS can cause uncomfortable sensations and an urge to move the legs, often making it difficult to relax or sleep. Since sleep plays such an important role in migraine management, recognizing and addressing conditions like RLS could make a meaningful difference for many people.

If you live with migraine and frequently experience restless or uncomfortable legs at night, it may be worth discussing with your healthcare professional.

🧠 Better sleep and better migraine care often go h

Photo by Vladimir Gladkov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-unrecognizable-female-feet-lying-in-cozy-bed-6213708/

d'Onofrio F, Cropano M, Panzino G, Gaita M, Cicarelli G, Barbanti P, Casucci G, Raimo S, Costanzo A. Migraine and Restless Legs Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis. J Sleep Res. 2026 Jun;35(3):e70202. doi: 10.1111/jsr.70202

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