Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Environment and Headache: a Narrative Review

  • REVIEW
  • Published:
Current Environmental Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this narrative review, we summarize the peer-reviewed literature published between 2017 and 2022 that evaluated ambient environmental risk factors for primary headache disorders, which affect more than half of the population globally. Primary headache disorders include migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and trigeminal and autonomic cephalalgias (TAC).

Recent findings

We identified 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria via PubMed or Google Scholar. Seven studies (41%) relied on data from US populations. The remaining studies were conducted in China, Taiwan, Germany, Ghana, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Turkey. Air pollution was the most frequently assessed environmental risk factor. Most studies were cross-sectional and focused on all-cause or migraine headaches; one study included TTH, and none included TAC. Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was not consistently associated with headache endpoints, but long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with migraine headache prevalence and severity across multiple studies. Elevated ambient temperature, changes in weather, oil and gas well exposure, and less natural greenspace, but not noise pollution, were also associated with headache. No studies considered water pollution, metal exposure, ultrafine particulate matter, or wildfire smoke exposure.

Summary

There is a need for ongoing research focused on headache and the environment. Study designs with the greatest explanatory power may include longitudinal studies that capture the episodic nature of headache and case-crossover analysis, which control for time-invariant individual-level confounders by design. There is also a clear need for research that considers comorbid psychiatric illness and socioeconomic position as powerful modifiers of the effect of the environment on headache.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Not applicable.

References

  1. Stovner LJ, Hagen K, Linde M, Steiner TJ. The global prevalence of headache: an update, with analysis of the influences of methodological factors on prevalence estimates. J Headache Pain. 2022;23(1):34.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Stovner LJ, Nichols E, Steiner TJ, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of migraine and tension-type headache, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2018;17(11):954–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Stovner L, Hagen K, Jensen R, et al. The global burden of headache: a documentation of headache prevalence and disability worldwide. Cephalalgia. 2007;27(3):193–210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Burton WN, Conti DJ, Chen C-Y, Schultz AB, Edington DW. The economic burden of lost productivity due to migraine headache: a specific worksite analysis. J Occup Environ Med. 2002;44:523–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Malmberg-Ceder K, Vuorio T, Korhonen PE, Kautiainen H, Soinila S, Haanpää M. The impact of self-reported recurrent headache on absenteeism and Presenteeism at work among Finnish municipal female employees. J Pain Res. 2020;13:2135–42.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Michel P, Dartigues J, Duru G, Moreau J, Salamon R, Henry P. Incremental absenteeism due to headaches in migraine: results from the Mig-Access French national cohort. Cephalalgia. 1999;19(5):503–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Baigi K, Stewart WF. Headache and migraine: a leading cause of absenteeism. In: Handbook of clinical neurology. Elsevier. 2015;131:447–463.

  8. Porter JK, Di Tanna GL, Lipton RB, Sapra S, Villa G. Costs of acute headache medication use and productivity losses among patients with migraine: insights from three randomized controlled trials. PharmacoEcon-open. 2019;3(3):411–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Finocchi C, Sivori G. Food as trigger and aggravating factor of migraine. Neurol Sci. 2012;33:77–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chabriat H, Danchot J, Michel P, Joire J, Henry P. Precipitating factors of headache. A prospective study in a national control-matched survey in migraineurs and nonmigraineurs. Headache. 1999;39(5):335–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Spierings EL, Ranke AH, Honkoop PC. Precipitating and aggravating factors of migraine versus tension-type headache. Headache. 2001;41(6):554–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Wöber C, Holzhammer J, Zeitlhofer J, Wessely P, Wöber-Bingöl Ç. Trigger factors of migraine and tension-type headache: experience and knowledge of the patients. J Headache Pain. 2006;7(4):188–95.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Scharff L, Turk DC, Marcus DA. Triggers of headache episodes and coping responses of headache diagnostic groups. Headache. 1995;35(7):397–403.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Louis S, Carlson AK, Suresh A, et al. Impacts of climate change and air pollution on neurologic health, disease, and practice: a scoping review. Neurology. 2023;100(10):474–83.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Arnold M. Headache classification committee of the international headache society (IHS) the international classification of headache disorders. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Dodick DW. Diagnosing secondary and primary headache disorders. CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learn Neurol. 2021;27(3):572–85.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Loder E, Rizzoli P. Tension-type headache. BMJ. 2008;336(7635):88–92.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Nahas SJ. Cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learn Neurol. 2021;27(3):633–51.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hawkins K, Wang S, Rupnow MF. Indirect cost burden of migraine in the United States. J Occup Environ Med. 2007;49:368–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Bureau of Labor Statistics. CPI Inflation Calculator. https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm. Published 2023. Accessed March 15, 2023.

  21. Linde M, Gustavsson A, Stovner LJ, et al. The cost of headache disorders in Europe: the Eurolight project. Eur J Neurol. 2012;19(5):703–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Fischera M, Marziniak M, Gralow I, Evers S. The incidence and prevalence of cluster headache: a meta-analysis of population-based studies. Cephalalgia. 2008;28(6):614–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Robbins MS. The psychiatric comorbidities of cluster headache. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013;17(2):313.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ji Lee M, Cho S-J, Wook Park J, et al. Increased suicidality in patients with cluster headache. Cephalalgia. 2019;39(10):1249–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Friedman DI, De Ver Dye T. Migraine and the environment. Headache. 2009;49(6):941–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Yang AC, Fuh J-L, Huang NE, Shia B-C, Peng C-K, Wang S-J. Temporal associations between weather and headache: analysis by empirical mode decomposition. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(1): e14612.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Turner L, Molgaard C, Gardner C, Rothrock J, Stang P. Migraine trigger factors in a non-clinical Mexican-American population in San Diego county: implications for etiology. Cephalalgia. 1995;15(6):523–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. von Mackensen S, Hoeppe P, Maarouf A, Tourigny P, Nowak D. Prevalence of weather sensitivity in Germany and Canada. Int J Biometeorol. 2005;49(3):156–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Szyszkowicz M, Kaplan G, Grafstein E, Rowe B. Emergency department visits for migraine and headache: a multi-city study. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2009;22(3):235–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Szyszkowicz M, Kousha T. Air pollution and emergency department visits for headache and migraine. Health Scope. 2016;5(3):e35122.

  31. Szyszkowicz M, Rowe B, Kaplan G. Ambient sulphur dioxide exposure and emergency department visits for migraine in Vancouver, Canada. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2009;22(1):7–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Szyszkowicz, M., Stieb, D. M., & Rowe, B. H. Air pollution and daily ED visits for migraine and headache in Edmonton, Canada. Am J Emerg Med. 2009;27(4):391–96.

  33. Silva-Néto R, Peres M, Valença M. Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients. Cephalalgia. 2014;34(1):14–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Silva-Néto RP, Rodrigues ÂB, Cavalcante DC, et al. May headache triggered by odors be regarded as a differentiating factor between migraine and other primary headaches? Cephalalgia. 2017;37(1):20–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Albanês Oliveira Bernardo A, Lys Medeiros F, Sampaio Rocha-Filho PA. Osmophobia and odor-triggered headaches in children and adolescents: prevalence, associated factors, and importance in the diagnosis of migraine. Headache. 2020;60(5):954–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Sjöstrand C, Savic I, Laudon-Meyer E, Hillert L, Lodin K, Waldenlind E. Migraine and olfactory stimuli. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2010;14:244–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Maini K, Schuster NM. Headache and barometric pressure: a narrative review. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2019;23:1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Kilinç E, Schulz H, Kuiper GJ, et al. The procoagulant effects of fine particulate matter in vivo. Part Fibre Toxicol. 2011;8(1):1–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Calderón-Garcidueñas L, Solt AC, Henríquez-Roldán C, et al. Long-term air pollution exposure is associated with neuroinflammation, an altered innate immune response, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, ultrafine particulate deposition, and accumulation of amyloid β-42 and α-synuclein in children and young adults. Toxicol Pathol. 2008;36(2):289–310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Chan C-C, Chuang K-J, Chien L-C, Chen W-J, Chang W-T. Urban air pollution and emergency admissions for cerebrovascular diseases in Taipei, Taiwan. Eur Heart J. 2006;27(10):1238–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Chen C-C, Tsai S-S, Yang C-Y. Association between fine particulate air pollution and daily clinic visits for migraine in a subtropical city: Taipei, Taiwan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12(5):4697–708.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Chiu H-F, Weng Y-H, Chiu Y-W, Yang C-Y. Air pollution and daily clinic visits for headache in a subtropical city: Taipei, Taiwan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12(2):2277–88.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Goadsby PJ, Edvinsson L. Human in vivo evidence for trigeminovascular activation in cluster headache Neuropeptide changes and effects of acute attacks therapies. Brain. 1994;117(3):427–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. May A, Schwedt TJ, Magis D, Pozo-Rosich P, Evers S, Wang S-J. Cluster headache. Nat Rev Dis Prim. 2018;4(1):1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Rozen TD, Fishman RS. Cluster headache in the United States of America: demographics, clinical characteristics, triggers, suicidality, and personal burden. Headache. 2012;52(1):99–113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Kudrow L. The cyclic relationship of natural illumination to cluster period frequency. Cephalalgia. 1987;7(6_suppl):76–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Barloese M, Lund N, Petersen A, Rasmussen M, Jennum P, Jensen R. Sleep and chronobiology in cluster headache. Cephalalgia. 2015;35(11):969–78.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Naber WC, Fronczek R, Haan J, et al. The biological clock in cluster headache: a review and hypothesis. Cephalalgia. 2019;39(14):1855–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Lee H, Myung W, Cheong H-K, et al. Ambient air pollution exposure and risk of migraine: synergistic effect with high temperature. Environ Int. 2018;121:383–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Cui L, Conway GA, Jin L, et al. Increase in medical emergency calls and calls for central nervous system symptoms during a severe air pollution event, January 2013, Jinan City, China. Epidemiology. 2017;28:S67–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Li W, Bertisch SM, Mostofsky E, Buettner C, Mittleman MA. Weather, ambient air pollution, and risk of migraine headache onset among patients with migraine. Environ Int. 2019;132: 105100.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Yamaguchi H, Nozu K, Ishiko S, et al. Multivariate analysis of the impact of weather and air pollution on emergency department visits for night-time headaches among children: retrospective, clinical observational study. BMJ Open. 2021;11(4): e046520.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Zock J-P, Verheij R, Helbich M, et al. The impact of social capital, land use, air pollution and noise on individual morbidity in Dutch neighbourhoods. Environ Int. 2018;121:453–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Hong S-Y, Wan L, Lin H-J, Lin C-L, Wei C-C. Long-term ambient air pollutant exposure and risk of recurrent headache in children: a 12-year cohort study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(23):9140.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Amegah AK, Dakuu G, Mudu P, Jaakkola JJ. Particulate matter pollution at traffic hotspots of Accra, Ghana: levels, exposure experiences of street traders, and associated respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms. J Eposure Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2022;32(2):333–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Pressman A, Jacobson A, Eguilos R, et al. Prevalence of migraine in a diverse community—electronic methods for migraine ascertainment in a large integrated health plan. Cephalalgia. 2016;36(4):325–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Elser H, Morello-Frosch R, Jacobson A, et al. Air pollution, methane super-emitters, and oil and gas wells in Northern California: the relationship with migraine headache prevalence and exacerbation. Environ Health. 2021;20(1):1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Prince PB, Rapoport AM, Sheftell FD, Tepper SJ, Bigal ME. The effect of weather on headache. Headache. 2004;44(6):596–602.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Lee M, Ohde S, Urayama KY, Takahashi O, Fukui T. Weather and health symptoms. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(8):1670.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Sheridan SC. The redevelopment of a weather-type classification scheme for North America. Int J Climatol. 2002;22(1):51–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Elcik C, Fuhrmann CM, Sheridan SC, Mercer AE, Sherman, Morris K. Geographical variability in the relationship between synoptic weather type and emergency department visits for pain across North Carolina. Int J Biometeorol. 2021;66:559–572.

  62. Akgün N, Demirel EA, Açikgöz M, Çelebi U, Köktürk F, Atasoy HT. The effect of weather variables on the severity, duration, and frequency of headacheattacks in the cases of episodic migraine and episodic tension-type headache. Turk J Med Sci. 2021;51(3):1406–12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  63. Olesen J. International classification of headache disorders. Lancet Neurol. 2018;17(5):396–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. van Casteren DS, Verhagen IE, Onderwater GL, MaassenVanDenBrink A, Terwindt GM. Sex differences in prevalence of migraine trigger factors: a cross-sectional study. Cephalalgia. 2021;41(6):643–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Alkhalawi E, Orban E, Schramm S, Katsarava Z, Hoffmann B, Moebus S. Residential traffic noise exposure and headaches: results from the population-based heinz nixdorf recall study. Noise Health. 2021;23(108):1.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  66. Ma J, Li C, Kwan M-P, Chai Y. A multilevel analysis of perceived noise pollution, geographic contexts and mental health in Beijing. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(7):1479.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  67. Schreurs, E., Jabben, J., & Verheijen, E. STAMINA‑model description: standard model instrumentation for noise assessments. National Instiute for Public Health and the Environment; 2010.

  68. EIA U. The Distribution of US Oil and Natural Gas Wells by Production Rate. Washington, DC: US Department of Energy; 2019.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Casey JA, Savitz DA, Rasmussen SG, et al. Unconventional natural gas development and birth outcomes in Pennsylvania, USA. Epidemiology. 2016;27(2):163.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Tustin AW, Hirsch AG, Rasmussen SG, Casey JA, Bandeen-Roche K, Schwartz BS. Associations between unconventional natural gas development and nasal and sinus, migraine headache, and fatigue symptoms in Pennsylvania. Environ Health Perspect. 2017;125(2):189–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Remy LL, Clay T, Byers V, Rosenfeld PE. Hospital, health, and community burden after oil refinery fires, Richmond, California 2007 and 2012. Environ Health. 2019;18:1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Hazeu, G.W. Operational land cover and land use mapping in the Netherlands. In: Land use and land cover mapping in europe: practices & trends. Elsevier. 2014;18:283–296.

  73. Chetty-Mhlanga S, Fuhrimann S, Basera W, Eeftens M, Röösli M, Dalvie MA. Association of activities related to pesticide exposure on headache severity and neurodevelopment of school-children in the rural agricultural farmlands of the Western Cape of South Africa. Environ Int. 2021;146: 106237.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Win-Shwe T-T, Fujimaki H. Nanoparticles and neurotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci. 2011;12(9):6267–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  75. Costa LG, Cole TB, Coburn J, Chang Y-C, Dao K, Roqué PJ. Neurotoxicity of traffic-related air pollution. Neurotoxicology. 2017;59:133–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Woodhouse A, Drummond PD. Mechanisms of increased sensitivity to noise and light in migraine headache. Cephalalgia. 1993;13(6):417–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Martin PR, Reece J, Forsyth M. Noise as a trigger for headaches: relationship between exposure and sensitivity. Headache. 2006;46(6):962–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Woimant F, Trocello J-M. Disorders of heavy metals. Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;120:851–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Tanner CM, Goldman SM, Ross GW, Grate SJ. The disease intersection of susceptibility and exposure: chemical exposures and neurodegenerative disease risk. Alzheimers Dement. 2014;10:S213–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Mostafalou S, Abdollahi M. The link of organophosphorus pesticides with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases based on evidence and mechanisms. Toxicology. 2018;409:44–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Sánchez-Santed F, Colomina MT, Hernández EH. Organophosphate pesticide exposure and neurodegeneration. Cortex. 2016;74:417–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Rocha-Filho PAS, Marques KS, Torres RCS, Leal KNR. Osmophobia and headaches in primary care: prevalence, associated factors, and importance in diagnosing migraine. Headache. 2015;55(6):840–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Silva-Néto RP, Peres MFP, Valença MM. Accuracy of osmophobia in the differential diagnosis between migraine and tension-type headache. J Neurol Sci. 2014;339(1–2):118–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Zanchin G, Dainese F, Mainardi F, Mampreso E, Perin C, Maggioni F. Osmophobia in primary headaches. J Headache Pain. 2005;6:213–5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  85. Guadalupe-Fernandez V, De Sario M, Vecchi S, et al. Industrial odour pollution and human health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Health. 2021;20(1):1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  86. Afata TN, Mekonen S, Shekelifa M, Tucho GT. Prevalence of pesticide use and occupational exposure among small-scale farmers in Western Ethiopia. Environ Health Insights. 2022;16:11786302211072950.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  87. Afshari M, Poorolajal J, Assari MJ, Rezapur-Shahkolai F, Karimi-Shahanjarini A. Acute pesticide poisoning and related factors among farmers in rural Western Iran. Toxicol Ind Health. 2018;34(11):764–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Bhandari G, Atreya K, Yang X, Fan L, Geissen V. Factors affecting pesticide safety behaviour: the perceptions of Nepalese farmers and retailers. Sci Total Environ. 2018;631:1560–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Buralli RJ, Ribeiro H, Iglesias V, et al. Occupational exposure to pesticides and health symptoms among family farmers in Brazil. Revista de Saúde Pública. 2020;54(133):1–13.

  90. Evaristo A, Pedroso DO, Rech NL, et al. Pesticides and farmers’ health: an analysis of variables related to management and property. An Acad Bras Ciênc. 2022;94: e20211335.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Memon QUA, Wagan SA, Chunyu D, Shuangxi X, Jingdong L, Damalas CA. Health problems from pesticide exposure and personal protective measures among women cotton workers in southern Pakistan. Sci Total Environ. 2019;685:659–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Mwabulambo SG, Mrema EJ, Ngowi AV, Mamuya S. Health symptoms associated with pesticides exposure among flower and onion pesticide applicators in Arusha region. Ann Glob Health. 2018;84(3):369.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  93. Nankongnab N, Kongtip P, Tipayamongkholgul M, Bunngamchairat A, Sitthisak S, Woskie S. Difference in accidents, health symptoms, and ergonomic problems between conventional farmers using pesticides and organic farmers. J Agromed. 2020;25(2):158–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  94. Sai MVS, Revati GD, Ramya R, Swaroop AM, Maheswari E, Kumar MM. Knowledge and perception of farmers regarding pesticide usage in a rural farming village, Southern India. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2019;23(1):32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  95. Sonchieu J, Akono EN, Ngwamitang CT, Ngassoum BM. Heath risk among pesticide sellers in Bamenda (Cameroon) and peripheral areas. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2018;25:9454–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  96. Tiwari S, Sapkota N, Tiwari S, Sapkota B. Association between pesticide exposure and neurobehavioral performance of agricultural workers: a cross-sectional study. Brain Behav. 2022;12(7): e2641.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  97. Elser H, Rowland ST, Marek MS, et al. Wildfire smoke exposure and emergency department visits for headache: a case-crossover analysis in California, 2006–2020. Headache. 2023;63(1):94–103.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  98. Silberstein S, Tfelt-Hansen P, Dodick D, et al. Guidelines for controlled trials of prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine in adults. Cephalalgia. 2008;28(5):484–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  99. Penzien DB, Andrasik F, Freidenberg BM, et al. Guidelines for trials of behavioral treatments for recurrent headache: American Headache Society Behavioral Clinical Trials Workgroup. Headache. 2005;45:S110–32.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  100. Luedtke K, Basener A, Bedei S, et al. Outcome measures for assessing the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in frequent episodic or chronic migraine: a Delphi study. BMJ Open. 2020;10(2): e029855.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  101. Andrasik F, Lipchik GL, McCrory DC, Wittrock DA. Outcome measurement in behavioral headache research: headache parameters and psychosocial outcomes. Headache. 2005;45(5):429–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. Haywood KL, Mars TS, Potter R, Patel S, Matharu M, Underwood M. Assessing the impact of headaches and the outcomes of treatment: a systematic review of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Cephalalgia. 2018;38(7):1374–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Lipton RB, Dodick D, Sadovsky R, et al. A self-administered screener for migraine in primary care: the ID migraine™ validation study. Neurology. 2003;61(3):375–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Angrist JD, Pischke J-S. Parallel worlds: fixed effects, differences-in-differences, and panel data. In: Mostly harmless econometrics. Princeton University Press; 2008:221–248.

  105. Sheridan P, McElroy S, Casey J, Benmarhnia T. Using the generalized synthetic control method to estimate the impact of extreme weather events on population health. Epidemiology. 2022;33(6):788–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  106. Casey JA, Schwartz BS, Stewart WF, Adler NE. Using electronic health records for population health research: a review of methods and applications. Annu Rev Public Health. 2016;37:61–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  107. Beghi E, Bussone G, D’Amico D, et al. Headache, anxiety and depressive disorders: the HADAS study. J Headache Pain. 2010;11:141–50.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  108. Baskin SM, Lipchik GL, Smitherman TA. Mood and anxiety disorders in chronic headache. Headache. 2006;46:S76–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Breslau N, Schultz L, Stewart W, Lipton R, Lucia V, Welch K. Headache and major depression: is the association specific to migraine? Neurology. 2000;54(2):308–308.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  110. Louter MA, Wilbrink LA, Haan J, et al. Cluster headache and depression. Neurology. 2016;87(18):1899–906.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  111. Peterlin BL, Tietjen GE, Brandes JL, et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder in migraine. Headache. 2009;49(4):541–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  112. De Leeuw R, Schmidt JE, Carlson CR. Traumatic stressors and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in headache patients. Headache. 2005;45(10):1365–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  113. Casey JA, Wilcox HC, Hirsch AG, Pollak J, Schwartz BS. Associations of unconventional natural gas development with depression symptoms and disordered sleep in Pennsylvania. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  114. Hirsch JK, Bryant Smalley K, Selby-Nelson EM, et al. Psychosocial impact of fracking: a review of the literature on the mental health consequences of hydraulic fracturing. Int J Ment Heal Addict. 2018;16(1):1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  115. Elser H, Goldman-Mellor S, Morello-Frosch R, Deziel NC, Ranjbar K, Casey JA. Petro-riskscapes and environmental distress in West Texas: community perceptions of environmental degradation, threats, and loss. Energy Res Soc Sci. 2020;70: 101798.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  116. Casey, JA, Goldman-Mellor, S, Catalano, R. Association between Oklahoma earthquakes and anxiety-related google search episodes. Environ Epidemio. 2018;2(2):e016.

  117. Elser H, Kempinsky A, Goldman-Mellor S, et al. Manmade earthquakes and healthcare visits for anxiety disorders in Oklahoma, 2010–2019. Environ Epidemiol. 2023;7(1): e232.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  118. Fan S-J, Heinrich J, Bloom MS, et al. Ambient air pollution and depression: a systematic review with meta-analysis up to 2019. Sci Total Environ. 2020;701: 134721.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  119. Power MC, Kioumourtzoglou M-A, Hart JE, Okereke OI, Laden F, Weisskopf MG. The relation between past exposure to fine particulate air pollution and prevalent anxiety: observational cohort study. BMJ. 2015;350:h1111.

  120. Arcaya MC, Lowe SR, Asad AL, Subramanian S, Waters MC, Rhodes J. Association of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms with migraine and headache after a natural disaster. Health Psychol. 2017;36(5):411.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  121. Zhang Y, Zhang J, Ren R, Tang X. Bidirectional associations of insomnia symptoms with somatic complaints and posttraumatic stress disorder in child and adolescent earthquake survivors: a longitudinal study. Sleep Breath. 2020;24:311–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  122. Carmassi C, Dell’Oste V, Barberi FM, et al. Do somatic symptoms relate to PTSD and gender after earthquake exposure? A cross-sectional study on young adult survivors in Italy. CNS Spectr. 2021;26(3):268–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  123. Hagen K, Vatten L, Stovner L, Zwart J, Krokstad S, Bovim G. Low socio-economic status is associated with increased risk of frequent headache: a prospective study of 22718 adults in Norway. Cephalalgia. 2002;22(8):672–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  124. Stewart WF, Lipton RB, Celentano DD, Reed ML. Prevalence of migraine headache in the United States: relation to age, income, race, and other sociodemographic factors. JAMA. 1992;267(1):64–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  125. Winter AC, Berger K, Buring JE, Kurth T. Associations of socioeconomic status with migraine and non-migraine headache. Cephalalgia. 2012;32(2):159–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  126. Lipfert, FW. Air pollution and poverty: does the sword cut both ways? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2004;58:2–3.

  127. Josey KP, Delaney SW, Wu X, et al. Air pollution and mortality at the intersection of race and social class. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(15):1396–1404.

  128. Casey JA, Morello-Frosch R, Mennitt DJ, Fristrup K, Ogburn EL, James P. Race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, residential segregation, and spatial variation in noise exposure in the contiguous United States. Environ Health Perspect. 2017;125(7): 077017.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  129. Nardone A, Rudolph KE, Morello-Frosch R, Casey JA. Redlines and greenspace: the relationship between historical redlining and 2010 greenspace across the United States. Environ Health Perspect. 2021;129(1): 017006.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  130. Das GM. Population, poverty, and climate change. World Bank Res Observ. 2014;29(1):83–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  131. Berberian AG, Gonzalez DJ, Cushing LJ. Racial disparities in climate change-related health effects in the United States. Curr Environ Health Report. 2022;9(3):451–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  132. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Climate Change and Social Vulnterability in the United States: A Focus on Six Impacts. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-09/climate-vulnerability_september-2021_508.pdf. Published 2021. Accessed April 18, 2023.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The editors would like to thank Molly Kile for handling the review of this manuscript.

Funding

J.A.C. was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grant R00-ES0207023. The conclusions expressed are solely those of the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Holly Elser & Caroline F. G. Kruse

  2. Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Brian S. Schwartz

  3. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA

    Joan A. Casey

Authors
  1. Holly Elser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caroline F. G. Kruse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Brian S. Schwartz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joan A. Casey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

H.C.E. and J.A.C. conceptualized this narrative review. H.C.E. and C.F.G.K. wrote the main manuscript text. H.C.E. prepared Fig. 1, and J.A.C. prepared Fig. 2. All authors reviewed and critically revised the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Holly Elser.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

Not applicable.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare competing interests.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Elser, H., Kruse, C.F.G., Schwartz, B.S. et al. The Environment and Headache: a Narrative Review. Curr Envir Health Rpt 11, 184–203 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-024-00449-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-024-00449-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation