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Half the world's population get headaches

Headache

If you get regular headaches, you are not alone. A new report says half of us suffer from them. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology looked at 357 different studies on headaches from 1961 to 2020. The report was published in "The Journal of Headache and Pain". The studies were mainly from rich countries. They included information on general headaches, migraines, and headaches from tension. The researchers said that 52 per cent of people in the study suffered from some form of headache every year. The lead researcher, Lars Jacob Stovner, was surprised that the numbers were so big and that so many people got headaches.

The researchers found that women are more likely to get headaches than men. They said 17 per cent of women get migraines, compared to 9 per cent of men. Six per cent of women get headaches on 15 or more days a month, while the number is three per cent for men. Mr Stovner said: "What is clear is that overall, headache disorders are highly prevalent worldwide and can be a [great pain]." He said more people are getting headaches, saying: "The data does suggest that headaches and migraine rates may be increasing." Stovner added that more research was needed. He said it was important, "to analyze the different causes of headaches…to target prevention and treatment more effectively".

Chat

Talk about these words from the article.

information headaches / alone / suffer / science / technology / / tension / numbers / researchers / clear / worldwide / pain / data / prevention / treatment / effectively

True / False

1) The article says people who are alone get headaches. T / F

2) Researchers looked at 357 studies that gave them headaches. T / F

3) Researchers found that 52% of the study participants got headaches every year. T / F

4) A researcher was surprised that so many people got headaches. T / F

5) Women get more headaches than men. T / F

6) Men get more migraines than women. T / F

7) The number of people who get headaches is going down. T / F

8) A researcher wants to find ways to stop people from getting headaches. T / F

Discussion

1) What do you think about what you read?

2) Why do women get more headaches than men?

3) How do headaches affect people's lives?

4) What medicine is good for headaches?

5) Can lifestyle changes stop headaches?

6) Can nature affect headaches?

7) How does the Internet affect people's headaches?

8) What questions would you like to ask the researchers?