A pan India cross-sectional study among medical students on the therapeutic effects of coffee on tension-type headache

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most frequent type of headache, affecting approximately 1.89 billion individuals globally. It is characterised by dull, agonising head discomfort, a sensation of tightness within the head, and tenderness of the scalp, neck, and shoulders. Coffee is a beverage made from roasted coffee beans. Coffee constituents can act as CNS stimulants, scavengers of free radicals, and have antioxidant properties. The major goal of this study is to assess the relationship between TTH and coffee consumption among medical students. This study also intends to inquire about medical students' daily coffee consumption form and amount, as well as their preference for coffee over other pharmacological treatments in headache relief. Methods Between August 31, 2023, and September 21, 2023, a pan-India cross-sectional analysis was carried out across several medical colleges in India. A self-administered questionnaire was utilised to collect data using Web-based links. Results 80% of the students experienced headaches in their everyday lives and 51.82% of students used coffee to relieve those headaches. The prevalence of TTH in coffee users was 13.06%. The prevalence of TTH in students who do not consume coffee was 12%. About 57% of students consumed about 1 tablespoon of coffee per day. In addition to that, 26.13% of students believed that coffee was equally as effective as pharmacological agents in treating headache and 11.06% of students believed that coffee was more effective than pharmacological agents. Conclusion Based on these results, we were not able to confirm a therapeutic effect of coffee on tension-type headache (TTH). On the contrary, the prevalence of TTH headaches was found to be marginally higher in coffee consumers.