Thursday, December 5, noon DEL Lobby
Taylor Gardner
Dr. Mark Harvey, Dr. Tracy George, Dr. Patrick Foo, Psychology
Chronic headache disorders, defined as experiencing recurrent headaches at least 15 times a month, affect 1.7–4% of adults globally and significantly impair quality of life. The World Health Organization ranks migraines as the sixth leading cause of lost productivity due to disability. Traditional treatments, including analgesics and preventative medications, are often underutilized, leading to a high rate of self-treatment among individuals suffering from headaches. Recent studies suggest that yoga may serve as a promising non-pharmacological approach for managing chronic headaches. Research indicates that yoga can modulate inflammatory pathways linked to headache severity. Evidence shows yoga reduces levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and IL-6, while increasing anti-inflammatory markers like IL-10. Moreover, yoga enhances the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, vital for managing stress and inflammation. Notably, randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that yoga can significantly decrease both the frequency and intensity of migraines. Despite encouraging findings, many studies lack specificity regarding the types of yoga practiced, creating challenges for generalization. This study sought to further explore the efficacy of various yoga practices on headache disorders, focusing on specific forms, frequencies, and durations. By utilizing self-report surveys, we assessed participants’ experiences with yoga and headache management, aiming to identify the most effective practices for alleviating symptoms. Results suggest yoga is a promising intervention to reduce headache severity and increase headache manageability.