Abstract text (incl. figure legends and references)

Objective: to investigate associations between lifestyle, physical activity and headache in medical students.

Methods: We conducted a survey of 192 students of Bukovinian State Medical University aged 19 to 26 years by using specially designed questionnaires on intake of meals, coffee, nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks, smoking, and physical activity. By making a diagnosis were used the classification and diagnostic criterions created by International Headache Society, 2018. The intensity of headache was investigated by visual-analog scale. Results are expressed in numbers and percentage.

Results: The availability of headache was founded by 157 (81.8%) students. Tension headache was evidenced most commonly (by 58.6% students), migraines – by 9.6% and other types of headaches (vascular, liquor-dynamic, neuropathological etc.) – by 31.8% students. The intensity of headache-syndrome was 50-60% (5-6 points) in accordance with visual-analogical scale. Most of students (89.2%) noticed negative influence of headache over their professional and daily activity. Level of physical activity assessment showed that only 6.3% of students did daily exercise, 26.0% did regular exercise twice-three times a week, 35.4% did not have any form of exercise; and the rest did mild to moderate form of exercise infrequently. The most common exercise was aerobic workouts: walking followed by running (38.7%), fitness (25.8%%), dances (19.3%) and swimming (6.5%). Low physical activity was associated with higher prevalence of tension headache.

Conclusion: By means of the research we found high prevalence of headaches among medical students. Students with any type of headache might benefit from regular physical activity and low consumption of alcoholic drinks, while for migraine patients a low consumption of coffee should additionally be recommended. This problem needs further inquiry and active correction for improvement in quality of life, professional and personal succeeding of medical students.