If you’re thinking about putting your house on the market and moving on to pastures new then you might want to think again, as according to a new survey 43 per cent of people consider moving house to be life’s biggest headache. The survey of 2,000 UK adults by Syndol Headache Relief also revealed that over a quarter of people (28 per cent)think it’s the process of buying the house itself that causes the most stress. When it comes to other painful triggers, nearly a third (32 per cent) of people said that job hunting was their biggest headache in life, whereas close to one in five (18 per cent) said getting a divorce and having a baby (17 per cent)topped their list.

However, it appears that these life events are not the only things to bring on a headache or migraine. According to the survey, stress was a cause for half of those questioned, followed by dehydration (35 per cent) and lack of sleep (30 per cent), with painful episodes lasting an average of nine hours at a time. Of those surveyed, 43 per cent of people said that they suffer from migraines specifically, but over one in 10 (11 per cent) admitted that they don’t know the difference between a headache and a migraine. 

Over a quarter of those asked (26 per cent) feel that headaches or migraines make their life restrictive on a day-to-day basis, and 8 per cent of people say that they make their life unbearable. Nearly a quarter (22 per cent) said that they have missed socialising with friends due to the health condition, while close to one in five (18 per cent) have had birthday celebrations ruined and 16 per cent have even had a holiday spoilt.

Britain has become known for its long-hours culture, so it is probably no surprise to hear that over half (54 per cent) of those surveyed said they have had a headache come on while working, with computer screens (44 per cent), stress (46 per cent), long working hours (27 per cent) and bad lighting (25 per cent) being the main triggers. Taking time off work for a headache or migraine has even caused 31 per cent of people to be impacted financially.

It seems that headaches aren’t just affecting people’s work life with 15 per cent saying that headaches also sometimes affect their sex life.  Furthermore the saying ‘not tonight dear’ might still be in use, with 19 per cent admitting that they have used a headache as an excuse not to have sex with their partner.

When it comes to getting some sympathy from their friends and family, 16 per cent said that people are unsympathetic when they say they are suffering from a headache or migraine and nearly half (47 per cent) feel that non-sufferers don’t realise how crippling they can be.