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Migraines and gastrointestinal problems: Is there a link?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraines/AN01874
- With Mayo Clinic neurologist
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Dr. Jerry Swanson is a board-certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He is also board certified in headache medicine and is a professor of neurology at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic. He has a special interest in medical education.
Dr. Swanson, a Lacon, Ill., native, was appointed to the Mayo Clinic staff in 1982 and works in the Department of Neurology with more than 90 other physicians. He formerly chaired the department's Division of Headache and continues to work with headache subspecialists around the world. He has published and lectured widely on headache disorders. He also serves as assistant dean for assessment at Mayo Medical School.
"In a manner similar to the printing press, Internet technology enables the unprecedented ability to communicate with the global community about health information," Dr. Swanson says. "There is no doubt that the knowledgeable individual contributes greatly to his or her own health care, and now we can share information much more widely.
"There is much information already available about health care on the Internet. Unfortunately, much of it is not founded on sound principles. It is exciting to be a part of the web team and contribute to the creation of a reliable and timely health resource."
Dr. Swanson is the neurology editor for "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and has reviewed articles for "Mayo Clinic Health Letter" and "Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource." He is also editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic on Headache" book, published in 2004. In 2008 the magazine Women's Health named him one of America's Top Doctors for Women. In 2011 he received the Mayo Medical School Dean's Recognition Award for his contributions to undergraduate medical education.
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Question
Migraines and gastrointestinal problems: Is there a link?
Is there any link between migraine headaches and gastrointestinal problems?
Answer
from Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
There can be. Nausea and vomiting are common with migraine attacks. And in younger children, recurrent bouts of vomiting (cyclical vomiting) or abdominal pain (abdominal migraine) — referred to as childhood periodic syndromes — also are associated with migraine headaches. Although childhood periodic syndromes usually aren't accompanied by migraine head pain, they're considered a form of migraine. In many cases, childhood periodic syndromes evolve into more-typical migraine headaches later in life.
A 2007 study from Norway examined the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and migraine. The study showed a higher prevalence of headaches among people who regularly experience gastrointestinal symptoms — such as reflux, diarrhea, constipation and nausea — compared with those who do not. Results of this study suggest that people who get frequent headaches may be predisposed to gastrointestinal problems. However, more research is needed to understand the connection.
If you experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea with your headaches, talk to your doctor about treatment options. Treating the headache usually relieves gastrointestinal symptoms. However, in some cases, an anti-nausea or anti-diarrheal medication may be recommended. Keep in mind that some pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen may increase nausea.
Next questionMigraines: Are they triggered by weather changes?
- Aamodt AH, et al. Comorbidity of headache and gastrointestinal complaints: The Head-HUNT Study. Cephalalgia. 2007:28;144.
- Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society. The international classification of headache disorders: 2nd ed. Cephalalgia. 2004;24(suppl):9.
- Cuvellier JC, et al. Childhood periodic syndromes. Pediatric Neurology. 2010:42;1.
- Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. June 10, 2010.
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