Migraine headaches can be debilitating. People who are diagnosed with migraine know that the symptoms can arise any time before, during or after the migraine attack. But did you know people may also experience nausea and feel like vomiting during migraine? We spoke to our expert Dr Sunil Singla, Director and HOD, Department of Neurology, SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals, Gurugram, who explained the relation between migraine and vomiting and how you can deal with it.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, migraine is a headache type marked by repeated episodes of intense throbbing pain, typically on one side of the head. This pain stems from nerve fibre activation within the blood vessels' walls in the brain, which travel through the meninges, three protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Dr Singla said, “There are varying symptoms of migraine headaches ranging from irritability to severe throbbing headaches. People have also complained of symptoms like sensitivity to light and sound and distorted vision, along with unilateral (one-sided) headaches varying in intensity.”
Relation Between Migraine And Vomiting
“Migraine headaches also present with gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting in most patients. Nausea can occur at any time and it may or may not lead to vomiting”, said Dr Singla.
He added, “It has been shown that vomiting, in some cases, may alleviate or stop Migraine pain. Truth be told, some people with Migraine induce vomiting to make their headaches stop.”
According to a 2013 study, nausea and vomiting are prevalent symptoms during migraine attacks, impacting over 60% of patients. Often, these symptoms prove more debilitating than the headache, significantly impacting the patient's quality of life.
Causes of Migraine
It is unsure what causes migraine headaches, however, a variety of triggers are associated with this condition. Here are some of them listed by the expert:
- Bright lights
- Loud noise
- Changes in weather
- Hormonal changes
- Too much caffeine and alcohol intake
- Certain foods like chocolates and nuts may also trigger migraine attacks
Preventing Nausea With Migraine
As per a review paper from 2013, vomiting might alleviate migraine headache symptoms by:
- Altering blood flow to lessen pain or inflammation
- Releasing pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins
- Occurring towards the end of a migraine episode, resulting in symptom reduction
Prevention of migraine-induced nausea is possible and you may take a few steps to lower the frequency of migraine attacks. Here are some of them as listed by Dr Singla:
Lifestyle Modifications
These lifestyle changes involve following the mnemonic: SEEDS (Sleep, Exercise, Eat, Diary, and Stress). It translates to getting quality and adequate sleep, eating balanced meals at regular and timely intervals, keeping yourself active and doing moderate exercises regularly, keeping a headache diary and managing your stress levels. You may be able to reduce the frequency and understand your triggers this way.
Avoiding your Triggers
Once you’re done tracking your migraine attacks, you will be able to get a better picture of your triggers. It’s a great way to avoid them and it can help prevent or decrease migraine attacks.
Also Read: Seasonal Migraine: How To Deal With Sudden Migraine Attacks In Winter
Medications
Prescription medications by an expert neurologist can be a huge help in reducing the severity of the pain.
Alternative Practices
You can engage in practices, such as yoga and breathing exercises to keep you relaxed and manage your stress levels Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) may help reduce the number of attacks or prevent them altogether.
Bottomline
Dr Singla concluded, “Feeling nauseated and throwing up are common symptoms of migraine and the attacks combined with these symptoms are agonising and unendurable. They can stop an individual from living their life to the fullest. Understanding your triggers and taking preventive measures can greatly help in leading a healthier quality of life.”
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert if you are dealing with any health issues to get the necessary treatment.]