Migraine disease, a leading cause of disability globally, is one of the most common and complex neurological disorders. Today, nearly 39 million people live with migraine disease, according to the American Migraine Foundation. This may be an underestimate, as many men with this disorder do not seek medical attention. Of the listed population, nearly 88% live with at least one comorbid condition, and 39% live with an additional three or more.
Most migraine patients are intimately familiar with the toll migraine can take on one’s well-being. Typically coinciding with a host of symptoms, a migraine attack can be debilitating and disruptive to daily life. Throbbing head pain, sleep disruption, sensitivity to light, nausea, and more are just a handful of symptoms that patients experience. For many, these symptoms can become a routine part of life depending on lifestyle changes, triggers, and other factors.
Migraine is Personal
Just like our individual blood type, migraine affects each patient differently. Women, for example, are more likely to suffer from chronic migraine due to hormonal fluctuations and are up to four times more likely to experience migraine attacks compared to their male counterparts. This consequently influences additional areas of life, including mental well-being, physical performance, and more.
Today, high-frequency migraines, along with coinciding symptoms, are one of the ways comorbidities are being discovered, as migraine serves as a link to additional chronic conditions.
Take migraine patient Linda, for example; she has suffered from migraines for much of her adult life, often worsening during travel and social activities. Her migraine symptoms also consistently correlate with feelings of nausea and abdominal discomfort that tend to peak when migraine symptoms are at their worst.
Migraine patient Chuck does not experience digestive symptoms, but instead experiences aura and shortness of breath right before experiencing a migraine attack. He also has a history of hypertension, and symptoms that tend to worsen alongside migraine episodes.
With both patients, although migraine is common, additional symptoms tell a deeper story.
Common Diseases Linked to Migraine
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Individuals who are living with IBS and migraine disorder typically experience heightened gastrointestinal symptoms coinciding a migraine attack.
Symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain and discomfort
- Nausea and fatigue
- Sudden changes in bowel movement (including frequency and appearance)
- Emotional changes triggered by stress and anxiety
- Digestive changes related to diet and consumption of dairy products, fructose, caffeine, and/or chocolate
Studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between migraine and gastrointestinal disease. Individuals with migraine are twice as likely to also have IBS or some form of gastrointestinal disease. Experts suggest that this disorder may be linked to the HPA axis, also known as the brain-gut axis.
Cardiovascular Disease
Studies have identified one migraine symptom that shows a strong link between migraine disorder and stroke risk. This symptom is formally known as aura and typically occurs in the 20 to 60 minutes leading up to a migraine attack.
Symptoms of aura include:
- Sudden onset of nausea and dizziness
- Visual disturbances (such as blurry vision, blind spots, and light sensitivity)
- Motor disturbances (such as muscle weakness and tingling), and/or other functional disruptions such as speech, etc.
- Confusion and mental clouding
It is estimated that individuals who have migraine with aura are twice as likely to have an ischemic stroke within their lifetime compared to individuals who do not experience migraine disorder at all.
Fibromyalgia
Allodynia, a sensation in which patients experience extreme sensitivity and pain to non-painful stimuli, such as a light touch, has been identified as a key symptom linked to fibromyalgia among migraine patients.
With additional research still underway, current studies point to fibromyalgia as a disorder of the central nervous system, with a dysfunction in processing pain signals from the nerves.
Symptoms include:
- Widespread and severe musculoskeletal pain
- Extreme sensitivity to light touch or fabric resting on the skin
- Overwhelming fatigue
Today, it is estimated that nearly 35% of migraine sufferers also have fibromyalgia.
Sleep Disorder & Insomnia
Can’t get a good night’s rest the night before a migraine? This may be no coincidence. It is estimated that roughly 25% of migraine patients also experience sleep disruption before or during a migraine attack. This can worsen symptoms significantly, leading to fatigue and increased irritability.
Symptoms of sleep disorder include:
- Difficulty falling asleep and/ or staying asleep
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Teeth grinding
- Insomnia and inability to fall asleep
- Sleep apnea and snoring
- Wake-up headache and more
Mood Disorder
In chronic migraine, patients can experience an average of 14 days of migraine attacks per month. With the debilitating effects on day-to-day life, migraine disorder adds an additional layer of stress symptoms. Today, data shows the risk of developing a mental health disorder, including anxiety and depression, increases by 50-80% in migraine patients.
Behavioral comorbidities identified in patients with chronic migraine include the following:
- Increased irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar
- Panic disorder
- PTSD
When to see a Migraine Specialist
If you or a loved one suffers from frequent migraines accompanied by noticeable symptoms, it is crucial to obtain an evaluation as soon as possible. A neurologist specializing in headache and migraine disorder will work with a team of medical professionals to diagnose and tailor a treatment plan for you.
A Message From Dr. Kandel
“A migraine is not simply a “sick headache.” It is much, much more. And it needs to be treated as such. Establishing yourself under the care of a neurology specialist who treats migraine disorders and working as a team is the most effective way to reduce the frequency and severity of your migraine or headache disorder. As I always tell my patients – the best migraine headache is the one that you don’t get.”
“To cure sometimes, to heal often, to comfort always”.
Additional Resources:
Joseph Kandel, MD
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“To Cure Sometimes, To Heal Often, To Comfort Always”
Neurology Office, Joseph Kandel M.D. and Associates
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