Poll: Stomach/Gut Symptoms with Migraine

Do you experience stomach/gut symptoms with migraine? You’re not alone. But symptoms can vary.

Here are the results of our recent poll regarding stomach symptoms:

The “winner” is no surprise – nausea does not always accompany migraine, but it does tend to be a tell-tale symptom. Here are a few tips for fighting nausea.

Stomach pain is also common – in fact, in “abdominal migraine“, stomach pain may occur instead of the headache itself.

Heartburn is close behind. It is possible that migraine and heartburn have some similar biological roots, as this study suggested: GERD prevalence in migraine patients and the implication for acute migraine treatment. But there’s another possible culprit – the medications we take.

Whether your heartburn is related to migraine or not, certain medications can make it worse. If you’re taking NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, check out NSAIDs – Which One Should I Take For Headache?. But you’ll probably want to talk to your doctor about other options. Also, check out Why Headache Patients Are Running from Esomeprazole (Nexium) and other “Heartburn” Drugs.

Finally, general discomfort and bloating are also common in migraine.

For more, check out this quick graphic: 6 Key Stomach/Gut Terms related to Migraine