MIGRAINES & ALLERGIES

MIGRAINES & ALLERGIES

While the connection between migraines and allergies is not completely understood, evidence suggests there is a relationship between the two. Therefore, migraine sufferers should consider the possibility that an allergy is triggering these severe headaches. Our AllergyCorp Group doctors are knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating migraines caused by allergies.

WHAT IS A MIGRAINE?

Possible Symptoms are:

• Last four to 72+ hours at a time
• Pulsating quality
• Pain on only one side
• Moderate or severe symptoms; symptoms affect daily activities
• Symptoms increase when you are physically active
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to sound
• Nausea or vomiting
• No fever
• Altered or heightened sense of smell; avoidance of odors
• Repeated or chronic headaches
• Occasional symptoms
• Red, watery eyes
• Facial pressure or pain – more likely to be pulsating or throbbing

Possible Symptoms of a Sinus Headache:

• Nasal discharge that is colored
• Possible fever
• Headaches and sinusitis symptomsoccur over the sinuses
• Abnormal x-ray or CT scan of the sinuses
• Headache disappears after being treated for sinusitis

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SINUS HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES

Clearly, migraine sufferers can also develop sinus infections, especially those that have allergies. Also, many suspected sinus headaches are actually migraines.

Here’s the explanation: the sinuses are lined with sensitive tissue that contains nerves that are related to the trigeminal nerve. This nerve is also responsible for migraines. To complicate matters, you can also experience “referred pain” –when pain is sent to an area of the body (here, the head and face) even though that area is not the cause of the pain. This means that sinus headaches can cause pain outside of the sinuses, while migraine headaches can cause pain in the sinuses. To make matters even more confusing, certain migraine sufferers also experience watery eyes and nasal congestion during their migraines. Therefore, it is sometimes very challenging to identify whether you are experiencing a sinus headache or a migraine. We recommend that you consult with a AllergyCorp Group doctor to work towards a correct diagnosis.

Relationship between MIGRAINES AND FOOD ALLERGIES

Some people have identified a relationship between their migraines and their consumption of particular foods. Studies have investigated this relationship, and seem to support this idea. However, there is controversy over whether this relationship is related to allergies, or if the migraine may be triggered by a particular chemical or ingredient in the food.

MIGRAINE AND ALLERGY CONNECTION

If you suspect that foods (or food allergies) are causing your migraine headaches, there are a few steps you can take:

• Visit our AllergyCorp Group doctor to determine if you are allergic to foods or other environmental allergens. Allergy teststo the potential food allergies will help identify what you are allergic to.
• Keep an allergy food diary – a record of which foods are eaten, when you eat them, and what symptoms you experience later. This can help your AllergyCorp Group doctor identify suspicious patterns. Keep in mind that an allergic reaction could occur immediately, or could take time to develop.
• Avoidance of food triggers may decrease the frequency of your migraines, but should be approached cautiously in order to avoid adopting an unbalanced or unhealthy diet. We recommend that you consult an AllergyCorp Group doctor or dietician before beginning an avoidance

What is the connection between MIGRAINES AND ALLERGIC RHINITIS?

There are a few ways that respiratory allergies could affect your migraines. First, there is a clear relationship between inflammation and allergies. An inflammatory reaction caused by allergies leads to the release of chemicals (histamine and leukotrienes, for example) and these chemicals can, in turn, trigger migraines. Second, allergic rhinitis causes nasal congestion. This could irritate nerves in the nose and sinuses and could provoke a migraine. Third, allergies have been shown to worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression, which could also affect the number of migraines you experience.

At least one study has suggested that people with allergic rhinitis are more likely to experience a migraine than people without allergic rhinitis. Also, it showed that allergic rhinitis may increase the frequency on one’s migraines. Other studies have shown a relationship between allergic asthma and migraine headaches. Unfortunately, it is not clear what is causing allergies and asthma in these patients.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis may help prevent or treat headaches in people that seem to have allergy-based triggers to their migraines. Unfortunately, there have been few studies performed that can prove or disprove this.

SUMMARY

The precise relationship between migraines and allergies is still unknown. Nevertheless, people who suffer from migraines should consider the possibility of a relationship between the two. After all, it could bring you one step closer to comfort and relief from severe headaches and their symptoms. Furthermore, CT scan is very helpful in diagnosing sinus problems – like nasal polyps, sinus infections, concha bullosa, and swollen turbinates – that can cause migraine-like symptoms. Treatment of these underlying sinus problems will often resolve the headaches.

If you believe allergies or sinus problems may be causing your migraines, our doctors at AllergyCorp Group can help you find relief for your respiratory and food allergies, nasal and sinus problems.