Migraines and the Gut

The link between the stomach and the brain is called the “gut-brain axis." There are a lot of different inflammatory mediators between the brain and the stomach that cause GI distress and migraine.

The Gut Microbiome

Definition

Our gut microbiomes are made up of trillions of different kinds of bacteria that line the inside of our stomachs and intestines. When these bacteria are balanced, the stomach can digest all normal foods effortlessly. When these bacteria become unbalanced, the digestive tract needs to work much harder to digest foods, which may cause pain and intolerance to certain foods.

IBS

IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is a catch-all diagnosis for people who are experiencing digestive tract issues but aren't experiencing something as severe as Crohn's disease, Celiac disease, or Ulcerative Colitis. IBS mainly occurs in the large intestine and is a chronic condition with no cure. Symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, depression, etc. (Mayo December 1).

Migraines

Definition

Migraines are severe headaches that cause throbbing and/or pulsing pain, usually on one portion of the head (most likely occipital area and around the eyes). Migraines can be accompanied by aura prior to, during, and after the migraine which can consist of visual, audio, or tactile hallucinations. Migraines can also cause nausea, vomiting, fainting, dizziness, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and touch. Migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, and aura can come up to a few days before the actual migraine. (Mayo July 2)

Migraine vs Headache

A migraine differs significantly from your normal headache. Migraines tend to be more consistent and scheduled than headaches. Migraines can cause aura due to the extensively high blood pressure in a specific part of the brain. Headaches tend to come on without warning and leave without extenuating symptoms. Migraines can cause brain fog for up to 24 hours afterwards, and aura up to days before, whereas headaches normally do not have these symptoms. Migraines are a type of headache disorder and are normally much more intense.

The Gut-Brain Axis

The gut-brain axis is the "bidirectional link between the central nervous system (CNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS)" (Rege). Your gut microbiome has the ability to effect your mood, mental stability, pain tolerance, cognitive performance, behavior, and more. Scientists are unsure how exactly the gut connect to the brain, or how direct the connections are, but experiments have shown that there is a strong relationship between the state of our guts and the state of our brains. Links have been discovered between an imbalanced gut microbiome and dementia and general forgetfulness. This is the reason why throughout your academic life you are told to eat a good breakfast before a big exam. Having a full and happy stomach improves performance. It has been proven time and time again that if you feed yourself good foods and vitamins that you will perform better physically and mentally. The opposite has also been proven: an unhappy stomach can cause your brain and body to not perform as well as it normally would. The connection between the gut microbiome and the brain seem very strong through general research, but very little has been proven to be a direct link between the two.

Human Science (Part 1) - The Gut Brain Axis, Microbiome & the power of Probiotics

References

Connie Rogers Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences, & Darrell Cockburn Assistant Professor of Food Science. (2020, January 3). 5 things you can do to make your microbiome healthier. The Conversation. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://theconversation.com/5-things-you-can-do-to-make-your-microbiome-healthier- 129215.

Infognostica. (n.d.). Human Science (Part 1) - The Gut Brain Axis, Microbiome & the power of Probiotics. YouTube. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/?gl=DE.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, December 1). Irritable bowel syndrome. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc- 20360016#:~:text=Irritable%20bowel%20syndrome%20(IBS)%20is,need%20to%20manage%20long%20term.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, July 2). Migraine. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201.

Rege, S., & Graham, J. (2021, October 27). The Simplified Guide to the gut-brain axis - how the gut talks to the brain. Psych Scene Hub. Retrieved December 10, 2021,

from https://psychscenehub.com/psychinsights/the-simplified-guide-to-the-gut-brain-axis/.

Team, V. (2018, December 1). The mind-gut connection: How the microbiome affects the brain. Viome.com. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.viome.com/blog/mind-gut-connection-how-your-gut-microbiome-controls-your-behavior? ref_code=vpm_go&refcode=vpm_go&campaign=13661713349&keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAiAksyNBhAPEiwAlDBeLEOaztpt8cr8aOR5Q9xJnEKJOE_b9MOf_TkN6qc3bxnE k4Ex5jakIhoCoW4QAvD_BwE.

10 possible causes of your migraines - and what you can do about it - chester county hospital: Penn Medicine. Chester County Hospital | Penn Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.chestercountyhospital.org/news/health-eliving-blog/2021/june/10-possible-causes-of-your-migraines.

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