Research suggests that there may be a connection between migraine headaches and gastrointestinal problems. People with frequent headaches are more prone to develop gut stomach issues. Headache is common ailments, and most people suffer from a headache at some point or another. The causes of migraine headaches include stress, allergy, high or low blood pressure. Another reason for a headache could be acidity. You might not know that excess acid in your stomach could give you a headache. Apart from headache, acidity cause inflammation along with pain and discomfort in the stomach. Other common symptoms of acidity include heartburn and chest pain.
You might be aware of the symptoms of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), which includes heartburn, bitter taste in mount and chest pain. But many people suffering from GERD also report of migraine headaches. Their headache bouts often get worse when they are also experiencing heartburn. For a headache due to acidity, it is not advisable to take medicines for migraine as these have side effects. You can try these home remedies treat headache due to acidity:
- Eucalyptus oil- Eucalyptus is known to have a calming effect, and its oil help reduces the pain by relaxing the strained muscles. You need to apply it on your head for at least 15 tok20 minutes to get the most out of it.
- Cinnamon- Another effective remedy for headache. What you all need to do is soak some cinnamon sticks into the water for a few seconds. Make a thick paste by adding few drops of water. Apply the paste on your forehead and let it stay for half an hour. Once you wash it off, you will get relief from headache.
- Lemon- Lemon has the property to balance the acid-alkaline of the body. Squeeze one lemon into a glass of lukewarm water, mix it well and drink it. The lemon water helps reduces the severity of headache caused by excess acid in your stomach. The lemon mixture will also help with your acid reflux.
- Buttermilk and coriander juice- Mix half a glass of buttermilk with coriander juice and drink the mixture to get relief from headache and acidity.
These home remedies followed by healthy lifestyle habits are worth trying before restoring medicines for migraines or acid reducers for acid reflux.
However, if you are not getting the relief from these natural remedies, you can switch to acid reducers to get rid of acid reflux. It is wise to consult a physician before taking acid reducers to reduce acid reflux symptoms.
Do POTS explain the relation between Acid reflux and your migraines?
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is POTS, which is an autonomic condition a very less amount of blood returns to the when an individual stands ups from lying position. This may increase the risk of gastrointestinal issues like GERD. So, if you are diagnosed with POTS, you may be likely to suffer from GERD, and you will also have headaches that may worsen whenever you get an acid reflux bout. POTS is common in both men and women and is likely to affect people with the age of 15 to 50, immediately after major surgery, trauma, or a viral infection. However, it is not always the situation that people who suffer from GERD and also have headaches will necessarily be a victim of POTS.
Factors affecting the production of stomach acid
Stomach acid is crucial for breaking down food, thus aiding digestion. Factors that affect the production of acid in the stomach include:
- Poor diet- Consuming processed foods and refined sugars can cause inflammation and an increase in the production of stress hormones. Eating a low carb diet, rich in antioxidants can help you get normal stomach acid levels.
- Eating too quickly- Research suggests that no chewing our food adequately not only leave us hungry but also elevate the production of stress hormone in the body, which further obstruct the stomach acid production.
- Use of antibiotics- Antibiotic treatment can disturb our digestive system, causing inflammation and indigestion along with other gastrointestinal issues. Overuse of antibiotics, aspirin, and ibuprofen are responsible for wearing down the stomach lining and reduce the formation of HCL (an essential component in stomach acid).
- Food sensitives- We must identify those foods that do not agree with our digestive tract well and cause discomfort in the stomach. Common offenders include dairy, peanuts, corn, gluten, etc. it would be best to avoid such foods as they may interfere with the production of stomach acid.
One should understand the fact that insufficient stomach acid may lead to acid reflux or heartburn. If you are suffering from acid reflux, try acid reducers to get rid of a headache caused by acid reflux disease. Avoid taking medicines for migraine unless you have not consulted a doctor or a physician.
Also Read: Best Way to Manage a Migraine
