The Relationship Between Allergies and Migraines
Evidence Supports a Connection Between Severe Headaches and Foods
Jul 2, 2009
While the connection between allergies and migraines is not fully understood, there is sufficient evidence to suggest a relationship in some cases. It is an important consideration for migraine sufferers looking to find relief from their condition.
Evidence Supporting a Connection Between Migraines and Allergies
There are several sources of evidence that support a connection between migraine headaches and allergies, especially food allergies:
- Long ago, Hippocrates made note of a connection between food and severe headaches. Obviously, the idea of an allergy-migraine relationship is not new.
- Reported in the Lancet (July 5, 1980), Jonathan Brostoff and co-researchers at the Department of Immunology, Middlesex Hospital Medical School in London spent two years studying 33 migraine sufferers. They found that the 23 patients who were having food reactions found relief from eliminating the troublesome foods.
- Also reported in the Lancet (May 5, 1979), a neurologist at Charing Cross Hospital in London, named Ellen C. G. Grant, studied the food reactions of 60 migraine sufferers. When the sufferers dropped troublesome foods they had a dramatic reduction in the number of headaches experienced in a one-month period.
- Again, reported in the Lancet (September 9, 1978), a group of 30 headache sufferers being attended to at the Charing Cross Hospital in London were treated with a food-allergy elimination diet. As a result, the total number of migraine attacks dropped from 187 a month to zero, while the number of regular headaches dropped from 284 to 14.
- Reported in the Journal of Human Nutrition (vol. 34, no.3, 1980), a medical doctor, named Edda Hanington, of the City of London Migraine Clinic observed that certain foods have the ability to bring on migraine headaches.
- The Mayo Clinic recognizes allergies as a life factor contributing to migraines.
Common Food Triggers for Migraine Headaches
As a result of research carried out on allergies and migraines, each of the following foods have been noted in at least one study as being a common trigger for migraine headaches. This is not a definitive list and other foods may show up in individual situations.
- milk
- eggs
- wheat
- chocolate
- oranges
- tea
- coffee
- beef
- corn
- cane sugar
- yeast
- artificial sweeteners
- cheese
- onions
- tomatoes
- seafood
- tartrazine
- sodium nitrite
- monosodium glutamate
It is interesting to note that many of these foods are also common food allergens or can cause sensitivity reactions.
When the Sufferer Suspects an Allergy and Migraine Connection
If an allergy-migraine connection is suspected, there are several steps that a migraine sufferer can take to investigate further:
- Consulting a medical expert can provide access to testing to determine if there are food allergies in play, or if the sufferer has other environmental allergies that may be a contributing factor.
- The sufferer can try an elimination diet to see if certain foods are causing headaches. Starting with a trial of the most common triggers for migraines and/or allergies can speed up the process.
- The migraine sufferer can keep a food diary, recording which foods are eaten and what symptoms occur. This can help to point out suspicious patterns. It is important to note that offending foods don’t always cause a reaction immediately after they are eaten.
- Some researchers believe that the histamine released during an allergic reaction is a factor in bringing on a migraine headache. If the sufferer takes an antihistamine medication and the migraine improves, this is another clue that the migraine may be connected to an allergy.
The exact relationship between allergies and migraines is still unclear. In spite of this, a migraine sufferer should consider the possibility of a relationship because it may provide a step toward bringing comfort and relief from severe headaches and their symptoms.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for information purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical attention and supervision.
Sources:
Website: MayoClinic.com, 1998 - 2009. Visited June 27, 2009.
Website: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 2007. Visited June 27, 2009.
Faelten, Sharon and Editors of Prevention® Magazine. The Allergy Self-help Book: A Step-by-step Guide to Non-drug Relief of Asthma , Hay Fever, Headaches, Fatigue, Digestive Problems and Over 50 Other Allergy-related Health Problems. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1983.
For other articles related to food allergies or sensitivities see Information about Seafood Allergies, Information About Milk Allergy and Allergic or Sensitivity Reactions to MSG.
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