| There have been a number of studies carried out | | | | neurological and vascular symptoms. They also |
| about the impact of IBS symptoms, including | | | | suffered from gastrointestinal disturbances that |
| irritable bowel syndrome migraine problems. These | | | | included nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or |
| studies have shown that people who suffer from | | | | diarrhea. |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome are at an increased risk | | | | So, it should come as no surprise that migraine |
| for suffering from migraines, fibromyalgia and | | | | patients have oftentimes reported that they had |
| depression. | | | | problems with their bowels. It should also not be a |
| Research has shown there to be an association | | | | surprise that between 25 to 53% of patients who |
| between migraines and functional gastrointestinal | | | | have Irritable Bowel Syndrome state that they |
| disorders. | | | | frequently have headaches. |
| While there have been previous research done | | | | Together, migraines and Irritable Bowel Syndrome |
| linking Irritable Bowel Syndrome with these | | | | affect approximately 10 to 20% of the general |
| disorders, the majority of the supporting evidence | | | | population, usually predominantly affecting young |
| has come from case reports by Dr. J. Alexander | | | | adult women. It is believed that the reason why |
| Cole and colleagues, from Boston University. | | | | women rather than men are affected is because |
| Note: Unfortunately there was no reference group | | | | of the role of estrogen in their bodies. |
| in these studies. There also was no capability of | | | | The nervous system is a source of numerous |
| fully controlling confounding factors. These things | | | | neurotransmitters and reflexes. This has been |
| prevented these studies from reaching definitive | | | | linked to why there is a common link between |
| conclusions. | | | | Irritable Bowel Syndrome and migraines. Serotonin, |
| The most recent study appeared in the | | | | which helps us maintain a "happy feeling," and |
| September 28, 2006 issue of BMC | | | | allows us to control our moods, help with sleep |
| Gastroenterology. This study involved more than | | | | and calm anxiety and relieve stress, is actually the |
| 125,000 subjects and a reference cohort (a group | | | | main neurotransmitter of the gastrointestinal tract. |
| of people sharing the same symptoms). | | | | There are a lot of people who support, and many |
| When these patients were compared to patients | | | | who are against the use of serotoninergic |
| who do not have Irritable Bowel Syndrome the | | | | receptors, which are the most commonly used |
| patients who had Irritable Bowel Syndrome were | | | | medications for treating irritable bowel syndrome |
| more than 60% likely to have either depression, | | | | migraines. These tend to be because of the |
| migraines and fibromyalgia. | | | | potential side effects of artificially regulating this |
| The risks of these individual problems rose as well. | | | | natural hormone. |
| For instance, people with Irritable Bowel | | | | |
| Syndrome were 40% more likely to get | | | | Continue reading to discover natural methods to |
| depression, 60% more likely to get migraines and | | | | relive IBS symptoms, by signing up for our free |
| 80% more likely to get fibromyalgia. | | | | newsletter. |
| Those patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and | | | | When health practitioners are better able to |
| who also suffered from migraines were closely | | | | understand both of these disorders better, then |
| scrutinized. It was discovered that while suffering | | | | they will be better equipped to treat all the |
| from a migraine, these people also had various | | | | irritable bowel syndrome migraine symptoms. |