Head’s up migraine sufferers! Three unexpected migraine causes (that your doctor probably hasn’t told you about)

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 303 million people worldwide suffer from migraines. Unfortunately, most doctors treat only the symptom and not the underlying cause of this disease, leaving migraine sufferers dependent on migraine medications for pain relief. Could addressing one (or all) of these three unexpected migraine causes help you relive your migraines without the use of medicine?

H. Pylori: Helicobacter Pylori, a parasite that has been known to cause stomach ulcers, acid reflux disease, GERD and gastric cancer, has recently been linked with migraines. A study presented at the infectious diseases conference in Italy found that 18% of chronic migraine sufferers were infected with the H. Pylori bug. After receiving treatment for the H. Pylori infection, migraine sufferers reported a marked decrease in both the frequency and severity of their migraines. Infecting more than 50% of the population, H. Pylori is the most common pathogen in the world. Common ways of contracting H. Pylori include unclean water, sexual fluids and contaminated raw foods such as chicken and eggs. Because H. Pylori infections often thrive in their hosts without any obvious side effects, stool testing (the best way to test for H. Pylori) is a good idea even if common H. Pylori markers are not present. It’s a nasty little bug, and one that can lead to a wide range of more serious diseases, so testing is highly recommended.

Aspartame: The consumption of aspartame, one of the most common artificial sweeteners, is strongly associated with migraines and even seizures. Recent studies show that the chemical substance aspartame acts as an excitotoxin in the body, meaning that it overexcites your brain cells to the point of damage. Over time, this brain cell damage leads to severe migraines and a variety of other neurological disorders. Because so many products contain aspartame (everything from diet sodas to sticks of gum), you might be consuming aspartame and not even realizing it, so make sure to read all food labels (or better yet, stick to eating foods that don’t need labels).

Gluten: For many, migraines may be the result of gluten sensitivity. About 70% of the population has some form of subclinical gluten sensitivity and of that 70%, 90% have no idea. If you’ve been following my blogs, by now you know that gluten causes inflammation in the gut and inflicts major stress on the body’s immune system. Because the brain (central nervous system) and the gut (enteric nervous system) are linked, it makes sense that inflammation that happens in the gut would also affect inflammation in the brain. As doctors have started to make connections between various neurological disorders and gut/diet issues, they have found increasingly strong links between gluten sensitivity and migraines, seizures, ataxia and various proprioceptive dysfunctions. Many doctors believe that migraines are one of the most obvious red flags for gluten sensitivity, as is craving gluten. So if you are one of those people who feel you truly can’t live without gluten, the chances are very high that you’re intolerant to gluten and should avoid it completely.