Blog Single

Research has shown that people who live with migraine are also more likely to have gastrointestinal problems.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e448d5b8-7e79-46bd-9313-bdb36ee4eff9 Conversely, those who have issues like acid reflux and GERD , diarrhea , constipation , and nausea tend to get more chronic disabling headaches. e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292db691f7-3a0d-4c6a-8b6b-e7d1248bd022 Because of this gut-brain relationship , you might think that treatment to ease gut disorders could possibly help with migraine. A new study, however, suggests the opposite — that medications used to soothe the digestive tract may increase the likelihood of having migraine attacks. “We had heard some anecdotal stories about patients whose migraine symptoms improved when they discontinued their acid-suppressing drugs,” says study author Margaret Slavin, PhD, RDN , an associate professor with an expertise in migraine, food, and nutrition at the University of Maryland in College Park. “Our study showed an association between their use and the risk of someone having migraine.” Proton Pump Inhibitors Linked With More Headaches In a study published April 24, 2024, in the journal Neurology Clinical Practice , Dr. Slavin and colleagues reviewed data on about 12,000 U.S. adults who had provided information about their use of heartburn drugs and whether they had a migraine attack or severe headache in the past three months.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f3c8fb78-e724-4abc-9906-bfef41d7a7a3 The analysis revealed that those who used proton pump inhibitors to treat chronic heartburn were 70 percent more likely to experience migraine attacks or severe headaches compared with those who did not use these medications. Headache risk was also 40 percent higher among those using H2 blockers drugs and 30 percent higher among those taking common antacids such as Tums or Alka-Seltzer. Described in the study as the most effective and frequently used type of acid reflux medications, proton pump inhibitors (sometimes called PPIs) are medicines that work by decreasing the amount of stomach acid made by glands in the stomach lining. They include lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and esomeprazole (Nexium). Headaches are listed as a common side effect for PPIs, and past research has found that as many as 40 percent of people with chronic headache and migraine who have tried these drugs discontinue them because they lead to even more headaches.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298264d3b7-35c0-4019-93cc-1140d08078ae In this latest investigation, 25 percent of participants taking PPIs had migraine or severe headache, compared with 19 percent of those who were not taking the drugs. Prior research suggests that these medications may be overprescribed, and long-term use has been associated with higher risks of infection, bone fractures, nutrient malabsorption, and dementia .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629939615c0-8389-4a06-a47c-785c2bfe8d0e “Many people get on these drugs, and stay on these drugs for too long,” says Teshamae Monteith, MD , chief of the headache division at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, and a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “These drugs are helpful, but may not take the place of lifestyle interventions for common conditions such as GERD [gastroesophageal reflux disease] and gastritis [inflammation in the stomach lining].” Other Prescription and OTC Antacids May Also Increase Odds of Headache and Migraine The findings showed that other classes of acid-suppressing medications also may be implicated in migraine and severe headache. H2 blockers (also called H2 receptor antagonists) reduce the production of histamine, a chemical that is a key driver of acid secretion in the stomach. Popular H2 blockers include cimetidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid AC and Zantac 360). A total of 25 percent of those taking H2 blockers had severe headache or migraine, compared with 20 percent of those who were not taking those medications. With antacid supplements, 22 percent of those taking them had severe headache or migraine, compared with 20 percent of those not taking antacids. The analysis concluded that the results point to “potential clinical implications for any acid-suppression therapy.” How Might Medication Affect Headaches and Migraine Attacks? Slavin and her team emphasize that the results don’t prove that these drugs raise migraine risk, only that they show an association. That said, a number of possible mechanisms could explain why these drugs may raise the risk of migraine. “Acid-suppression therapies have broad effects on the digestion and absorption of other drugs, as well as nutrients from our food,” says Slavin. “Over time, they could alter the nutritional status or the health of one’s gut microbiome, which is increasingly recognized to influence our neurological health.” She adds that some of the association observed in this study may be due to the fact that people with migraine are documented to already have higher rates of GI conditions. Additionally, pain medications such as ibuprofen or ones containing caffeine are known to cause stomach upset, which could lead to more use of acid-suppression medications. Reassessing but Not Necessarily Discontinuing Medications Laura Targownik, MD , the division director for gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Toronto and a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) , has helped write AGA clinical guidelines regarding the use of proton pump inhibitors, including lowering dosages or stopping the medications altogether. Dr. Targownik cautions that a study like this may lead some people who can truly benefit from PPIs — including those at high risk for upper GI bleeding or with a history of severe esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus) to quit taking them. “There is no obvious biological reason why a drug that primarily inhibits the production of gastric acid would affect one’s likelihood of developing migraines, so it is unlikely that there is a direct causal link between PPI use and the occurrence of migraine,” she says. She adds that findings such as these have the potential to “promote the inappropriate discontinuation of PPI use.” Slavin agrees that, despite findings here, acid suppressing drugs are vital for some patients to manage symptoms and reduce the risk of serious conditions like ulcers and esophageal cancer. “It’s important to note that many people do need acid-reducing medications to manage acid reflux or other conditions, and people with migraine or severe headache who are taking these drugs or supplements should talk with their doctors about whether they should continue,” she says.

• Foreplay is just play. Couples can engage in it however they want. According to Dr. Harper, it generally takes about 20 minutes of arousal for women to become fully lubricated and ready for penetrative sex. However, it is best to abolish the idea of "foreplay" and the "main event" of penetrative sex and work together with your partner to create a fun and intimate sexual life where everyone's needs are met.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-health/sexual-foreplay.aspx