Does Anxiety Cause Migraine Headaches Or Is It The Other Way Round?
There are many sources for triggers that cause migraine and stress and anxiety definitely head that list. Did you know that more than 85% of all the migraine patients suffer from some degree of anxiety and depression? This is a stunning fact which shows that anxiety is indeed closely related to migraine attacks. However, the question here is does anxiety cause migraine headaches or is the migraine causing anxiety attacks.
The Chicken And Egg Syndrome
Some experts say that migraines lead to anxiety attacks and depression while others are of the opinion that anxiety is what triggers off the migraines. Both these schools of thought are correct to some extent since anxiety does make pain worse while pain usually pushes the patient into depression. There have been plenty of research studies that have sought to find out how does anxiety cause migraine headaches but the results have been inconclusive.
The fact that the nervous pathways and receptors for headache and depression are the similar to each other could be a reason why these two are so closely interrelated. Those who suffer from anxiety attacks would some time or other develops into full blown migraines. Similarly, those who suffer from migraines would at times feel swamped by an anxiety attack and depression. It is true that most migraine patients feel acutely depressed before or after the attack.
The question therefore should not be how does anxiety cause migraine headaches, but whether or not anxiety causes migraines. The answer to this question seems affirmative. Anxiety does seem to cause migraines and it is as a matter of fact considered by many to be one of the most important triggers for this type of pain. Anxiety is a branch out from stress which is among the leading factors that cause migraines.
Why Does Anxiety Cause Migraine Headaches?
The answer to this question might look simple and obvious, but it is not. Migraines do develop in the wake of anxiety attacks but why it is not fully understood. It is suspected that the stress levels that cause anxiety also act as a trigger for migraines. There are many other factors that combine to activate the trigger for a migraine; therefore it is not yet clear what role exactly anxiety plays in this field or how does anxiety cause migraine headaches.
However, the fact that most migraine patients suffer from some degree of depression is very helpful in the treatment of this malady as mental relaxation, yoga, and exercise seem to reduce the frequency of attacks a great deal.
