Migraine, a neurological condition characterized by severe, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head, is not just a simple headache. Many factors can provoke migraine attacks, but one of the less understood and often overlooked is the role of stress and its affect on adrenal glands. Up to 70% of individuals suffering from migraines report stress as a trigger.
While stress can be managed and encouraged, there are certain times when stress enters our lives, and it can’t be avoided, making these periods even harder. So how does stress sett off a migraine attack, and what can be done to prevent it?
In this article, we’ll explore how hormonal fluctuations, particularly the stress hormone cortisol, can significantly influence the frequency and intensity of migraines.
Migraines —the dreaded headaches that can keep you from working, playing with your kids, or even getting out of bed. They’re distinct from other types of headaches in intensity and complexity. Migraine pain can affect one or both sides of the head and last for extended lengths of time — even days.
Chronic migraines can have the same triggers and phases as regular migraines, but tend to occur more frequently. They can also be linked with other factors, such as adrenal fatigue, chronic stress, sustained use of certain medications, and hormonal imbalances, especially with estrogen dominance.
Migraines affect around 15% of the global population and are three times more common in women than in men. While their causes are unclear, there are environmental and genetic factors, as they can run in families.
It is thought that they cause pain by affecting blood vessels and nerves in the head and brain. Migraines are known for their severity, with a pounding pain that is sometimes accompanied by other symptoms, including:
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands as part of the body’s stress response system. It influences several bodily processes, including metabolism, blood pressure, inflammation regulation, sleep, and the immune response. The connection between cortisol and neurological symptoms during a migraine attack is intriguing. When our bodies experience stress and feel threatened, the hypothalamus in the brain produces a hormone called corticotropin-releasing factor, which prompts the adrenal glands to release more cortisol.
This affects the messages sent to our main systems, leading to changes in four key areas:
Ongoing stress, whether physical or psychological, can cause the body to constantly activate the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response. One of the main parts of this system is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is particularly active in this process.
The HPA axis is the main hormonal pathway that is activated when exposed to stress. When stress is short-term, this system helps the body react and recover. But when stress becomes chronic, their adrenal glands may become overstimulated and strained, eventually leading to dysregulation. Initially, the glands may produce increasing amounts of cortisol, indicating the start of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS). However, once the glands become exhausted, cortisol production drops off, indicating an advanced stage of AFS.
This stage is characterized by severe symptoms, including debilitating fatigue, sleep issues, weight problems, mood disturbances, food sensitivities, low libido, PMS, infertility, heart palpitations, brain fog, and chronic inflammation.
Migraine headaches can be both physically and emotionally stressful. The pain and symptoms associated with it disrupt daily life and can activate the body’s stress response further.
Imagine experiencing this regularly, and it’s clear how chronic migraines impact the adrenals: The HPA is continuously activated, ultimately leading to adrenal gland exhaustion and the development or worsening of AFS. Over time, people often notice that chronic migraines go hand in hand with increased stress and reduced quality of life.
A doctor can assess cortisol levels through various methods:
With chronic migraines, prevention is always better than medication. One thing you can do is to ensure your adrenals are healthy and robust enough to handle migraines if they occur.
AFS recovery includes a healthy diet, mild to moderate exercise, enough rest, stress management, and good-quality nutraceutical supplements like Adrenal Calm. Additionally, our Adrenal Boost supplement helps adapt to recurrent stress, regulate cortisol levels, and maintain healthy HPA axis function.
If you have questions regarding our Adrenal Support Nutraceuticals or any of the products available on our website, feel free to contact the Happy Hormone Cottage team for more information.
Happy Hormone Cottage provides compassionate healthcare services focused on you and your individual hormone needs. If you are experiencing migraines or suspect hormonal or stress-related symptoms, we can help. Our qualified professionals can address underlying factors and craft a treatment plan just for you.
You don’t have to live stressed by migraines. Call (513) 444-6343 to speak with a team member or schedule a consultation online today!
