low magnesium and migraines

[Guest guest]

So just what is the magnesium migraines

connection?

 

 

 

So just what is the magnesium migraines connection?

Researchers have been investigating the magnesium

migraines connection

because of magnesium's role in stabilizing blood

vessels walls.

Magnesium is also

an important mineral when it comes to helping you get

to sleep.

Regular

sleeping patterns are also very important to migraine

sufferers.

Magnesium also

helps in protein synthesis, and keeps your bones

strong and helps

maintain

normal nerve and muscle function.

It was first suggested that a deficiency in magnesium

could cause

headaches

over 70 years ago. It makes sense, because a lot of

the things that

cause the

body to run short of magnesium also either trigger

migraines or lower

your

resistance. For example alcohol, stress, and

menstruation. Today we

know that

about half of the people who get migraines are also

short of a certain

type

of magnesium (serum ionized).

When faced with a migraine that won't respond to

treatment, many

headache

specialists will give an injection of magnesium. You

should be able to

get

benefits from long term (2-3 months or more) regular

magnesium

supplements. The

magnesium migraines link may make a big difference to

many people.

Is my magnesium low?

Chances are good that you do not have a serious

magnesium deficiency.

However, there are situations where magnesium can get

low. Certain

drugs especially

can lower your amounts of magnesium, such as

diuretics and certain

antibiotics. Alcohol may also lower your magnesium

levels.

Researchers are sharply divided on the need for

magnesium in

migraineurs.

Most believe that magnesium may play some role in

migraine, but some

believe

that increasing your body's magnesium is THE key in

eliminating

migraine, even

if you don't have a " serious deficiency " .

Dr. Sarah DeRossett, American neurologist and headache

specialist was

quoted

in July 2003 in support of magnesium, riboflavin and

Vitamin B2 for

migraine

sufferers. " About 15 to 20 percent of the American

population is

deficient

in magnesium, and patients who have migraines have

lower blood levels

of

magnesium than patients who don't have migraines. "

You would be wise to make sure you're eating plenty

of magnesium-rich

foods.

If your magnesium is very low, your doctor may

suggest a supplement or

injections, or even intravenous treatment. Magnesium

migraines

treatment is

becoming more and more popular with migraine

sufferers.

Normal adults require about 310-420mg of magnesium

daily. Be aware

that too

much magnesium can cause side effects, and that there

are different

types of

magnesium, which is why it is wise to be monitored by

a doctor before

you

drastically raise your magnesium levels through

supplements.

of low magnesium...Magnesium is important to the body,

and so low

magnesium

can cause a host of problems, such as:

irregular heartbeats, loss of appetite, insomnia (a

killer for

migraineurs!), weakness, shortness of breath, PMS,

anxiety, dizziness,

nausea, and poor

coordination.

What can I eat to boost my magnesium?

First, try to cut down on the processed food you eat.

Processed food

is

prepared in such a way that it cuts down the

magnesium.

Magnesium is found in many foods, but some of the best

include wheat

germ,

beans, soy products, whole grains, seafood, dark green

leafy

vegetables,

bananas and milk.

Magnesium migraines and the BIG PICTURE

So many migraine treatments have to be seen as part

of the big

picture. One

thing effects the other. Researchers are more and

more realizing that

the

interaction of various things in your body need to be

taken into

consideration

when it comes to migraine – the way chemicals react

together, the

way various

organs work with the nervous system. That's why

migraineurs need to

try

combinations of treatments. There may be a magnesium

migraines

treatment that

involves more than just taking magnesium itself.

One of the more popular proponents of magnesium

supplements, Dr.

Alexander

Mauskop, is the director of the New York Headache

Center. He writes in

his

book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines

that he has

found a

treatment that is remarkably effective using

magnesium, vitamin B2 and

feverfew.

He makes a good case for the magnesium migraines link

and has backed

up his

opinion with good research.

Dr Barton M Alturn, professor of physiology and

medicine at the State

University of New York Health Science Center also

writes about the

magnesium

migraines connection (quoted in _Nature's Medicines_

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1579540287/cottrillcompa-20)

 

):

We believe that everyone should be taking 500-600

milligrams of

magnesium a

day in a combination of diet and supplements.

What kind of magnesium should I buy?

So you've decided that you'd like to try a magnesium

supplement, you

know

there's a magnesium migraines link, but there are

dozens out there -

which

should you try?

Certain types of magnesium are not well absorbed by

the body. Too much

magnesium, particularly the wrong kinds of magnesium,

can cause

diarrhea and

simply make your mineral deficiency worse. Also,

remember to take

magnesium for at

least 60-90 days to see if it makes a difference.

If your body isn't absorbing magnesium well, try avoid

these types of

magnesium: Oxide, hydroxide, and chloride. Instead,

look for magnesium

types that

end in " ate " , particularly glycinate, but also

gluconate, lactate and

orotate.

 

Note: Very often two or more types of magnesium are

combined, such as

oxide

and citrate. The best thing is to simply talk to your

doctor and then

try one

kind and see how your body handles it.