What Is...Migraine Related Nausea

September 30, 2011

Author: Louise M. Tarantino| Catherine M. Callery (Kate)

Many people with migraines also experience stomach problems and nausea with their headaches. In fact, migraines are the type of headache most likely to make patients nauseated. Eight out of every 10 people in the U.S. who are diagnosed with migraines report experiencing nausea. Although millions of people suffer from migraines with nausea, scientists have not yet been able to determine exactly why.

Certain groups of people are more likely to experience nausea with a migraine. This includes women and people who are prone to motion sickness. Between 5% and 20% of the general population experiences motion sickness. And movement-related nausea is experienced by about 50% of the people who get migraines.

The landmark American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study, conducted by the National Headache Foundation, found that those with frequent migraine headache-related nausea experienced more severe pain and worse outcomes than those with rare or no nausea. Frequent nausea also seemed to serve as a predictor of patients’ satisfaction with their treatments and ability to perform everyday activities.

According to migraine specialists, millions of people have a hard time finding relief from medication because of migraine-related nausea as well as pain. Some patients with nausea delay or skip taking their oral treatment. Recognizing nausea may be a key to reducing the overall burden of migraine for certain sufferers.

The combination of disabling pain and associated symptoms of migraines often prevent people from performing daily activities. While symptoms and incidence vary among patients, typical attacks can last from four to 72 hours and the symptoms occurring during pre and post headache phases can last several days. Patients experiencing nausea with their migraines were found to have greater odds of experiencing many migraine side effects; often these symptoms present themselves more acutely in these patients than in those who did not suffer nausea with their migraines.  Treating nausea may go a long way towards reducing the suffering experienced by patients with frequent migraines.

For more information on Migraines and Migraine-Related Nausea, see www.MigraineNausea.com www.headaches.org.