Migraine headaches may last for hours or days and cause intense throbbing or pulsing in the head. The headaches also may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and an extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Scientists don't know exactly what causes migraines, but there are a host of factors that can trigger the headache pain, including magnesium levels.
Migraine Aura
People experience migraines in different ways and may go through up to four stages when suffering a migraine episode. MayoClinic.com notes that some people may notice subtle changes that signal the onset of a migraine, such as constipation, depression, diarrhea, irritability, neck stiffness and food cravings. This is called the prodrome stage. Aura is the second possible phase. It can include seeing various shapes, bright spots or flashes or light, vision loss, speech or language problems and a tingling sensation in the arm or leg. The attack stage is when people experience the pain and other symptoms normally associated with migraine. In the postdrome stage, migraine sufferers may feel drained and washed out or mildly euphoric.
Magnesium Deficiency
Researchers have found that people who experience migraines tend to have lower levels of magnesium than people who have tension headaches or no headaches at all. A variety of studies have been conducted to determine whether magnesium supplements can help migraine sufferers and at what amount. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that some researchers have found the mineral supplements may help prevent migraines while others have found the supplements may shorten the length of an attack or allow patients to get relief with less medication.
Treatment
The recommended daily allowance of magnesium for adults ranges from roughly 300 to 400 mg a day, but your doctor can decide what's right for you. Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute notes that two placebo-controlled trials found that when people took 600 mg of magnesium per day, the frequency of migraine attacks was reduced. Another study in which patients were given 485 mg of magnesium per day found no reduction in the frequency of headaches.
Side Effects
Talk with your doctor before starting to take magnesium as a migraine treatment. Though the supplements are generally well-tolerated, some people may experience lower blood pressure, stomach upset or diarrhea. Patients with heart or kidney disease should not take the supplements unless they are under a doctor's care because of serious health risks from taking too much magnesium. The mineral may cause calcium deficiency in people with calcium levels that are already low, and some medications may affect magnesium levels in the body.
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