{"id":1326,"date":"2022-11-24T19:27:30","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T19:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/telehelptoday.com\/?p=1326"},"modified":"2022-11-24T19:27:30","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T19:27:30","slug":"the-adhd-migraine-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/telehelptoday.com\/the-adhd-migraine-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"The ADHD \u2013 Migraine Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with\u00a0Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder<\/a>\u00a0(ADHD or ADD), then you know that managing the condition presents its own unique challenges. What you may not have realized, however, is that those living with ADHD are also at an\u00a0increased risk for experiencing migraines.<\/p>\n While scientists have yet to determine the exact nature of the relationship between ADHD and migraines, there appear to be several viable possibilities, from\u00a0hormones\u00a0to genetics to the existence of an\u00a0underlying sleep disorder\u00a0that may precipitate both conditions.<\/p>\n This article examines the connection between ADHD and migraine, and provides strategies for minimizing their impact on your life.<\/p>\n If you have been living with ADHD, then you are probably all too familiar with the constellation of comorbidities that typically accompany the disorder, including\u00a0depression<\/a>,\u00a0anxiety<\/a>, and\u00a0sleep<\/a>\u00a0disorders. Unfortunately, these conditions have also been shown to precipitate\u00a0migraines<\/a>.\u00a0Sleep disruption and stress\u00a0are particularly strongly associated with migraines.<\/p>\n For example, researchers have shown that\u00a0sleep apnea and depression are strongly connected. At the same time, both mood disorders and disrupted sleep are known to precipitate or worsen the symptoms of both ADHD and migraine. This results in a vicious cycle in which a network of comorbidities \u2014 sleep disorders, mood disorders, ADHD, and migraine \u2014 feed off of and amplify one another.<\/p>\n However, studies suggest that the root causes of these comorbidities may be more complex, deriving from\u00a0a combination of physiological and environmental factors. Researchers are currently speculating that the source of these related conditions may lie in the brain\u2019s\u00a0inability to process dopamine effectively.<\/p>\n Another link between ADHD and migraines may be\u00a0stimulant medications\u00a0taken for the treatment of\u00a0ADHD symptoms<\/a>.\u00a0 Stimulant medication may cause either a mild headache in the back of the head as a dose of medication is wearing off, or a true migraine through the whole head that precipitates stopping meds because of the pain.<\/p>\n While there is no known cure for migraines, it is possible to manage the symptoms. Often, efforts to manage it will also help you to more effectively mitigate the symptoms of both ADHD and migraines.<\/p>\n Reduce Stress<\/strong><\/p>\n Because depression and anxiety can lead to the worsening of migraines and\u00a0ADHD symptoms<\/a>, taking action to reduce your stress can be a crucial first step. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by clutter in your home,\u00a0small, systematic efforts made each day\u00a0to clear out your home will gradually decrease the stress that may trigger migraines or worsen your ADHD symptoms.<\/p>\n Maximize Sleep<\/strong><\/p>\n Sleep disorders are closely linked to both migraines and ADHD, so taking steps to identify and address potential sleep problems may be highly beneficial in managing your symptoms.\u00a0 It is estimated, for instance, that as many as 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, though millions may not realize it.<\/p>\n There are, though, many significant signs that can help you\u00a0determine if you\u2019re experiencing sleep apnea<\/a>. This includes snoring, extreme daytime fatigue, waking frequently in the night, and waking with a sore throat. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder, speaking with your doctor or consulting with a sleep specialist may be another important strategy for improving your quality of life.<\/p>\n Explore Triggers, Pressure Points and Treatments<\/strong><\/p>\n Understanding and avoiding your migraine\u00a0triggers\u00a0like stress, medication (or forgetting your medication), and sensory stimuli like sun glare, is a great preventive measure.\u00a0 However, if you have a migraine there are treatments available.\u00a0 Learning the\u00a0pressure points<\/a>\u00a0used for migraine treatment in acupressure and acupuncture can bring relief, as can seeking treatment from specialists. \u00a0Avoiding triggers, and using pressure points are also effective ways to lessen\u00a0ADHD symptoms.\u00a0 If you suffer from acute migraine headaches, you may also need a\u00a0treatment strategy<\/a>\u00a0that includes Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.\u00a0 Always seek advice from a medical doctor when starting any treatment plan.<\/p>\n It is not always easy to live with a chronic condition and, for the millions who experience both ADHD and migraines, the challenges of each new day can be profound. Nevertheless, the comorbidities of ADHD and migraine do not have to deprive you of the quality of life you want and deserve. The good news is that in many cases, there are effective means of managing these conditions \u2014 and improvement in one condition almost always leads to improvement in the other.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with\u00a0Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder\u00a0(ADHD or ADD), then you know that managing the condition presents its own unique challenges. What you may not have realized, however, is that those living with ADHD are also at an\u00a0increased risk for experiencing migraines. While scientists have yet to determine the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Link Between ADHD, Migraine, Stress, Sleep and Anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Simple Migraine Management Strategies<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Takeaway<\/h2>\n