According to earlier studies, migraine may make a person more susceptible to a number of illnesses, including gastrointestinal disorders.
According to research from Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea, migraines may also be associated with a higher chance of developing irritable bowel disease (IBD), a general term that encompasses ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Over 1 billion people worldwide experience at least one migraine attack year. According to earlier research, migraines may make a person more susceptible to several illnesses such as anxiety, depression, heart disease, stroke, and epilepsy. Additionally, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders have been connected to migraines.
Scientific Reports, a publication, released the study lately.
In depth
Researchers examined data from over 10 million South Korean citizens who were enrolled in the country’s healthcare system for the current study. IBD affected about 3% of the study’s participants.
Scientists discovered through the data that persons with migraines had a much higher incidence of IBD than people without migraines.
Additionally, using subgroups of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis occurrences, scientists examined the data. Compared to those without migraine, those with migraine in both subgroups had a greater chance of getting either illness.
Researchers discovered that individuals with migraine diagnoses had an increased risk of getting Crohn’s disease, with a statistically significant increase observed after a 5-year follow-up.
Furthermore, researchers found that among the groupings, males were more likely than women to have a migraine’s impact on their likelihood of getting ulcerative colitis.
Take away
This is not the first study to examine a potential link between IBD and migraine. Adults with IBD had a greater frequency of migraine or severe headaches than adults without the condition, according to a March 2021 survey of Americans. According to research released in March 2023, individuals with migraines—both with and without aura—are more likely to get IBD.
The research team recommends that individuals with migraine be closely watched for the emergence of IBD in light of these findings.
Finding potential medical conditions that could cause IBD is crucial because, if a doctor is aware of these conditions, they may be able to lessen the symptoms of IBD.
