IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Migraine

In various studies of individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, 23-53% report migraine headaches. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea. IBS affects about 20% of the general population in Western countries, and up to 7% in Asian countries.

In addition to migraine, individuals with IBS have been found to be more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia. Although there were fewer individuals in Asian populations wtih IBS, the per cent who had generalized anxiety disorder was the same as in Western countries. There is growing evidence that an early history of childhood abuse or emotional neglect may place you at increased risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome.

The good news is that behavioral treatments such as relaxation therapy, hypnotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy may be effective for helping to control the symptoms of IBS. The depression-anxiety connection with IBS is not the only reason that people with irritable bowel syndrome are sometimes given medications used for depression, though. These medications affect a neurotransmitter called serotonin. Most of the body’s serotonin (over 90%) is found in the nerves that supply the bowel; a smaller amount is in the brain regions that control them. So, whether you work with medication or with behavioral means, there really is a mind-body connection here—and a brain-gut connection, too.

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