When To Call Your Healthcare Provider
Some kinds of stomach pain need immediate attention. With others, you can call or visit your healthcare provider. It can be hard to know what you should do. Listen to your body and trust your instincts if you’re not sure.
If you have any of these symptoms along with stomach pain, call your healthcare provider within one to two days:
- Fever for three days or longer
- Loss of appetite
- Pain that gets worse or doesn’t get better within one or two days
You should also call your healthcare provider if you have stomach pain while you are being treated for cancer.
What Causes Stomach Pain And Headache At The Same Time
- What Causes Stomach Pain And Headache At The Same Time
Stomach Pain And Headache At The Same Time
When it comes to our health, we jump to the worst conclusions, especially when the cause of the health problem is unknown. And when you combine constant headaches with stomach pain, it can get worrisome for anyone experiencing it.
While not unfamiliar, those who experience migraines get recurrent attacks of pulsating pain, often on one side of the head, resulting in nausea and vomiting. In the case of abdominal migraines or stomach pain due to migraines, the ones affected are usually children. In addition to that, abdominal migraines are slightly less known, therefore, poorly understood.
Today, we will learn the causes, symptoms, and effects of abdominal pain, its similarities and differences with classic migraines, and its preventive measures and treatment options.
Lets begin with the causes first.
Causes Of Stomach Pain And Headache At The Same Time
After plenty of research studies, the exact cause of abdominal pain is yet to be known. Although the connection between the gut and the brain may trigger stomach pain, it is not entirely conclusive.
The idea is to understand the reason behind abdominal pain, considering the most common causes of stomach pain leading to the least common ones, and find treatment options accordingly.
Stomach Pain And Headache Diagnosis & Treatment
The treatment options include:
- Proper hydration
- Antibiotics
Headaches From Common Cold
If you have a cold, theres a good chance youll develop a headache as a symptom. One study found that more than 60% of cold sufferers developed a headache along with their other common cold symptoms, which include a runny nose, sore throat, chills, and a cough. When you have a cold, cytokines are released in the body. These molecules are an important part of your bodys immune defense and while they work to fight your cold, they can cause headaches. Over the counter cold medication helps, but rest and an increase in fluid intake is also recommended.
Read Also: Why Do Migraines Cause Nausea
Headaches Are Interfering With Your Daily Life
If you have headaches that are landing you in bed all day or otherwise making you unable to perform your normal daily activities, its time to see a doctor. You may be experiencing migraines, or the headaches could be a symptom of another underlying issue such as the ones listed above. Only a doctor can assess the cause, so get help as soon as possible.
Topics
How Are Headache And Nausea Treated
Your recommended treatment plan for headache and nausea will depend on the cause of your symptoms.
If you have an underlying medical condition, your doctor will try to treat or manage it. For example, they may recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or other treatments to help prevent or relieve the symptoms of migraines.
In some cases, lifestyle changes or home remedies may help relieve your symptoms. For example:
- If you experience migraine headaches and feel a migraine coming on, stay in a dark and quiet room, and place a cloth-covered ice pack on the back of your neck.
- If you suspect your headache and nausea are caused by stress, consider participating in stress-relieving activities, such as taking a walk or listening to calming music.
- If you suspect youre dehydrated or your blood sugar is low, take a break to drink or eat something.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, may help relieve your headache. Aspirin may be too tough on your stomach and can cause stomach upset.
While some cases of headache and nausea are hard to prevent, you can take steps to lower your chances of experiencing them. For example:
- Get enough sleep.
Also Check: How To Help Stress Headaches
The Microbiome And Abdominal Migraines
The microbiome, the good and bad bacteria in our intestines, tells the brain when the body is healthy or not healthy. “Changes in the microbiome play a key role in gut health and can lead to abdominal migraines and other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome,” says Dr. Sanghavi.
Probiotics, the living “good” bacteria found in foods such as yogurt and cheese help maintain good bacteria in the intestines. The American diet is low in these nutrients, explains Dr. Sanghavi, preventing good bacteria from growing. Taking a lot of antibiotics can also disrupt the healthy balance in the gut and encourage the harmful bacteria to thrive.
The Link Between Migraine Headache And Diarrhea
Diarrhea isnt a common symptom of migraine, but when it happens, it can put you at risk of dehydration.
Stocksy
If you experience diarrhea as a symptom of migraine, the abdominal cramps and dehydration that may result can make your throbbing head pain even more unbearable. Frequent trips to the bathroom can also make escaping to a dark room or sleeping off migraine pain impossible for those unfortunate people who have diarrhea along with their headaches.
There may be ways to manage your medications and the foods you eat to help ease your gastrointestinal symptoms and even shorten your migraine attacks. Here are some answers to common questions about diarrhea and migraine.
Recommended Reading: Foods To Eat For Headaches
What Are The Treatment Options
A number of things can ease migraine with nausea. They include:
Lifestyle changes.Stress is a common trigger for nauseating migraine headaches. Find ways to cut it, and your attacks could get less severe and happen less often. What else helps? Quit smoking, and keep a diary to identify any foods that trigger your headaches. Common culprits include chocolate and alcohol.
Medications. Your doctor might prescribe drugs to prevent migraine headaches, to stop them once they’ve started, and to relieve your symptoms.
You can also take anti-nausea medications during your headache. They come in different forms, like pills, suppositories, syrups, and shots. They have a number of side effects, so work with your doctor to find one that works for you.
Complementary treatments. Some evidence shows that biofeedback and acupuncture may help ease migraine and related symptoms, such as nausea.
Show Sources
National Headache Foundation: “American Migraine Study II: A Ten Year Report Card on the State of Migraine,â “Migraine,” âMenstrual Migraine,â âGlaucoma.”
American Academy of Family Physicians, familydoctor.org: “Headaches,” “Management of Cluster Headache,â âFood Poisoning.”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, womenshealth.gov: “Migraine.”
Vestibular Disorders Association: “Vestibular migraine.”
American Hearing Research Foundation: “Migraine Associated Vertigo.”
American Headache Society: “Migraine Variants in Children.”
News release, FDA.
How Do I Know If I Have A Dehydration Headache
There are many different types of headaches. Some headaches have no known cause. Healthcare providers call these primary headaches.
Dehydration headaches are secondary headaches because providers know what causes them. You probably have a dehydration headache if:
- Headache pain goes away or gets better with water and rest.
- Pain is only in your head .
- You also have other symptoms of dehydration.
If your headache doesnt get better after drinking water and resting, see your provider for a checkup. Another condition or illness may be causing your headache. Your provider may order imaging studies to see pictures of your brain and determine whats causing the pain.
Don’t Miss: Does Low Barometric Pressure Cause Headaches
Tmj Headaches And Symptoms
TMJ headaches are related to the temporomandibular joint, the joint responsible for opening and closing the jaw. If your headache is TMJ-related, you might notice a painful clicking-sound each time you open your mouth. Sometimes, the way your teeth line up when biting causes stress on this joint, leading to a headache. Other times, stress is a factor, especially if it causes you to clench your jaw. The use of a bite plane or nightguard can help both treat and prevent TMJ-related headaches. You can try over the counter bite planes or nightguards but if they dont work well enough, your dentist can custom-make one for you.
Can Digestive Issues Cause Migraine
It hasnt been proven that irritable bowel syndrome causes migraine or vice versa, says Spears, but there is a correlation between the two conditions. If you have migraine, it seems youre more likely to have IBS, and if you have IBS, youre more likely to have migraine, he says.
A study published in the Polish Journal of Neurology and Neurosurgery found that 23 to 53 percent of people with IBS experienced frequent headaches, and that 10 to 20 percent of the population had both migraine and IBS.
A diagnosis of IBS is different from gastrointestinal symptoms during a migraine attack, says Spears. When a person has IBS, they are having either diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal bloating going on most of the time, and they can cycle between those different phases, says Spears.
Even if you experience those types of GI symptoms in migraine, they wouldnt be present all the time, he explains. Even in chronic migraine, you wouldnt have a lot of patients in that category, he says.
Chronic migraine is when a person experiences 15 or more days per month of headache with migrainous features for at least three months, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. Episodic migraine is when a person has fewer than 15 headache days per month.
RELATED: What You Need to Know About IBS and Migraine
Read Also: Ophthalmic Migraine Vs Ocular Migraine
Managing Migraines At Home
A migraine is a common type of headache. It may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. Most people feel a throbbing pain on only one side of their head during a migraine.
Some people who get migraines have warning signs, called an aura, before the actual headache begins. An aura is a group of symptoms that includes vision changes. An aura is a warning sign that a bad headache is coming.
Migraine headaches can be triggered by certain foods. The most common are:
- Any processed, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods, as well as foods that contain monosodium glutamate
- Baked goods, chocolate, nuts, and dairy products
- Fruits
- Meats containing sodium nitrates, such as bacon, hot dogs, salami, and cured meats
- Red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken liver, figs, and certain beans
Alcohol, stress, hormonal changes, skipping meals, lack of sleep, certain odors or perfumes, loud noises or bright lights, exercise, and cigarette smoking may also trigger a migraine.
Possible Causes Of Upset Stomach Every Morning
1. Morning Sickness
For women in the early stages of pregnancy, upset stomachs can strike any time during the day, but the stomach issues usually occur first thing in the morning. The morning sickness typically doesn’t pose any risk to the pregnancy, and although the nausea is annoying and uncomfortable, the most common symptom is vomiting. The good news is that after the first trimester, the symptoms usually pass. Discuss with your health care provider the severity and frequency of the symptoms to make sure you do not develop other complications or become anemic.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a chronic disorder that causes food to move too quickly through the digestive track. Normally, IBS doesn’t create any lasting damage in your colon however, it can cause early morning stomach issues and diarrhea. Any change in routines or added stress can cause IBS symptoms to appear more frequently. Restless sleep has also been known to aggravate IBS symptoms first thing in the morning. Other symptoms may include abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, and watery diarrhea. Thankfully, a high fiber diet and a relaxing period before bedtime can help prevent these issues.
3. Gastritis
4. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
5. Pancreatitis
6. Cholecystitis
7. Peptic Ulcers
8. Dehydration
Read Also: Where To Get Botox For Migraines
Why Does Your Stomach Hurt
Stomach cramps can range from mild achiness to severe, stabbing pain.
Common causes of stomach cramps include eating foods that can irritate your stomach, constipation, food poisoning, or a stomach infection. People who have anxiety may also develop stomach cramps.
Pregnant people may experience stomach cramps as the fetus grows. Menstrual cramps are also very common, though they actually take place in the uterus.
Sometimes stomach cramps are constant. In this case, a chronic digestive illness, such as irritable bowel disease, may be the cause.
Most stomach cramps go away on their own within a few hours or a couple of days. Changing what you eat and taking over-the-counter medication can help with symptoms while you recover.
Some stomach cramps may require medical attention. You should be concerned about stomach cramps if they last for a week or longer or are so severe that you cant function, or you also have symptoms like fever or blood in your vomit or stool.
When To Get Medical Advice
You should see a GP if you have frequent or severe migraine symptoms that cannot be managed with occasional use of over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol.
Try not to use the maximum dosage of painkillers on a regular or frequent basis as this could make it harder to treat headaches over time.
You should also make an appointment to see a GP if you have frequent migraines , even if they can be controlled with medicine, as you may benefit from preventative treatment.
You should call 999 for an ambulance immediately if you or someone you’re with experiences:
- paralysis or weakness in 1 or both arms or 1 side of the face
- slurred or garbled speech
- a sudden agonising headache resulting in a severe pain unlike anything experienced before
- headache along with a high temperature , stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, double vision and a rash
These symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a stroke or meningitis, and should be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible.
Also Check: Headache Rack For Ram 2500
What Can You Do For This Kind Of Headache
A headache that does not go away for days can be exhausting. Nobody wants to live their day with constant throbbing pains.
What shall you do when your headaches last for days?
These ways are effective in coping chronic headaches:
-
Treatment of pain and other related problems. When we feel a random headache, it is okay to take medication to ease the pain away. Always remember though that we should follow the dosage prescribed by our doctor. If you feel that the medicine does not work and wants to increase your dosage, always consult with your medical team first.
-
If you’re taking over-the-counter medicines, always read the instruction on the label first and don’t take beyond the recommended dosage.
-
Headache can be a symptom of an underlying disease or condition. Make sure that you get proper medical treatment to deal with other health concerns.
-
Have some R& R. Getting proper rest and relaxation is not only important in providing relief for headaches, but also plays a crucial role in preventing migraines and headaches.
-
Reach out for support. Having a headache that lasts for a few days can affect your work and your family. Make sure that you have a strong support system that can give a hand on some of your tasks and provide encouragement when you are in pain.
Headache And Upset Stomach
Submitted:Category: Dr. D. Evans
It may present in different ways, one of the commonest ways is to present as a continuous diarrhea. It is an easily treatable condition, and will require some lifestyle changes, and specially some changes in your diet.However, you do need to consult your doctor, two other conditions which are similar, but which do not seem likely in your case, are ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. You will have to rule them out, plus your doctor can start your treatment.You can look up these sites for more info:
Also Check: Headache With High Blood Pressure
See Your Doctor As Soon As Possible If You Experience Any Of These Troubling Symptoms
We all get headaches from time to time. They can be brought on by annoying but manageable reasons such as stress,dehydration or your menstrual cycle, or they could be the result of an ongoing medical issue, such as migraines.
But how can you tell when a headache is a symptom of an even more serious or life-threatening problem? Here are some signs to look for.
Treatment For Headaches And Nausea
A number of things can ease migraine with nausea. They include:
- Lifestyle changes. Stress is a common trigger for nauseating migraine headaches. Find ways to cut it, and your attacks could get less severe and happen less often. What else helps? Quit smoking, and keep a diary to identify any foods that trigger your headaches. Common culprits include chocolate and alcohol.
- Medications. Your doctor might prescribe drugs to prevent migraine headaches, to stop them once they’ve started, and to ease your symptoms. You can also take anti-nausea medications during your headache. They come in different forms, like pills, suppositories, syrups, and shots. They have a number of side effects, so work with your doctor to find the best one for you.
- Complementary treatments. Some evidence shows that biofeedback and acupuncture may help ease migraine and related symptoms, such as nausea. Meditation can also help.
Also Check: Headaches At Night And In The Morning
Should I Limit Caffeine If I Have Migraine And Diarrhea
People with migraine have several reasons to use caffeine with caution. One is that either too much or too little caffeine can trigger a migraine attack. Another is that ingesting too much caffeine regularly can contribute to medication-overuse headache.
With regard to diarrhea, specifically, caffeine is a stimulant that increases gut motility, or the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract, according to Michigan Health. In some people, caffeine consumption can result in loose stools or diarrhea, which can be dehydrating.
Your own experience will guide your decision about whether and how much caffeine to consume during or between migraine attacks.