With that said, could your daily intake of java or matcha be helping or relieving your headaches and throbbing pain? Or, if you’re dismissing these excitable pets for any reason, is it worth having them go away for a while? We asked registered dietitian Maddie Pasquariello of Brooklyn, MS, RDN to point out the link between caffeine and migraine (coffee).
How does caffeine affect migraines?
To begin with, Pasquariello calls the interaction between adenosine (a neurotransmitter that promotes rest), caffeine, and migraine in terms of nerve activity. “Adenosine is known to have an inhibitory effect on parts of the nervous system. It regulates our sleep-wake cycle, but is also involved in arousal, attention, pain regulation, and concentration,” she says. When caffeine is in your system, it inhibits adenosine’s ability to bind to adenosine receptors. Result? More alert, but also potentially pain-relieving. In fact, you may have noticed that caffeine is often added to OTC pain relievers and migraine relievers for this reason.
When caffeine is in your system, it inhibits adenosine’s ability to bind to adenosine receptors. Result? More alert, but also potentially pain-relieving. In fact, you may have noticed that caffeine is often added to OTC pain relievers and migraine relievers for this reason.
“Caffeine has been shown to enhance pain relief.” [i.e., pain-alleviating] effects of OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen,” explains Pasquariello. The mechanisms by which this occurs are unclear, but she notes that the role of the stimulant as a competitive antagonist of adenosine receptors is one factor. “Other mechanisms could include improved absorption of ibuprofen by lowering gastric pH or increasing blood flow, or it could simply be due to a reduction in pain sensation due to caffeine’s role in improving mood. status.”
So does caffeine help migraines or cause migraines?
Based on the above information, it seems that caffeine is more helpful than harmful in relieving migraines. But as with most things, it will depend on many mitigating factors, such as:
- How much caffeine do you consume?
- How often do you consume caffeine?
- Your personal tolerance to caffeine
- Other health conditions you have and/or medications you take
However, according to a 2020 review of more than two dozen studies on caffeine and migraines published in the journal nutrients, “all treatment studies have shown caffeine to be safe and effective in the treatment of acute migraine, mainly in combination with other analgesics.” The authors add that to date there is not enough evidence to recommend stopping caffeine for migraine relief…with some important caveats.
But related story
First, people with migraines should limit their caffeine intake to 200 milligrams per day, which equates to about two 8-ounce cups of coffee. However, Pasquariello says that if you rarely consume caffeine, you shouldn’t hit this daily threshold right away because it can trigger migraines.
Second, caffeine withdrawal was found to be the cause of migraines in 30% of participants. So, in contrast, it’s not ideal if you drastically reduce your caffeine intake overnight or eat cold turkey. Although Pasquariello says very high caffeine consumption is associated with an increased risk of migraines, it’s best to reduce your intake slowly until you reach your 200-milligram limit. “If you’re looking to reduce your overall caffeine intake and fear headaches or migraine triggers, make sure you do so safely and in conjunction with your medical team,” she advises. me.
Lessons on caffeine and migraines
“The general consensus is that by maintaining a fairly low and consistent intake over time, one can avoid caffeine consumption. [negatively] affect migraine severity,” says Pasquariello. In other words, your morning coffee or matcha latte is unlikely to make your migraines worse.
“The general consensus is that by maintaining a fairly low and consistent intake over time, one can avoid caffeine consumption. [negatively] affect migraine severity,” says Pasquariello. In other words, your morning coffee or matcha latte is unlikely to make your migraines worse.
Pasquariello also mentions that stress, bright lights, and poor sleep are major triggers for migraines, which can sometimes revert to caffeine. “Since you’re more likely to drink coffee if you’re sleep-deprived—and many of us do when we’re stressed—you can blame your caffeine intake on sleep deprivation or stress levels. Straightforward is the primary cause,” she shares. With that in mind, caffeine may not be the root cause, so be aware of overlapping triggers to inform prevention regimens. prevent your migraines.
