Could Gastric Bypass Surgery Help Migraine Sufferers?

If you are considered obese and you suffer from migraine headaches, you have two reasons to consider the possibility of undergoing the procedure known as a gastric bypass surgery according to a recent study. This study has shown that the surgery can not only improve your health by removing the excess weight from your body it may also lessen your migraine pain or help eliminate it all together.

The study was conducted The American Society For Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery in Orlando. The study looked at 81 patients, mostly women who had a body mass index of 48 or higher. Each patient was on migraine medication. The researchers separated the group into two groups. One group was of people who had migraines before they were considered obese. The other group was of people who said they began developing migraines after they put on the weight. The groups were followed for a period of eight years, during this time each patient had a gastric bypass.

What were the findings?

Group number one was made up of people who started having migraines after gaining weight. There were a total of 51 people in this group. Forty eight of these people showed improvement after surgery. Forty-one stated that didn't have any more migraines.

Group number two consisted of people who had migraines essentially all their lives. There were 24 people in this group and 18 had seen improvement in the migraines since having surgery. Eleven people stated that they were no longer having migraines.

The research makes one wonder if the hormone changes that occur after the surgery may be the cause of the reduction in migraines?

If you think you may be interested in having a gastric bypass surgery, speak to your physician and gather all the facts first.

Sources:

webmd.com