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Migraines are severe headaches that cause debilitating, throbbing, and pulsating head pain that can be felt on one or both sides of the head. They are often accompanied by nausea, light and sound sensitivity, fatigue, and vision changes. While the exact cause of migraines is not fully understood, they are believed to be linked to the dilation of blood vessels in the head and inflammation surrounding nerves and blood vessels in the brain. In addition to these factors, muscle tension in the neck, scalp, jaw, and shoulders may also play a role in triggering migraine attacks. This is particularly true for those who experience frequent or long-lasting migraine headaches, as muscle tightness can be both a symptom and a trigger of headaches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Migraine cause | Inflammatory substances surrounding blood vessels and nerves in the brain |
| Tension headache cause | Muscle tension |
| Mixed tension migraine | Has symptoms of both migraine and tension headaches |
| Mixed tension migraine treatment | Medication, avoiding triggers, magnesium and vitamin B2, regular meals, hydration, exercise, sleep, relaxation training, meditation, massage, physical therapy, moist heat, CBT, biofeedback |
| Tension headache treatment | Massage, relaxation exercises, meditation, biofeedback, good posture, neck and shoulder exercises, sleep, rest, heat |
| Tension headache triggers | Stress, depression, anxiety, head injury, sleeping in a cold room, abnormal sleeping position, holding the head in one position for a long time, noise, glare |
| Migraine triggers | Sensitivity to specific chemicals and preservatives in foods, family history, gender |
| Migraine symptoms | Mood changes, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, increased hunger and thirst, frequent urination, muscle weakness, vision changes, ringing in ears, numbness and tingling, difficulty speaking, nausea, light/sound/odour sensitivity, stiff neck |
| Hemiplegic migraine | Extreme muscle weakness, temporary paralysis on one side of the body, stroke-like symptoms |
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What You'll Learn
Migraines and muscle tension can be linked to stress
Migraines and muscle tension are often linked, and stress is a common factor in both. While the specific causes of migraines are not yet fully understood, they are associated with the dilation of blood vessels in the head. Migraines are characterised by severe, throbbing head pain that can be accompanied by nausea, light and sound sensitivity, vision changes, and fatigue.
Muscle tension is a significant factor in tension headaches, which are the most common type of headache, according to the World Health Organization. Tension headaches occur when the muscles in the neck and scalp become tense or contract, and stress is a common trigger for this type of headache. Additionally, during a migraine attack, muscle tightness in the neck, shoulders, upper back, and jaw can become a driver of migraine pain.
Stress is a significant contributor to both migraines and muscle tension. For individuals prone to tension headaches, stress can be a trigger. Similarly, stress is known to promote hemiplegic migraines, a rare and serious type of migraine that can cause extreme muscle weakness or temporary paralysis on one side of the body. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and biofeedback, can help manage stress and, consequently, reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines and tension headaches.
Furthermore, muscle tension can be both a symptom and a trigger for migraines. Prolonged migraine attacks can lead to muscle tightness, particularly in the neck, shoulders, upper back, and jaw. This muscle tightness, in turn, can become a driver of migraine pain, creating a cycle of migraine and muscle tension. Managing muscle tension through relaxation techniques, massage, moist heat, and physical therapy can help break this cycle and provide relief.
In summary, while the relationship between migraines and muscle tension is complex, stress is a significant factor linking the two. Effective stress management through relaxation techniques and therapy can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines and tension headaches. Additionally, addressing muscle tension through massage, heat therapy, and physical therapy can provide further relief and help break the cycle of migraine and muscle tension.
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Migraines can cause muscle weakness
Migraines are characterised by the recurrence of severe headaches, and muscle weakness can be a symptom. One type of migraine, the hemiplegic migraine, can cause muscle weakness so extreme that it results in temporary paralysis on one side of the body. This paralysis is generally short-term, lasting a few days at most, and usually goes away within 24 hours. While hemiplegic migraines are rare, they can be serious and have symptoms similar to those of a stroke.
Muscle tightness is a driver of migraine headaches, and tight muscles can be both a symptom and a trigger of headaches. Tight muscles are a source of pain in tension headaches, which are caused by muscle tension and are the most common type of headache. Mixed tension migraines have symptoms of both migraine and tension headaches, and it is believed that the migraine comes first and causes tension that triggers a tension headache.
Tight muscles can be caused by fatigue, and muscles need energy to relax. People who have insomnia, for example, do not get enough sleep to build metabolic energy, which can lead to muscle tightness. Tight muscles can also be caused by a lack of iron, which is needed to produce haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. People who are anemic lack red blood cells, which bring the oxygen needed to make energy. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) can also make it difficult for the body to build energy.
To relieve muscle tension, it is recommended to use a heating pad, which increases energy metabolism, allowing muscles to relax and improving circulation. Heat also opens up blood vessels, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the muscle and flushing out waste products that irritate nerve fibres and cause pain. Relaxation exercises, meditation, and massage may also help relieve muscle tension.
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Migraines can be treated with muscle relaxation techniques
Migraines are debilitating, throbbing, and pulsating headaches that can cause nausea, fatigue, and vision changes. They can be extremely disruptive, leaving sufferers bedridden for days. While medication can help, migraines can also be treated with muscle relaxation techniques.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Progressive muscle relaxation is a proven technique that helps reduce migraine pain and the frequency of attacks. It involves tensing and relaxing muscle groups one at a time, starting with the hands and working upwards. A 2016 study found that patients who completed a 6-week progressive muscle relaxation training reported having fewer migraine attacks, even after the program had ended. PMR can be practiced using a smartphone app, which guides users through the process.
Breathing Techniques
Breathing exercises can also help to prevent migraine attacks and ease pain. The 4-7-8 breathing technique, developed by Dr. Andrew Weil, involves inhaling for 4 seconds, holding your breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the body's rest-and-relax response. Other techniques include rhythmic breathing, where you slow down short and hurried breathing by taking long, slow breaths, and visualized breathing, where you imagine relaxation entering and tension leaving your body with each breath.
Yoga and Meditation
Yoga combines careful breathing and calming meditation with body poses that help stretch and strengthen muscles and tendons. Meditation can also be practiced independently to help manage stress and reduce the odds of a migraine attack.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback uses electronic devices to measure physical responses such as breathing rate, heart rate, and muscle tension. This information is then fed back to the user in the form of graphs or sounds, helping them learn to control their body's response to stress and tension.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a psychotherapy approach that helps change thought patterns and behaviors that can increase tension and the risk of a migraine attack. It teaches sufferers to identify and change stressful thoughts and lower their stress levels.
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Migraines can be caused by muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders
Migraines are severe headaches that cause debilitating, throbbing, and pulsating head pain that can affect one or both sides of the head. They can be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, vision changes, light and sound sensitivity, and mood changes.
While the exact cause of migraines is not fully understood, they are believed to be related to the abnormal secretion of neurotransmitters in the brain, which leads to inflammation of blood vessels and constriction of arteries supplying blood to the brain.
Now, coming to the role of muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders:
Firstly, it is important to distinguish between tension headaches and migraines. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, caused by muscle tension in the neck and scalp. They are often described as a mild to moderate band-like tightness around the head and can be triggered by stress, depression, anxiety, or physical factors like sleeping position or prolonged maintenance of a particular head position.
On the other hand, migraines are more severe and are associated with moderate to severe throbbing pain in the head or neck, along with other symptoms like nausea and increased sensitivity to sound or light.
While tension headaches and migraines are distinct, they can also occur together, resulting in what is known as a mixed tension migraine. In such cases, muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders can contribute to or trigger migraine attacks. This is supported by several accounts of individuals experiencing migraine symptoms triggered by tension in these areas.
Additionally, it is important to note that the relationship between muscle tension and migraines can be bidirectional. In some cases, migraine may be the cause of muscle tension, particularly in the neck and jaw, as evidenced by individuals reporting neck and jaw stiffness as a precursor or accompanying symptom of their migraines.
To conclude, while muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders may not always be the primary cause of migraines, it can be a contributing factor, especially in the case of mixed tension migraines. Furthermore, the relationship between muscle tension and migraines can be complex, with muscle tension sometimes being a symptom rather than a cause. Managing muscle tension through techniques like massage, physical therapy, exercise, and stress management can be a valuable part of migraine management and prevention.
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Migraines can be treated with medication
Mixed tension migraines are a combination of migraine and tension headache symptoms. They are believed to be caused by inflammatory substances surrounding blood vessels and nerves in the brain. Migraines can cause tension, which in turn triggers a tension headache.
Tension headaches occur when neck and scalp muscles become tense or contract, often in response to stress, depression, head injury, or anxiety. They can occur at any age but are most common in adults and older teens, and slightly more common in women. They can usually be treated at home with painkillers, and by avoiding triggers.
Migraines, on the other hand, are a brain-related condition that can cause debilitating, throbbing, one-sided head pain, as well as vision loss or distortion, nausea, light or sound sensitivity, and fatigue. They can last for several hours or days. Migraines can be treated with medication, and there are several options available. Triptans are a class of medications that treat migraines by changing how blood circulates in the brain and how the brain processes pain signals. They are a first-line treatment for migraines and are not habit-forming. They come in many forms, including pill, nasal spray, and injection. Ergots, such as dihydroergotamine, and anti-emetics, such as promethazine, are also effective in treating migraines. For nausea, anti-emetics such as ondansetron, promethazine, or prochlorperazine are recommended.
In addition to medication, there are several other methods to relieve mixed tension migraines. Magnesium and vitamin B2 deficiencies have been noted in people with migraines, so increasing your intake of these vitamins may help prevent migraines. Eating regularly, staying hydrated, exercising, and getting enough sleep might also help. Relaxation training, meditation, massage, and physical therapy may also provide relief.
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Frequently asked questions
Migraines are severe headaches that can be accompanied by muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, upper back, and jaw. This muscle tension can become a driver of migraine headaches. However, there is no evidence that migraines cause full-body muscle tension.
There are several methods that can help relieve muscle tension caused by migraines. Applying a heating pad to the affected area can help relax the muscles by increasing energy metabolism and improving circulation. Massaging the sore muscles may also provide relief.
Migraine symptoms vary from person to person and can occur during four different stages. Some common symptoms include mood changes, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, increased hunger and thirst, frequent urination, muscle weakness, vision changes, ringing in the ears, and nausea.
