Your Quarantine Headaches May Be Related To Your Gut + What To Do

In the midst of a pandemic, unhealthy habits and stress may be wreaking havoc on your gut. Because of the gut-brain axis1, whatever goes on in the gut may also affect the brain—including the formation of headaches.

On top of that, stressful situations, like a pandemic, can trigger patterns of emotional eating, sleep fragmentation, and poor mental health. "This can lead to poor food choices and habits and hence gut pain, inflammation, and headaches," board-certified neurologist and mbg Collective member Ilene S. Ruhoy, M.D., Ph.D., says. 

Once you've worked with a doctor and ruled out the latter, managing stress headaches may begin in the gut. Here are a few expert-approved tips to help: 

Eating a diverse, nutrient-rich diet high in fiber, probiotics, and prebiotics can help nurture the bacteria in the gut microbiome. If migraines persist, Ruhoy recommends an elimination diet to help identify specific foods that may be interfering with gut health and potentially causing headaches. "It is important to find a physician to help guide you through an appropriate elimination diet," she adds. 

Take note of your body's response—if you begin to feel less bloated, less gassy, etc., after taking the probiotic, that likely means it's working.* Then, assess whether your headaches have begun to improve. If so, that's a good sign the gut dysbiosis was a contributor.  

To get to the bottom of the gut dysbiosis, Mushtaq recommends getting tested for possible causes of inflammation. "Clinical evaluation could include testing for food sensitivities, screening for Helicobacter pylori2 infection2, irritable bowel syndrome, and other causes of inflammation," she says. Working with a trusted doctor or gastroenterologist can be beneficial for this step.

With the help of a doctor or neurologist, you can get to the root of these issues. Beginning to support gut health and manage stress levels can be helpful.