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Can Low Potassium And Sodium Lead To Migraine Headaches?
Question: can low potassium or low sodium cause migraine type headaches? Also my wife has cysts on her adrenal glands.
Brief Answer:
Yes they can
Detailed Answer:
Hello! I read your question and I will try to address it.
Migraine can have many possible triggers. Some can be more common like stress, lack of sleep, changes in weather, certain foods and caffeine etc. Others may be more rare, present only in individual patients.
Electrolyte imbalance like low sodium or potassium can be one of these rare causes of migraine type headaches (headache with nausea and vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sound).
However they are rarely isolated they are often related to dehydration and in these more common cases with alteration of several parameters it can be dehydration playing its role as well, as it is a common migraine trigger, so it should be investigated and corrected. They may be related to the cysts in her adrenal glands, but it is hard to assess that without more info on hormonal status, cysts may be asymptomatic in some cases while may alter secretion of hormones (cortisol, aldosterone) leading to changes in hydration and electrolyte levels, that is assessed through blood hormonal tests.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Yes they can
Detailed Answer:
Hello! I read your question and I will try to address it.
Migraine can have many possible triggers. Some can be more common like stress, lack of sleep, changes in weather, certain foods and caffeine etc. Others may be more rare, present only in individual patients.
Electrolyte imbalance like low sodium or potassium can be one of these rare causes of migraine type headaches (headache with nausea and vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sound).
However they are rarely isolated they are often related to dehydration and in these more common cases with alteration of several parameters it can be dehydration playing its role as well, as it is a common migraine trigger, so it should be investigated and corrected. They may be related to the cysts in her adrenal glands, but it is hard to assess that without more info on hormonal status, cysts may be asymptomatic in some cases while may alter secretion of hormones (cortisol, aldosterone) leading to changes in hydration and electrolyte levels, that is assessed through blood hormonal tests.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
She has had increased cortisol levels. they have put her on birth control pills. However she was to use the pills for two months only but she is 3 weeks late on her menses. Seems like if she drinks coffee it has helped decrease her headache so far.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.
That confirms that the issue is not as easy as sodium or potassium loweing in isolation. Changes in estrogen levels are one of the most common triggers of migraine, so the birth control issue may be a cause as well.
Regarding not getting the period, if you mean after stopping the birth control pill it is something which may occur, may take some time for your body to return to normal hormonal production.
As for the high cortisol I am not very clear what has been done about it, birth control pills are not used for that purpose. So if she has high levels that should be addressed either through medication to inhibit cortisol production like ketoconazole or if those cysts are benign tumors secreting cortisol surgery may be considered. I am not very sure what has been done about that. It is by addressing those issues that it may be hoped to eliminate those triggers.
As for coffee in some people it triggers migraine, but only in some, if that is not her case she can go on using it.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.
That confirms that the issue is not as easy as sodium or potassium loweing in isolation. Changes in estrogen levels are one of the most common triggers of migraine, so the birth control issue may be a cause as well.
Regarding not getting the period, if you mean after stopping the birth control pill it is something which may occur, may take some time for your body to return to normal hormonal production.
As for the high cortisol I am not very clear what has been done about it, birth control pills are not used for that purpose. So if she has high levels that should be addressed either through medication to inhibit cortisol production like ketoconazole or if those cysts are benign tumors secreting cortisol surgery may be considered. I am not very sure what has been done about that. It is by addressing those issues that it may be hoped to eliminate those triggers.
As for coffee in some people it triggers migraine, but only in some, if that is not her case she can go on using it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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