Migraine headaches represent a serious health issue in America today, and the statistics are staggering. Everyone seems to be searching for an answer on how to stop these painful episodes, bot solutions are few and far between. One step I encourage patients to take, however, is to look at their consumption of magnesium, a vital nutrient.

Magnesium is involved in hundreds of cellular functions that are very relevant to the discussion of how to prevent and manage migraine headaches. When magnesium levels are low there are significant changes in the release of brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, that play a pivotal role in the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. In addition, low magnesium levels lead to an increase in the production and release of a chemical called substance P (the “P” stands for pain) which is thought to activate sensory fibers for pain.

You can learn more about the relationship between migraines and magnesium in my blog post on the subject.