New research links migraines with insomnia

Machael Wade

Psychology Beat

Jour 271

2/12/13

A recent study linking sleeping disorders with migraines may help to solve the big question of how migraines begin.

Dr. Smitherman a psychology professor at the University of Mississippi is in the process of researching migraines. The major study he is doing right now is linking insomnia to migraines by studying sleep behaviors and patterns. 

Many people get migraines and there is not an official cure.

 “A cure would be a great success for the medical community and for everyone who suffers from migraines,” Smitherman said.

It was once believed migraines were caused from blood vessels being dilated, while this is still the case it also has to do with hyper sensitivity of the brain. A migraine is not just a bad headache there is a swelling in the brain. Dr. Smitherman has talked with many people who say their migraines last up to 3 days without relief.. A migraine is sensitivity to light and sound and may cause nausea or vomiting (National Institutes of Health). 

The study being conducted is to watch different people with insomnia who also get migraines. In his recent tests he is having his test subjects only use their beds for sleeping at night. They cannot take naps or sit in their beds for any other reasons. Dr. Smitherman is teaching his test subjects how to improve sleep habits with diets, exercise and stress. 

Not getting enough sleep can trigger a migraine. Many researchers have tested to see if certain types of food can cause headaches, but Smitherman found when it came down to it that was almost never the case. 

Dr. Smitherman first became interested in migraines when he was an intern at Jackson Medical School. He himself has never had a migraine, but he thought there would be a lot of opportunity to do research because not much is known today about migraines. 

There is a big demand to find a cure for migraines,” Smitherman said. About 12 percent of the U.S. population gets migraines (Medline Plus).

Max Shumake, a psychology student at Ole Miss, found Dr. Smitherman’s study very interesting and has done a little research on his own about migraines. Shumake has found that they have tried helping insomnia with medications and while that does work for insomnia the headache is still there because natural sleep was needed to help the headache.

Insomnia and migraines are both psychological problems that is why the psychology department researches these studies. 

 http://www.healingwell.com/library/migraines/mcelhinney5.asphttp://www.olemiss.edu/depts/psychology/