Getting a migraine can be one of the most painful, annoying experiences. I've had a few throughout my life but my grandmother has been a life-long sufferer. When I get a really bad one once in a blue, I can barely get out of bed to go to the bathroom. I pretty much just want to lie there and fall asleep, hoping that when I wake up all will be better in the world.
But now there's something else to worry about besides the pain in my head. A new study found that women with migraines are also more likely to develop depression. What's more is that another study found that women with migraines are two and a half times more likely to have a baby with colic, or frequent, prolonged crying.
Basically, the research is showing that if you're a woman who's a mom, you are more likely to have migraines—and therefore more likely to suffer from depression.
The study on migraines and depression found that women with migraines were almost 40% more likely to develop depression than women who had no history of the headaches. That's not good news when three-quarters of Americans who experience migraines are women. And, according to the other study, many may be mothers to babies with colic.
Since there's no real treatment for migraines, the researchers of the migraines-and-depression study, led by Dr. Tobias Kurth, said that they hope their findings will "encourage doctors to speak to their migraine patients about the risk of depression and potential ways to prevent depression."
Doctor's are now thinking that soothing a colicky baby may be easier if you treat the tot the same way you would treat yourself if you had a migraine, i.e. going in to a dark room, reducing stimulation and just generally relaxing until you start to feel better.
In the meantime, I'll definitely be talking to my doctor about these new risks and concerns.
Are you concerned about the news that migraines may lead to depression? Are you planning to talk to your doctor?
Image via melodramababs/flickr
