Magnesium & Tension Headaches

A magnesium deficiency can result in cluster headaches, regular headaches and migraines. The Mayo Clinic reports that magnesium taken intravenously appears to help those who are suffering from an acute headache. Ask your physician if you should be taking a magnesium supplement, which reportedly helps the arteries and veins in your head to relax, increasing blood flow.

At Risk

• If you drink a lot of alcohol, soda, smoke, are stressed, have low thyroid function, chronic pain, diabetes, a high calcium diet or high carbohydrate diet, any one of these factors can contribute to a magnesium deficiency.

Deficiency

• A magnesium deficiency sets the scene for a tension headache or a migraine headache, according to Dr. Michael Murray, who notes that the recommended dosage is 150 to 250 mg three times a day and advises taking magnesium that is bound to malate, aspartate or citrate, which are better absorbed than inorganic forms of magnesium.

On the Other Hand

• Patients note relief from migraines when they take magnesium supplements, but those patients suffering from tension headaches don’t appear to receive the same benefits, according to the The New York Times online Health Guide.

Diagnosis

• You can determine your magnesium and calcium ratio by having a strand of your hair analyzed. Migraine sufferers have a low ratio of magnesium to calcium.

Menstruation

• Menstruation is often associated with headaches because the fluctuation in hormones, particularly the drop in estrogen, results in constriction of the blood vessels in the head, which prompts a headache. Taking magnesium with other supplements may help balance your hormone level, according to Life Clinic.