Pain Connection?

Some common digestive ailments may cause problems a long way from your belly.

Up to 2 million Americans may have celiac disease. People with this problem can develop serious damage in their small intestine when they eat gluten, which is found in certain grains.

Inflammatory bowel disease in which the immune system attacks digestive organs affects at least another million Americans.

An extra-large number of people with these conditions may also have migraine headaches.

A study recently presented at an American Academy of Neurology conference examined the link.

Researchers included people with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or gluten sensitivity, as well as people without any of these problems.

People with celiac disease were nearly four times more likely to report migraines compared to those without any of these digestive issues. People with inflammatory bowel disease were nearly three times as likely to have them. And in people with gluten sensitivity, migraines were more than nine times more common!

If migraines are a problem for you, talk to your doctor. A number of medications are available to help prevent and treat migraine attacks.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.