Millions of people around the world suffer from crippling migraines that often make daily life difficult by causing severe pain, light sensitivity, sickness, and other problems. Even though many methods are available, some people still have trouble finding long-lasting relief. More and more people are becoming interested in vitamin B12 shots as a possible way to treat headaches. But do these shots help people who get headaches all the time? Let’s look into the link between B12 and migraines and see if it could be used to help them.
What Vitamin B12 Does for Your Body
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is an essential nutrient that helps the body do many important things. Not only does it help make red blood cells, but it also helps keep the nervous system healthy. B12 is also involved in energy production; it turns food into energy the body can use. Many don’t know that insufficient vitamin B12 can cause neurological problems like headaches, tiredness, and mood changes.
Can not get enough B12 lead to migraines?
There may be a link between headaches and B12 because not getting enough of this vitamin can cause homocysteine levels to rise. High amounts of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood have been linked to a greater chance of getting heart disease and migraines. High homocysteine levels can damage and swell blood vessels, which may make headaches more likely to happen.
A lot of research has shown that people who don’t get enough B12 are more likely to get headaches and migraines. Some people have even said that treating a B12 deficiency can help lower the number and intensity of migraines, which suggests that B12 plays a part in managing migraines.
How B12 shots might help with migraines
B12 supplements taken by mouth can be helpful, but B12 shots are a better and more direct way to get the nutrients into the bloodstream. This is especially helpful for people who may have trouble absorbing B12 through their digestive system, like those with some digestive issues or who have had surgery to lose weight. When you get a B12 shot, the vitamin skips the digestive system and goes right into your bloodstream, where it works faster and more effectively.
B12 shots may help with headaches in the following ways:
- Lowering Homocysteine Levels: As we already said, headaches have been linked to high homocysteine levels. Injections of B12 can help reduce these amounts, which can help improve vascular health and lower inflammation. This may help people with migraines have fewer attacks.
- Enhancing Energy: Being tired is a common cause of headaches. Since B12 is needed to make energy, getting more of it through injections may help fight tiredness and lower the risk of migraines because of low energy.
- Helping the Nervous System Stay Healthy: B12 is essential for keeping the nervous system healthy. Making sure nerves work at their best, B12 shots may help ease the neurological symptoms of headaches, like auras, dizziness, or changes in how you feel.
Who Can Get Better from Migraines with B12 Shots?
Even though B12 injections might not be a miracle cure for headaches, they can help people who don’t have enough B12. If you have headaches often and have tried other treatments that didn’t help, you should have your B12 levels checked. If a lack is found, B12 shots might help, primarily if headaches are caused or worsened by low B12 levels.
Before starting B12 shots, you should talk to a doctor or nurse so that they can look at your specific needs and decide if this treatment is proper for you.
Vitamin B12 shots might be a new way to treat migraines, especially for people who have constant headaches because they don’t get enough B12. B12 injections help lower homocysteine levels, give you more energy, and protect your nervous system, which makes less common and less painful. Though more study is needed to be sure of the link, B12 shots look like a good option for people who want to try natural ways to treat migraines.