Chronic migraine cases increased by jawbone disorder

Chronic Migraine

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder patients is the regular occurrence of headaches, many of which extremely severe. In many cases, TMD headaches are commonly diagnosed as Migraine. A new study finds the temporomandibular joint acts like a sliding hinge connecting the jawbone to the skull. The disorder symptoms difficulty chewing and joint tension.

The study shows that patients with chronic migraine, meaning attacks occurring on more than 15 days per month, are three times as likely to report more severe symptoms of TMD than patients with episodic migraine, according to researchers.

Previous studies indicated that migraine associated with pain in the chewing muscles. However, this research considers the frequency of migraine attacks when analyzing its connection with TMD. Eighty-four women in their early to mid-thirties assessed.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Signs and symptoms of TMD observed in 54% of the control participants without migraine, 80% of participants with episodic migraine, and 100% of those with chronic migraine. Researchers explain the association between the frequency of migraine attacks and the severity of TMD.

30 minutes of daily physical activity could prevent early deaths

Migraine and TMD have very similar pathological mechanisms. Migraine affects 15% of the general population, and progression to the chronic form expected in about 2.5% of migraine sufferers. On the other hand, TMD is stress-related as much as it must do with muscle overload. Patients display joint symptoms, such as joint pain, reduced jaw movement, clicking or popping of the temporomandibular joint but also develop a muscular condition, including muscle pain and fatigue, and radiating face and neck pain.

TMD and migraine are comorbidities. However, while people who suffer from migraine predisposed to have TMD, people with TMD will not necessarily have migraine.

"Migraine patients more likely to have signs and symptoms of TMD, but the reverse is not true. The cases of patients with severe TMD who don"t present with migraine," said Débora Grossi, the lead researcher for the study and principal investigator for the Thematic Project.

The researchers believe that TMD may increase the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, even though it does not directly cause migraine.

The findings show the association with TMD exists but is less frequent in patients with rare or episodic migraine.

More information: [FAPESP]