Does soda really help with migraines? It sounds like a myth, but a doctor says it might not be

Some of those who suffer from migraine headaches have become attuned to when one is about to set in, for others it comes out of the blue. Either way, the intense throbbing pain can be debilitating, the World Health Organization says that migraines are one of the top ten most disabling ailments on Earth.

However, less than 5% of the more than 37 million sufferers in the US have been seen by a doctor to get appropriate care according to the American Migraine Foundation. Instead, sufferers have sought out all sorts of cures and treatments in an attempt to find a way to stop one or even prevent them.

What the experts say about soda helping with migraines

There are several wives’ tales about what you can do to stave off or stop a migraine in its tracks like drinking soda. At face value, this method could work for certain people that suffer from migraine headaches.

According to doctors it’s the caffeine and sugar in the drink that are helping to soothe the pain. It is also part of the ‘McMigraine meal’ which also includes French fries, for the salt that they contain. But experts warn that drinking soda is not a cure for the throbbing headaches.

In fact, unfortunately, the same substances in these “cures” can also be migraine triggers for others, or if taken in too large a quantity “actually make these underlying issues worse over time,” cautioned Norbert Heuser, a health and wellness advocate, speaking to Fox News Digital.

Blake Livingood, a doctor of natural medicine, told the outlet that he recommended a healthier way to ingest those substances for those who find that a bit of sugar and salt help with their migraines. “Watermelon can give you good electrolytes and improve blood flow, especially if you sprinkle a little salt on it, which also happens to taste great,” he shared.

How does soda help with migraines?

“Caffeine can constrict blood vessels and change blood flow to the brain, which might help if your headache is related to dilation of those vessels,” Livingood explained. “But the idea that soda actually cures or prevents migraines - no, it doesn’t,” he added.

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