5 Reasons why you suffer from migraine headaches!

Posted by Charls Gerg on April 29th, 2016

Headaches are very common and may occur to anyone. The usual causes of common headaches are tension, muscle pull, congestion in the blood vessels and also due to stress and anxiety. Some people may also suffer from sinus and headaches may occur due to cold and congestion of cough. But, these headaches would gradually subside on their own or with medication. However, there are headaches that are more crucial and severe in intensity and they are known as migraine headaches.

About migraine headaches:
It is a throbbing and pulsating sensation that many people experience, mostly on one side of the head. It is the most severe type of headache that can last for a few hours to three days in a row. Many people also suffer from chronic migraines in which they experience the signs and symptoms of migraine for about 15 days or more in every month. The usual signs and symptoms of this type of headache are –

• Feeling of nausea
• Feel like vomiting
• Tingling sensation in the arms and legs
• Seeing blind spots
• Temporary loss of vision
• Seeing flashes of light
• Sensitivity to smell, light, sound
• Increase in pain even with slightest of movement

Reasons for migraine headaches:
If you want to know why you suffer from migraine headaches, you need to know about the causes. But, unfortunately, medical science has not been able to identify the root cause behind this excruciating pain. However, there are certain factors, known as “triggers of migraine” that are usually found to be common and persistent reasons behind the pain to occur. Most of the migraine patients have found these triggers to be present, when their migraine attacks occurred.

1. Certain foods:

Certain foods that contain tyramine, histamine and phenylethylamine, have been common triggers behind migraine headaches. These amines dilate the nerves in the brain, resulting in an increased blood rush to the brain and cause the pain. These foods are –

• Aged cheese
• Alcohol such as wine, beer
• Caffeinated drinks and foods like coffee, chocolate
• Citrus fruits like oranges, pickled herring and canned figs
• Proteins like eggs and chicken liver
• Veggies like tomatoes, spinach and broad beans pods

Apart from these foods, every individual patient may have certain foods and drinks that trigger their headaches every time.

2. Chinese Restaurant Syndrome:

In many processed foods and Chinese or Asian restaurants, there is a strong use of MSG or Monosodium glutamate that often triggers the pain.

3. Skipping meals:

Missing or skipping a meal has often been a reason why patients with a history of migraine headaches have had recurring migraine attacks.

4. Hormonal changes:

The fluctuating levels of oestrogen in many women have been strong reasons behind migraine attacks. This occurs especially right before and during the menstrual cycles in women. During pregnancy and menopause also, when the oestrogen levels fall drastically, the women suffer from this pain. Hence, it is seen that more women suffer from migraine than men.

5. Stress and sleep:

Excessive stress, too much or lack of sleep or changes in the routine of sleep can trigger migraine.

These are the most usual reasons behind migraine headaches. But, medications and weather changes and such other factors have also been causes of migraines in many people.

A diary can be maintained for keeping a track of the triggers and causes. One can download the diary from http://www.mewithoutmigraine.com/maintainadiary

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