The Migraine: Find 10 Possible Causes Of Your Headache

Many people suffer from migraine, an atypical headache. Pain attacks usually include a throbbing sensation or throbbing pain accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, can sometimes cause nausea and vomiting, and last from 4 to 72 hours.

Know now 10 causes of migraines and avoid this suffering.

For migraine sufferers, the attacks can seem random. However, one strategy that can help is identifying possible triggers: things, situations, or activities that have a high probability of triggering a migraine.

While the factors aren’t always clear, many doctors suggest keeping a headache diary, an attempt to identify and ultimately avoid circumstances that seem to trigger the migraine.

Triggers vary from person to person, and even from day to day. Determining and controlling personal triggers can be an exercise in self-awareness that gives you more control over your migraine, especially when combined with an overall healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management.

10 possible causes for your migraine

Changes in sleep routine

Studies such as  Inamorato, E., Minatti-Hannuch, SN, Zukerman, E. claim that changes in sleep routine cause migraine. This is because if we get too little sleep or experience a decompensated schedule , the brain can be put under unnecessary stress.

The ideal is to always get up at the same time every day, including Saturdays and Sundays. It sounds difficult, but it’s worth it, you can not only avoid headaches but also help your sleep.

Changing your biological clock several hours a weekend makes your body not have a fixed time. This can cause problems both for sleep and for your future health.

calm after stress

It makes sense that stress is a migraine trigger for many people. But what actually results in migraine is the period of relaxation after stress.

The body’s response to stress increases the levels of various chemicals that quickly decay once we calm down.

This difference in the levels of these compounds may be a trigger for migraine. This explains why an attack can come on the first day of vacation, the day after you leave a stressful job, or the start of your honeymoon.

The rain

Although there is no definitive research that correlates weather with migraines, several patients claim to suffer from attacks on rainy days.

Since we cannot control the weather, we can take special care to avoid other triggers on rainy days. 

Estrogen Fluctuations

Estrogen fluctuations caused by menstruation or birth control pills, pregnancy, the period right after childbirth, menopause can trigger migraines. They can also lower your migraine threshold, which means you may be more susceptible to other triggers.

strong odors

Strong odors, such as perfume, can be uncomfortable for migraine sufferers and can trigger an attack.

Sensory stimuli such as bright lights (including the sun, computer screen, or movie screen glare), strong odors (such as perfume or cigarette smoke), and loud noises can all be responsible for the headache.

The feeding

Foods containing tyramine (including red wine , cured cheeses, certain processed meats and pork) and tannins (including red wine, tea, coffee and apple juice) can cause a migraine attack.

Other food additives such as monosodium glutamate, aspartame and nitrites may be responsible for the headache, although again, much of the data comes from patient reports rather than scientific facts.

These additives can also cause migraines in people with celiac disease or people who are allergic to gluten.

Keeping a journal can help pinpoint foods that may be causing your headaches.  

Coffee

Drinking coffee works both ways: too much caffeine can trigger a headache, and for those who consume a lot of coffee, not getting their allotted caffeine can also cause migraines.

If you drink too much coffee all week at work rather than at home, it could be the reason for your weekend headaches.

The alcohol

The body metabolizes alcohol to acetate, which can be a cause of migraines. To avoid pain, drink in moderation, consuming food while drinking alcoholic beverages. While all alcoholic beverages cause migraines, dark colored liquors like tequila, whiskey and red wine seem to be worse. 

physical effort

Physical exertion can trigger headaches. Although the exact cause of exercise-induced migraines is not fully understood, it is believed that it could be a chemical change in the brain, especially among those just starting to exercise. In this sense, the ideal is to exercise regularly.

skip meals

Once again, routine is the key for those who suffer from migraines. Skipping meals or fasting can trigger an attack. The exact reason is not known, but it could be related to low blood glucose levels. Either way, it’s important to eat regularly whenever possible to avoid migraines.