A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. There are several causes of migraine and none of them have any pathological reasons. And, again, there are several factors that can trigger an attack.
If you are a migraine sufferer, you must know these trigger factors so that you can avoid them and prevent the migraine symptoms from developing.
About 15 percent of people worldwide suffer from migraine, with women being three times more affected than men. That makes being a woman a risk factor. This could possibly be due to higher stress scores.
There are several causes and risk factors that make you prone to having migraine headaches. A genetic trait is a common factor; you will find that a person who suffers from it will have a family history of it.
Besides genetics, environmental factors also play a major role in making you more prone to migraine headaches. Such factors can include changes in weather or climate, traveling, change in altitude, and more.
Migraine is a harmless condition, – meaning it does not have any after-effects on the body. But, those of us who suffer from it must know how miserable you can feel during its attack.
It is a recurring headache of severe intensity. It recurs when you are affected by the triggering factors. There are several such factors including certain foods, mental stress, physical fatigue, and more. They are described below.
During a migraine attack, you are incapable of doing anything. You just want to lie down in bed preferably in a dark room because any physical activity or a light glare can make the symptoms of this headache worse.
There are various causes attributed to developing a migraine headache and each sufferer can have a different cause. Some risk factors make you more prone and there are some conditions that trigger migraines in people who already suffer from them.
Secondly, each sufferer has a threshold vis-à-vis the trigger. For example, if you have a little portion of ice cream, it may not give you a headache. But, if you consume too much of it, you may develop a migraine headache.
Having said that, let’s look at the various causes that can trigger this condition. If you are among those unfortunate ones, this post will help you to know what to avoid to reduce your risk of an attack.
Migraine causes and triggering factors
The following are reasons that can cause or trigger a migraine headache. As mentioned above, they can be genetic, environmental, and related to your lifestyle.
1. Stress migraine
Mental stress can be due to reasons, which may not be in your control. It may be due to a major stressful event such as a death or a divorce, job-related factors at work, or some personal problems related to finance or sickness.
In some, the stress can trigger a migraine and in others, it can make an existing headache worse. Stress also increases the duration and frequency of the headache.
Stress causes the release of certain brain chemicals, which can cause the dilatation of the blood vessels. This stretches the nerve endings in the wall of the blood vessels, which causes a headache.
Mental stress also causes your neck muscles to tense up giving rise to the so-called “tension headache”.
2. Certain foods can trigger migraine
Certain foods, when consumed, are known to trigger a migraine attack. Sometimes, it may not be the foods but certain additives in the food preparation that can cause a headache. Such additives could be the preservatives or colors regularly used in food preparations.
In some people, it may not be the food but the absence of it that can launch an attack. Missing a meal and staying hungry are known to cause a headache in quite a fair number of migraine sufferers.
Foods that are commonly responsible to trigger a migraine attack are:
Chocolate is the most commonly blamed. Chocolate contains a chemical known as phenylethylamine, which acts on the blood vessels in the brain and can trigger a migraine.
Processed Meats
Certain preservatives like nitrates
Ice creams and cold foods
Certain fruits like avocado, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, and raspberries
Certain vegetables like mushrooms, lentils, raw garlic, onions, raw garlic
Dairy foods like aged cheese, peanut butter, sour creams, and yogurt
Some people may experience a headache about 30 minutes after having a Chinese meal. Chinese food contains an additive called MSG (monosodium glutamate), which is used to enhance the flavor and make the meat more tender.
3. Sleep deprivation
Research has established a definite relationship between sleeping problems and migraines. According to a 2011 study conducted by researchers from Missouri State University, sleep deprivation increases the production of proteins in the body that cause chronic pain. It seems that these proteins reduce the body’s threshold for pain and can trigger severe migraine headaches.
Lack of sleep due to work or family pressures or jet lag can be a triggering cause. Too much sleep can also be a trigger such as during the weekends giving rise to “a weekend migraine”.
Migraine headaches due to sleep disorders usually occur between 04:00 and 09:00 am.
4. Certain medications
The list of medications that can trigger a migraine is long but the most common ones are birth control pills, vasodilators like nitroglycerine, medicines for high blood pressure, etc.
Some people’s headaches may worsen after taking pills for an existing headache. This is called a rebound headache. Over-the-counter (OTC), as well as prescription pills, can cause this type of headache. Examples of such pills are aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and sleeping pills.
5. Physical exertion
Too much sustained and strenuous physical exercise or a sudden increase in physical exertion can give rise to migraines. In such cases, the migraine is usually accompanied by an aura. Physical exertion including that due to sexual activity can also give rise to such an attack.
These headaches are secondary to other conditions in the brain such as bleeding in the brain or a brain tumor. Conditions outside the brain such as coronary artery disease can also trigger a post-physical exercise headache.
6. Weather changes
Weather changes can cause chemical (such as serotonin) imbalances in the brain, giving you a migraine headache. These changes can also worsen an existing attack that has been triggered by other factors.
Climate changes include:
Bright sunlight
Extreme heat or cold
High humidity
Windy or stormy weather
Changes in altitudes
7. Hunger and thirst headache
Hunger and thirst are one of the most common migraine causes. Staying hungry such as by missing a meal can cause your blood sugar to fall. A headache is a common symptom of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Similarly, not drinking enough water can launch a migraine headache. Not drinking enough water can cause dehydration and headache is a common symptom of dehydration.
8. Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle can cause a headache in some women. You will suffer from this headache more just before and during the menstrual period when estrogen levels are low.
Two-thirds of such headache sufferers report the absence of headaches after menopause.
9. Smoking and exposure to smoke
Smoking and second-hand smoke can trigger an attack in many people. Cigarette smoke contains nicotine, which has a vasodilatation effect on the blood vessels. This causes the nerves in the walls of the blood vessels of the brain to stretch giving rise to head pain.
Smoking can be a trigger factor for migraine attacks, as one-third of migraine sufferers are active smokers. There also seems to be a relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked and the development of migraine attacks.
10. Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can give you a hangover headache. What is not known is that alcohol can also cause a migraine headache.
A hangover headache occurs in the morning after a night of heavy drinking while a migraine sets in within 30 minutes to 3 hours of consuming even a modest amount of alcohol.
There is a general belief that red wine is the alcoholic drink most responsible for causing migraines. However, all alcohols can trigger such an attack in those susceptible to it.
11. Bright lights and loud sound
Bright and flickering lights (photophobia) such as when watching a movie or television have precipitated migraine attacks in many men and women. You will find this in those with a low tolerance for light and sound.
According to the American Migraine Foundation, photophobia is considered one of the most common symptoms of a migraine headache. However, for some, light can act as a trigger, and moving to a dark room provides relief during an attack.
Similarly, extremely loud or prolonged sounds (phonophobia) can trigger migraines. This is because people with migraine may have lower sound thresholds.
Photophobia and phonophobia are the other most common migraine causes.
12. Exposure to the hot sun
Some people with reduced tolerance to light experience a headache even after walking for 10 to 15 minutes in the sun, especially in the afternoon sun. In such people, the longer they stay out in the sun, the more intense the headache.
13. Strong odors
The most common smells that trigger a migraine are gasoline, tobacco, and perfumes. If you develop a headache after using a particular deodorant or a perfume, make sure you don’t use it again as it could cost you a day’s work
14. Caffeine withdrawal
People who are used to drinking coffee frequently during the day may develop a migraine if they abruptly stop drinking it.
Caffeine causes the blood vessels to narrow including those of the brain. When you go off caffeine, the blood vessels dilate, and as explained above you land with a headache. An OTC painkiller will give relief.
15. Some broad triggers
Not all triggering factors have been explained as there are some, which may be exclusive to one individual while not to another. The onset of a migraine after exposure to a trigger factor can vary from a few hours to two days.
The following are the factors, which increase your risk.
Age. Your chances of developing migraines are more between the age of 10 to 40 years. After 45 years, the chances are low.
Gender. Women are three times more prone to developing this type of headache.
Family history. 90% of people have a family history in which either or both of the parents have had migraine attacks during their life.
You as a sufferer must keep these migraine causes and triggers in mind and avoid them as far as possible.
Though your symptoms may be enough for your doctor to diagnose your migraine, he will want to conduct certain tests to confirm the diagnosis.
