Understanding Migraine Causes
by Anna Hart
Filed under Causes of Migraine Headaches, Featured Content
Step #1 to Effective Treatment
Migraine headaches affect more than 28 million people in the United States alone. Nearly 3 out of 4 migraine sufferers are women. Those women, usually age 35 to 45, attribute their migraines to hormonal changes, commitments, or stress.
Migraine headaches can strike at any time, and may take their prey out of circulation for hours or even days at a time. Many migraine sufferers live in constant dread of the next migraine. Their headaches are so debilitating that they desperately look for ways to control the condition. The best scenario, of course, would be complete elimination of migraines. But until then, they want to understand migraine cause.
What’s My Migraine Doing?
“What’s going on, doctor? What happens during a migraine?” Your doctor may not be able to pinpoint your exact migraine cause, but he or she will likely understand much of what is happening to your body during an episode.
* blood vessels in your brain enlarge
* chemicals release from nerve fibers that surround those blood vessels
* inflammation and pain in your head begin and intensify
* your central nervous system may be affected, spreading the pain
* your digestive system may be affected, causing nausea and/or diarrhea
What Triggers My Migraines?
What is the catalyst that begins this process that creates a migraine? As noted above, doctors cannot pinpoint your exact migraine cause, but they have learned that a number of external factors seem to trigger migraines. One or more of them may be a migraine cause for you. Check this list.
* Processed meats and cheeses
* changes in weather or altitude
* red wine
* strong odors, bright lights and loud noises
* irregular sleeping patterns (too much or too little)
* large doses of caffeine in coffee, tea, or colas
* interruption of your regular sleep pattern
* severe dieting or fasting
* cigarette smoke (first-hand or second-hand)
* for women, menstrual cycles, birth control pills, or hormones
As you learn to identify your specific migraine cause or causes, you will make significant progress in reducing the number of migraines you suffer. You may even be able to totally eliminate them. That, of course, will improve life significantly.
