What causes migraine headaches?
The exact cause of migraine headaches is not known; however there are many theories. Migraines may be triggered by several factors such as changes in your environment, behavior, diet, physical condition, or drugs that you take.Physical triggers of a migraine:
- menstruation
- ovulation
- ovarian cycle disorders
Pharmacologic triggers include:
- oral
contraceptives
- glyceryl
trinitrate
- theophylline
- reserpine
- nifedipine
- indomethacin
- cimetidine
Dietary triggers include:
- alcohol
- tyramine
(aged cheeses and fermented foods)
- aspartame
(artificial sweetener)
- monosodium
glutamate (MSG)
- phenylethylamine
(present in some OTC drugs and chocolate)
- nitrates
(preservatives used in sausage, bacon, and lunch
meats)
- citrus foods and products
Missing meals, changing your sleep routine, and stress are behavioral triggers that can start migraine headaches. Ask yourself a few questions to determine if your environment is triggering some of your migraine attacks:
- Do
you get headaches when you use certain household products or
perfumes? Strong odors are frequently a trigger for migraines.
It took me years to figure out why I got headaches when I did a
big cleaning job, perfume is almost nonexistent in my
life.
- Do
you get migraines when the weather changes?
- Do
you feel bright or blinking lights bother you?
- Are you under acute stress?
