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Possible Causes of Migraine Headaches
By M. A. Fulmar

One of the factors that help determine the type of headache is how long the pain lasts; migraines often last four hours or more, and have been known to last days at a time. A migraine is also known to have triggers, or set circumstances that cause them, such as stress, fatigue, hormonal changes, changes in the weather, food allergies or sensitivities, and even other medical conditions. The severity of the pain is often moderate but can be severe; more severe pain is often associated with the harsher side effects of migraine headaches.

Side Effects

The side effects of migraine headaches vary between people; some only get the pain, and others have new and unusual side effects. Some of the most common side effects are nausea, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, body aches, and fatigue. Many sufferers combat these symptoms with over the counter medication while others have herbal remedies. All treatments should be discussed with a doctor before implementing.

Nausea is thought to be caused by sensitivity to smell and physical stomach pain, when suffering a migraine; as such, a person could find comfort in a place free of food or other smells. Sometimes in severe cases the nausea can be accompanied by vomiting. Unless another known medical condition such as a virus is the known cause of the vomiting, a doctor should be consulted.

Environmental sensitivities such as light or sound are possibly the most common side effect migraine sufferers experience. The best remedy for most people is a long rest in a dark room. Light and sound are often more aggravating to a person suffering one of these headaches, because the head is already throbbing with pain. Light or sound can seem to further agitate the situation.

Dietary Triggers

Dietary triggers of migraines can be common items such as chocolate or red wine, to more complex allergies or sensitivities. Bananas have even been known to cause migraine headaches. If a person notices a particular sensitivity to any particular foods, they should avoid the foods for a while then reincorporate the offending food in small amounts until there is no longer sensitivity. In some cases, the sensitivity will not arrive. It would be best to consult a doctor to be certain of what is right for each individual.

Other dietary factors can include caffeine consumption and how often one eats; even skipping meals can give a person a migraine headache. The drop in blood sugar from missing a proper meal causes all kinds of problems with in the body, and it isn't surprising that this can also trigger a migraine headache. Having too much caffeine or withdrawal from caffeine can also trigger a migraine headache. Knowing that a person has this type of trigger can help them avoid it.

Existing Medical Conditions

Many existing medical conditions can contribute to migraine headaches, some examples of these are asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and sleeping disorders. These headaches are also thought to be hereditary, and surprisingly, a startling four of five migraine sufferers have a family history of the condition. For example, if one parent has a history of migraine headaches, the children each have a 50% chance of having migraines themselves; if both parents have a history the children's chances jump to 75%.

Knowing the signs, symptoms, individual triggers, and how these factors react with existing medical conditions can help a person cope with migraine headaches. Medications are available to help people deal with the pain of migraine headaches. Doctors evaluate patients on an individual basis to determine needs and the best medications.

Author Details:
M. A. Fulmar writes about health matters for various websites including, The A to Z of and Information Junkie.

Source: Health Articles

NOTE: This article may be reproduced ONLY if this note, the author details and source are also included with all links remaining active.

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