Factors That Contribute To Migraines

There are many different factors that contribute to Migraine headaches. The first major factor that contributes to a migraine headache is gender. While anyone, male or female, can feel the effects of a migraine headache, women are more likely to develop migraine headaches than men. In fact, women are actually three times more likely to experience a migraine headache, at some point in their life than men are.

While a person at any age can get a migraine headache age is a factor that will contribute to migraine headaches. Typically migraine headaches will begin to develop in teenagers and young people because of the hormone changes in their body. Hormones are a big factor that will contribute to migraine headaches. Whenever a persons hormones are changing this can cause a person to have a migraine headache. These hormone changes can be seen present in teenagers during puberty. It can also be seen in menstruating women, women on birth control, and women in menopause.

Depression also can be a factor that will contribute to migraine headaches. Depression is a mental illness that causes a person to become extremely sad. A person with depression will worry a lot and lose interest in activities that once made them very happy, and this can effect migraine headaches. Depression can actually cause different illnesses and it can intensify an illness and this is true of migraine headaches. A person with depression may become worried which can cause their migraine headache. If a person already has a history of migraine headaches and they develop depression their migraine headaches may become more severe than they were before the depression.

Anxiety is a disorder that many people with depression will also have and this will also contribute to migraine headaches. Everyone will feel anxiety at some point in their life but those with anxiety disorder will feel weighed down by this feeling and it can severely interfere with their life. Anxiety disorder is a factor that will contribute to migraine headaches because the feeling of intense stress and sometimes panic is a trigger for migraine headaches, especially if the person has a previous history of migraine headaches.

Epilepsy is yet another factor that can contribute to Migraine Headaches. Epilepsy is a condition that will affect a persons nervous system. People with epilepsy may develop migraine headaches because epilepsy is a condition that effects the electrical activity in the brain. This condition will cause a person to have seizures and many times a migraine headache due to this abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Asthma is another condition that can contribute to migraine headaches. Asthma is a disease that will affect a persons respiratory system. This disease will cause a persons bronchial tubes, which carry air to the lungs, to become inflamed making it difficult to breathe. This will contribute to migraine headaches for many reasons, if a person is not getting enough oxygen this will effect the brain and may cause a migraine headache. Also, the stress brought on by an asthma attack may trigger a persons migraine headache.

Migraine Triggers

A trigger is something that will cause you to have a migraine headache. There are many different triggers and the key is to identify what triggers your migraine headache. Many people will do this by keeping a journal that details what you were doing or eating before experiencing a migraine headache.

Food is one very common trigger that people with migraine headaches may have. Many people have the same food that will trigger their migraine headache but everyone is different. For some people skipping a meal or fasting will trigger a migraine headache and for others a specific food they have eaten will trigger a migraine headache. Foods with additives are a very common trigger as well as certain meats and cheeses. For some people consuming too much caffeine will trigger a migraine headache while others will experience one if they don't have enough.

Artificial sweeteners will be a trigger for some people as well as tyramine, yeast, nitrates, and meat tenderizers. MSG is another trigger for some people so nutrition labels need to be checked to ensure it is not consume. Canned and processed meat can be a trigger for some, and specific cheeses like blue cheese, provolone, and others may trigger a migraine headache. Dried fruit, chocolate, pizza, and nuts are more common triggers for those with migraine headaches.

For others there are specific activities that will trigger a migraine headache. Smoking is one very common trigger so many people will choose to quit smoking to prevent their migraine headaches. For others changing their sleep abruptly can trigger their migraine headache. Eating ice cream too quickly may also trigger a migraine headache.

Some people find that there are environmental causes that will trigger their migraine headache. One example of this is perfume, for some people certain smells will trigger their migraine headache. Some people are also effected by bright lights, and this will trigger their migraine headache. Certain sounds will be a trigger, as well as a certain pitch or frequency of a sound.

All of these can trigger a migraine headache, and there are many more triggers that can cause a migraine headache. Each person is different so everyone will have different triggers and combinations of triggers. You must find your triggers to help avoid getting a migraine headache. Trial and error and a journal are two ways that can help you find a migraine headache trigger so that you can prevent your pain.

On the next page we will talk about Migraine Headache Prevention.