Sponsored Article: - 10 Everyday things that may trigger your migraines

Date published: 03 October 2022


Sponsored article

 

Any Chronic pain is draining, and a migraine is no different. The recurrent attacks of head pain, fatigue and aura can drag you down until you feel entirely submerged. Migraines can sometimes cause the sufferer to miss out on holiday fun, from birthdays to Christmas. It is the third most prevalent illness in the world. There are a lot of effective medications available now to provide relief from migraine.; you may buy medicines such as Sumatriptan online to cure your migraine.

 

Although the exact reason behind migraine is not yet known. However, doctors and healthcare providers know that many factors may induce migraines.

 

We have enlisted some of the possible migraine triggers below:

 

1.     Stress

Stress is the root cause of migraines. It is a trigger for almost 70% of people with migraine. A study shows that 50-70% of people strongly associate their daily stress level with migraine activity. Adding the perpetual worry of when the next attack will strike may feel like a never-ending, exhausting cycle.

 

2.     Irregular sleep Pattern

Sleep renews and repairs all organs of the body, including the brain. Therefore, we cannot deny the connection between migraine and sleep.  Insufficient sleep is cited as a common trigger for acute migraine attacks. However, excessive sleep is a frequently reported trigger as well. Therefore, it makes sense that you are more prone to migraine attacks when your sleep schedule becomes irregular.

 

Half of all migraine attacks usually occur between 4:00 am and 9:00 am. It may put people at a heightened risk of developing a sleep disorder. The most common sleep disorder, insomnia, is associated with chronic migraine. Jet lag and changes in the work schedule may also be linked to the onset of migraine.

 

3.     Diet

Diet is the most frequently reported trigger of migraine. There’s a list of foods known to trigger a migraine attack, the most common ones being foods that contain histamine and monosodium glutamate (MSG). 12% to 16% of people claim that certain foods trigger their migraine. Foods frequently associated with migraine are:

·         Chocolate

·         Cheese and other dairy products

·         Salami

·         Artificial sweeteners (aspartame)

·         Caffeine

·         Alcohol

·         Cured meats

·        Fermented and pickled foods containing a large amount of the amino acid

 

4.     Hunger or Dehydration

People with migraines must not skip meals. Research consistently indicates that skipping meals is frequently associated with the onset of migraine. It is probably due to falling blood glucose levels.

 

The majority of people with migraine report dehydration as their trigger. Even the slightest hint of dehydration may be the fast track to debilitating head pain for some. Dehydration affects the body on all levels, may cause dizziness, confusion, and can even become a medical emergency.

 

5.     Caffeine and Alcohol

Excessive caffeine consumption may trigger migraine. People observe their migraine symptoms to increase after the intake of caffeine or alcohol. In contrast, others say that a cup of coffee may stop migraines. In addition, some medicines designed to fight migraine pain may also contain caffeine. Although people with migraine consider red wine the principal alcoholic migraine trigger, studies show that other types of alcohol are just as likely, and sometimes even more frequently, the culprit.

 

6.     Medication Overuse

Overuse of medications is a significant factor in migraine. In particular, people who overuse common analgesics or painkillers may be more likely to progress from occasional migraines to chronic migraines. In addition, people with migraine often overuse medications such as opioids and butalbital.

 

Overusing these and other pain-relieving medications, such as OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may cause more frequent headaches. It is essential never to overuse or abuse any prescription treatment for migraine. Misuse of medication may lead to increased migraine attacks and chronic migraine symptoms.  

 

7.     Strong or Odd Smells

People with migraines often report that strong or unpleasant odours trigger their headaches. They often cite perfumes, in particular, as a trigger. Additionally, almost half of people with migraine report intolerance for odours during attacks. This phenomenon is known as osmophobia and is unique to people with migraine headaches.

 

During migraine episodes, cigarette smoke, food odours, and scents such as perfume are the most frequently offending smells.

 

8.     Light

Also, people report that bright, flickering, or pulsating lights may serve as a migraine trigger. For migraine patients, natural light is the enemy. This condition is called photophobia. It is actually one of the criteria to diagnose migraine. In addition, natural, bright light and fluorescent bulbs are problematic, making it challenging to spend time outside or be in an office environment.

 

9.     Changes in the Weather

Weather patterns are most likely to trigger headaches, like sunny and clear, hot, cold, and changing weather. Excessive heat, storms, and alterations in barometric pressure are common weather-related migraine triggers that may lead to a migraine attack. In addition, high humidity and heat can easily lead to dehydration, another common trigger.

 

10. Female Hormones

Evidence suggests that female sex hormone fluctuations may significantly affect headache onset and severity.

 

Women are 3 times more prone to develop migraine than men. Up to 75% of women experience attacks around the time of their menstrual period. This is called menstrual migraine and occurs during a women’s period due to the change in estrogen and progesterone levels.

 

Conclusion

Migraines are severe, debilitating headaches, an intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of your head. It starts with unexplained mood changes, followed by flashes in your vision and the sensitivity to light. Finally, it is sheer exhaustion. There are various triggers of migraine. It is best to identify what might be causing your migraines so that you may prevent them.

 

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