8 Common Causes of Migraine

Migraine is a recurring headache that causes pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of your head. It starts with mood swings, vision flashes, followed by light sensitivity and complete exhaustion. Symptoms of migraine include:

• Uncontrollable yawning
• Confusion
• Blurred vision
• Nausea
• Sound sensitivity and more.

A migraine can range from mild to severe, restricting you from performing everyday tasks. Here are some common factors that may induce migraines:

1. Stress

From stomach aches to muscle spasms, stress is the root cause of various health concerns. Unfortunately, it can also make you susceptible to migraines. A jam-packed schedule, a never-ending to-do list, and home management can all be overwhelming. These tasks may overexert your body and stress you out!

2. Anxiety

Anxiety is another factor that can induce migraines. Staying anxious about work, relationships, or your business will only stress you out, leading to a migraine. Feeling frustrated or helpless are some symptoms to look out for to diagnose anxiety.

3. Hormone-Induced Migraines

Chronic migraines are more common in women as they experience more hormonal changes than men. 19% of women experience menstrual migraines for up to 5 days.

Nursing, pregnancy, hormonal birth control, and menopause are other factors that can cause migraines in women.

4. Sleeplessness

Sleeping 8 hours a day is beneficial for your overall well-being. Any less than this may lead to migraines. Inconsistent or restless sleep can even trigger an anxiety attack, which would ultimately induce a migraine. It’s a vicious cycle that you can effectively keep at bay by having a good night’s sleep!

5. Smoking

Cigarettes damage your body in various ways. They put you at a greater risk for lung cancer, stroke, heart diseases, and migraines. The tobacco in cigarettes constricts your blood vessels, limiting blood flow to your brain. This results in severe migraines.

6. Weather

When a storm is brewing, so can your migraine! Unexpected weather changes have been shown to trigger migraines in people. Weather-related migraines are also common on an extremely hot or cold day.

7. Caffeine Withdrawal

If you’re a tea or coffee lover, you might experience a migraine upon caffeine withdrawal. This is because consuming caffeinated drinks for prolonged periods could result in dependency. Caffeine affects adenosine, a natural chemical in the brain that increases during a migraine. Thus, skipping coffee for a day might increase adenosine, triggering a migraine attack.

8. Certain Foods and Smells

You might have a migraine if you’re sensitive to certain foods or smells. Strong perfumes or paint smells might trigger a migraine attack. Similarly, foods like aged cheese, alcohol, chocolate, yeast, and fermented pickles may also cause migraines.

The Bottom Line

Knowing potential triggers can help you prevent a migraine attack. However, that’s only a small step to treating migraines. Avoiding triggers can be impossible if you experience frequent migraines. It’s essential to seek proper therapies to keep migraines from recurring.

If you’re looking for effective migraine treatment in Lancashire, call us to help! At 5 Star Clinic, our team offers excellent hypnotherapies, massage services, relaxation techniques, and lifestyle recommendations. Book an appointment today!