Migraines are a type of chronic severe headache that can cause you to have time off work and need to rest in bed. They are regularly accompanied by feeling sick, vomiting or an increased sensitivity to light. Even though treatments are available, the causes of migraine and chronic migraine are not well understood.
Women are roughly three times more likely to get migraines than men.
Although we don't know the precise causes of migraine, we are aware of possible triggers – habits and circumstances that are linked with the onset of a migraine headache.
Migraine headaches are more severe and last longer than regular "tension" headaches. The pain is more localized, often concentrated over one eye. Severe headaches that affect only one side of the head are generally due to migraines. Migraine headaches are often associated with nausea and vomiting as well as hypersensitivity to light and noise. The headaches are often made worse by movement or bending over.
As a result, migraine sufferers tend to lie still in a dark, quiet room and avoid any type of stimulation.
The exact cause of migraines is unidentified, although they are thought to be the result of abnormal brain activity temporarily affecting nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain.
Symptoms of migraine can occur a while before the headache. Although not all migraines are the same, typical symptoms include:
There are also two forms of migraine. The two forms seen most often are migraine with aura and migraine without aura.
Migraine with aura (previously called classical migraine). With a migraine with aura, a person might have these sensory symptoms (the so-called “aura”) 10 to 30 minutes before an attack:
Migraine without aura (previously called common migraine). With this form of migraine, a person does not have an aura but has all the other features of an attack.
Things that cause a migraine to start are known as triggers. But,for many people a migraine starts without a clear trigger. Unfortunately, because scientists have not been able to identify a cause, the best way to avoid migraines is to pass up what triggers them. Migraine triggers are exceptional to each person. What causes a migraine for one person might not for someone else. It’s not unusual for a person to have a number of migraine triggers. The most general migraine triggers include:
· Food and skipping meals.
· Sensory stimulation.
· Hormonal changes.
· Stress.
· Sleep cycle changes
· Weather changes.
As written on the list, food is a frequent migraine trigger. The most common culprits are:
· alcohol, especially red wine and beer
· tobacco
· aged cheeses
· chocolate
· fermented, pickled, or marinated foods
· monosodium glutamate (MSG)
· aspartame
· caffeine
· Other triggers include:
· stress
· hunger
· changes in sleeping patterns
· changes in barometric pressure
Using medication for headaches too often can also lead to medication-overuse migraines. Women may also get migraines as a result of taking combined oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
You may find it useful to keep a diary to spot the triggers that cause your migraines or make them worse.
References:
http://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/causes-of-chronic-migraine#Triggers3
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306955_4,00.html
Women are roughly three times more likely to get migraines than men.
Although we don't know the precise causes of migraine, we are aware of possible triggers – habits and circumstances that are linked with the onset of a migraine headache.
Migraine headaches are more severe and last longer than regular "tension" headaches. The pain is more localized, often concentrated over one eye. Severe headaches that affect only one side of the head are generally due to migraines. Migraine headaches are often associated with nausea and vomiting as well as hypersensitivity to light and noise. The headaches are often made worse by movement or bending over.
As a result, migraine sufferers tend to lie still in a dark, quiet room and avoid any type of stimulation.
The exact cause of migraines is unidentified, although they are thought to be the result of abnormal brain activity temporarily affecting nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain.
Symptoms of migraine can occur a while before the headache. Although not all migraines are the same, typical symptoms include:
- Moderate to severe pain, usually restricted to one side of the head during an attack, but can occur on either side of the head
- The pain is usually a severe, throbbing, pulsing pain
- Increasing pain during physical activity
- Incapability to perform regular activities due to pain
- Feeling sick and physically being sick
- Increased sensitivity to light and sound, relieved by lying quietly in a darkened room
- Some people experience other symptoms such as sweating, temperature changes, tummy ache and diarrhea.
There are also two forms of migraine. The two forms seen most often are migraine with aura and migraine without aura.
Migraine with aura (previously called classical migraine). With a migraine with aura, a person might have these sensory symptoms (the so-called “aura”) 10 to 30 minutes before an attack:
- seeing flashing lights, zigzag lines, or blind spots
- numbness; or tingling in the face or hands
- disturbed sense of smell, taste, or touch
- feeling mentally “fuzzy”
- Only one in five people who get migraine experience an aura.
Migraine without aura (previously called common migraine). With this form of migraine, a person does not have an aura but has all the other features of an attack.
Things that cause a migraine to start are known as triggers. But,for many people a migraine starts without a clear trigger. Unfortunately, because scientists have not been able to identify a cause, the best way to avoid migraines is to pass up what triggers them. Migraine triggers are exceptional to each person. What causes a migraine for one person might not for someone else. It’s not unusual for a person to have a number of migraine triggers. The most general migraine triggers include:
· Food and skipping meals.
· Sensory stimulation.
· Hormonal changes.
· Stress.
· Sleep cycle changes
· Weather changes.
As written on the list, food is a frequent migraine trigger. The most common culprits are:
· alcohol, especially red wine and beer
· tobacco
· aged cheeses
· chocolate
· fermented, pickled, or marinated foods
· monosodium glutamate (MSG)
· aspartame
· caffeine
· Other triggers include:
· stress
· hunger
· changes in sleeping patterns
· changes in barometric pressure
Using medication for headaches too often can also lead to medication-overuse migraines. Women may also get migraines as a result of taking combined oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
You may find it useful to keep a diary to spot the triggers that cause your migraines or make them worse.
References:
http://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/causes-of-chronic-migraine#Triggers3
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306955_4,00.html