Migraines usually affect only one side of the head. The pain is throbbing or pulsing and is worse with movement or coughing. Migraines can last from four hours to three days.
Migraines are more than just a bad headache. Determining what triggers them can help you avoid them.
Here are a few common migraine triggers:
Stress
Stress is one of the most common migraine triggers. Stress can trigger migraines by keeping your brain in a “fight or flight” state, which can increase blood flow and trigger migraine pain.
Sleep deprivation
Migraines commonly occur as a result of too little sleep. While one study from 2015 found that 75% of people with migraines had experienced a migraine after not sleeping well, another study found that this number could be even higher, with 93% of migraine sufferers reporting a flare-up after a night with little sleep.
Diet
Some foods, such as cheeses, chocolate, alcohol, and monosodium glutamate (MSG), can trigger migraines in some people. Keeping a food diary can help you identify your migraine triggers.
You might also try eliminating certain foods from your diet. This helps you identify which foods trigger your migraines. Eliminating these foods from your diet can reduce how often you get migraines.
Skipping meals
Skipping meals or eating irregularly can disrupt your body’s rhythm and cause headaches and migraines.
When you don’t get enough calories, your body goes into starvation mode, so your metabolism slows. This causes food cravings, irritability, fatigue, and headaches.
Hormonal changes
Some women experience migraines just before or during their period. This occurs because changing hormone levels can trigger migraines. Migraines can also be triggered by hormonal contraceptives.
Medications
There are many different types of medications that can trigger migraines. The most common are medications for high blood pressure, epilepsy, and depression. These medications contain chemicals that trigger migraines, such as beta-blockers, barbiturates, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Weather
The weather greatly affects our migraine triggers. Whether it’s hot, cold, windy, rainy, or sunny, the weather affects the body and can cause a migraine.
Migraines, especially chronic ones, are triggered by the body’s nervous system. When the weather changes, the body’s nervous system also changes. For example, when the sun goes down, the body’s nervous system releases melatonin, a sleep hormone. This hormone can cause us to feel more tired and sluggish, which can trigger a migraine.
Bright lights
Bright lights often cause migraines. This is especially common if you’ve had migraines in the past. Bright lights can cause the blood vessels in your eye to dilate, which can trigger a migraine. If you get a migraine after exposure to bright light, you may want to avoid bright lights in the future.
Loud sounds
Loud sounds, like loud noises from concerts, cars, or motorcycles, can trigger a migraine.
Smells
Certain smells can trigger migraines. For example, perfumes contain many chemicals that can trigger headaches and migraines. Additionally, smoke from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes can trigger migraines and headaches.
Please reach out to Florida Regional Pain Management from your nearest location to have a consultation with Dr. Manohar. Please call us or schedule an online consultation, and we’ll guide you further.