11 Migraine Triggers That Will Surprise You
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Mild, moderate or severe, migraine headaches afflict approximately 30 million Americans 75 percent of them being women. About 76 percent of those can actually tell when an attack is about to hit them by signs that are known mostly only to them.
Our article today deals with the 11 most commonly known triggers of migraines. Keeping a journal of the triggers will enable a person to avoid as many of them as possible and even navigate around a migraine from hitting them.
1. Ocular or Aura Migraines
Persons may see flashing or shimmering lights, the colors of the rainbow, zigzagging lines or stars. Others may see blind spots in their field of vision. Generally, it is thought by doctors that these kinds of migraines occur in people with a family history of migraines but virtually anything can trigger them.
2. Irregular Sleep Hours
Getting either too little sleep or too much of it is one sure migraine trigger for many people. Better try for seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep or at least, a regular sleep schedule–even on the weekends.
3. Food Additives and Flavor Enhancers
Aspartame and the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) are especially likely to trigger a migraine. Experiments with aspartame have yielded some disturbing results. There are some ongoing studies to determine its triggering clinical depression and in some cases, even dementia-related illnesses.
With MSG, many people already believe that MSG triggers some headaches and even some asthma attacks in asthmatics. However, more recent studies point to the possibility of MSG triggering headaches in those with a propensity to migraine attacks.
RELATED ARTICLE: Natural Pain Relief for Chronic Headache and Migraine
4. Wrong Kind Of Exercise
Too much strenuous exercise like jogging, aerobics or racquetball serves as a trigger to many sufferers. Better try something relaxing such as the Chinese relaxation practice of Tai Chi. In one well-known study, 22 percent out of 1,200 migraine patients pointed to certain exercises as a trigger.
5. Processed Foods
Deli-cut meats, TV dinners, caffeine, chocolate and some cheeses may also trigger migraines, so be sure to keep a food diary taking note of which certain foods are your particular triggers.
6. Insufficient Water
Lack of sufficient hydration also triggers migraines in some people so try to have at least eight glasses of pure, filtered water.
7. The Weather
It doesn’t have to be raining to trigger an attack. Snow, the wind, humidity, pollen seasons and even taking in too much sunshine can do it. Even a change in light conditions or certain light combinations can trigger migraines.
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8. Menstrual Cycles, Menopause, Post-Menopause and Hormonal Changes
Afflicting women of almost any age, changing hormones in menstrual cycles, menopause, post-menopause phases can cause very painful migraines.
Many women are affected by fluctuations in estrogen as are women that have a family history of pre-menstrual or menstrual distress.
RELATED ARTICLE: Relieve Migraines With This Healing Technique
Oral contraceptives and hormonal replacement medications also show a tendency to trigger migraines, while, in others, there seem no apparent symptoms.
9. Certain Prescribed Medications, Incorrect Eye Glass Prescriptions
Prescribed medications, even OTC, can trigger migraines in some persons; moreover, eyeglasses with the wrong prescription can also do the same.
10. Perfumes and Strong Smells
Household chemical cleaners, perfumes, turpentine and other strong smells can trigger migraines as can secondhand smoke. In contrast, some are bothered by one smell while not having any reaction to another kind of odor.
11. Nerve Fibers Sensitivity
One research study by the Danes emphasizes that migraine pain happens because of extra sensitive nerve fibers around the blood vessels. This explains why the blood’s normal pulsation feels like an intense throbbing pain to its sufferers.
While much research has been done on what happens before and after an attack of migraines, physiologically speaking, there remains much research to be done on the actual triggers that may provoke the onslaught of a migraine.
If you or someone you know suffer from migraines and doesn’t know why you experience them it is possible it can be one of these triggers?
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