Home : health : Everything To Know About Migraine Triggers

Everything to Know About Migraine Triggers

Everything to Know About Migraine Triggers

Migraine is a type of headache that may result from a neurological condition. It causes severe pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head. If you regularly have migraine attacks, consult a neurologist who can treat your chronic migraine. The doctor will help you identify the factors that trigger your headaches and treat the pain accordingly. A person’s age, family history, sex, and hormones make them more prone to migraines.

Migraine triggers
Though the deep-rooted cause of migraines remains unknown, specific triggers can cause the onset of migraines. Some of them are:

Food and food additives
Particular food and chemical additives may set off migraine attacks. Fasting is another meal-related trigger that is responsible for this h ealth condition. Caffeine, chocolate, cheese, pickled, fermented, and cured foods are associated with a migraine attack. Also, it has been found that food items containing more Tyramine may cause this condition. It has also been reported that Migraines may also be triggered by aspartame, an artificial sweetener, and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), the flavor enhancer. Many people believe in this rational finding, while the experiments have led to conflicting results for aspartame.

Hunger and dehydration
Hunger or skipping meals is another factor that triggers this health condition. This results in lower glucose levels that can cause migraines. Dehydration is another factor that may contribute to this type of headache. Low hydration levels are the cause in forty percent of people. It also affects the overall body and leads to confusion and dizziness. Therefore, there is a need to stay properly hydrated.

Strong and unusual smells
Certain people have reported that migraine gets triggered by certain strong, unusual, and odd smells. Various smells, like the fragrance of perfumes, colognes, chemicals, and food odors, can cause the condition to set in. These triggers may lead to a migraine attack or worsen an existing one. The intolerance to smells is recognized as Osmophobia, a unique phenomenon in people with this type of headache.

Weather changes
It has been found that several climate changes have been linked with migraine attacks. Some reports suggest that weather patterns may lead to its onset, including hot, cold, clear, and sunny atmospheres. It has also been identified that thunderstorms followed by lightning cause this headache to develop. However, lightning has been considered the precipitator factor, although the researchers are unclear on how it is associated with this condition.

Emotional stress
Stress is a major causative agent of migraine attacks and is considered the most common triggering factor. It has also been reported that fifty to seventy percent of migraine cases are associated with stress. Other emotions like worry and anxiety may promote muscle tension and dilate the blood vessels. As a consequence, it makes the migraines more severe. Some people suffer from this kind of headache during a stressful event or after a strained situation.

Home remedies
Now, since the common triggers are known to all the readers, let us acquaint you with the home remedies to treat migraines.

Avoiding the triggers
Migraine triggers can lead to the onset or worsening of migraine. Certain foods and food additives, unusual smells, bright lights, and noisy sounds excite a group of brain cells that trigger the production of the hormone serotonin. Serotonin causes the blood vessels throughout the body to narrow, leading to the forceful pumping of blood, which, in turn, sets off migraine pain. Skipping meals and water and stress prompt the release of the cortisol stress hormone, which causes constriction of blood vessels resulting in throbbing pain. Therefore, after discovering the exact cause of your migraine, avoiding that particular trigger factor is essential to prevent the condition.

Take good sleep
Maintaining good sleep hygiene is essential to save one from migraine attacks because. Sleep deprivation triggers the production of arousal proteins, and their high concentration leads to the initiation of migraine pain. Therefore, getting undisturbed sleep for seven to eight hours is required.

Yoga
Vigorous exercise or physical activities may be headache triggers for certain people. Muscle tension during these actions leads to the release of a substance called histamine. This causes the muscles to tense up and trigger migraine pain. But Yoga is proven a safe alternative because of its slow movements. It has been found that Yoga enhances the activity of the vagus nerve, and this stimulation blocks the pain signals and relieves migraine pain.

Five cities that are migraine hotspots
The country’s five cities that are migraine hotspots:

Cincinnati
The local meal of this area is rich in some common migraine-triggering substances. The lifestyle of the residents, including overtime work, vigorous exercise, insomnia, and excess sun exposure, is also a reason for the prevalence of this condition in this city.

Nashville
Environmental factors like hot and humid summer, frequent storms, and high atmospheric pressure are the reasons for the high number of migraine cases observed in Nashville.

Madison
Lifestyle, as explained earlier, is the main migraine-triggering factor among the residents of this city.

Knoxville
In Knoxville, certain local foods are the trigger factors for migraine.

Chattanooga
The case of Chattanooga is the same as that of Knoxville. The local food choices that contain trigger factors are the reason for the prevalence of migraine in this city.

Conclusion
Migraine is a kind of headache with distinctive signs and symptoms. Certain items lead to this type of headache in the majority of individuals. Therefore, it is always best to learn about migraine-triggering factors to avoid them. This article aims to make all the readers learn about common migraine triggers and home remedies to treat them. Following all the home remedies after proper consultation with a healthcare professional is also suggested to follow them correctly. Besides, following a proper meal plan with sufficient sleep is also required to keep migraine episodes at bay.

Most Popular

3 common types of soaps that trigger eczema flareups

3 common types of soaps that trigger eczema flareups

Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a skin disease that makes the skin reddish, inflamed, and itchy because of specific triggers. It can affect any body part and appear anywhere on the skin. The most common symptoms are dryness, bumps, rashes, redness, and peeling of the skin. Despite being one of the most typical forms of atopic dermatitis, there is no such common definite cause; however, particular triggers cause eczema flareups, including specific kinds of soaps. Soaps and eczema flareups When eczema triggers, most of the time, it makes its appearance in certain typical parts of the body. These include behind the knee areas, hands, and feet. Some of the most common triggers of eczema flareups include household cleaners containing specific chemicals, and, most notably, soaps. However, the experience of eczema won’t be the same for everyone. One of the most typical symptoms is dry skin, where the soap’s role becomes significant. It is a pretty well-known fact that using soaps makes one’s skin dry. This happens because of specific harsh chemicals that swipe off moisture from one’s skin. These chemicals can also trigger severe irritation and reactions, specifically if the skin is too sensitive or if one is suffering from eczema.
3 effective ways to manage multiple myeloma

3 effective ways to manage multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Here, cancerous cells begin accumulating in the bone marrow and outnumber the healthy cells. This leads to huge amounts of unwanted proteins rather than helpful antibodies. About 34,000 adults in the country are estimated to be affected by this condition in 2022. However, the disease can be managed through the following treatment options, foods, and lifestyle changes: Treatment options Multiple myeloma does not have a permanent cure, but the disease and its symptoms can be managed with the right treatment. Doctors may recommend immunotherapy to treat this blood-related condition. Immunotherapy This is a treatment method that empowers the patient’s immune system to fight cancerous cells. It is a biological therapy where certain substances derived from living beings are used for the treatment. Here are a few options: CAR T-cell therapy: This is a form of immunotherapy prescribed for multiple myeloma patients. This works on the T-cells (a white blood cell type), stimulating them to fight cancerous growth. The therapy involves drawing blood from the patient and adding chimeric antigen receptors (or CARs) to the blood, helping the T-cells target certain cancerous cell antigens. The CAR T-cells are then infused into the blood of the patient.
9 must-try styling hacks for a trendy look

9 must-try styling hacks for a trendy look

For most people, achieving a fashionable look that stands out can be incredibly challenging, especially in a hurry. Celebrities and fashion influencers often turn up to events looking flawless; have you ever wondered how they manage to do so every time? Why by using fashion hacks, of course! To come to your rescue, here are some styling hacks that you can incorporate into your daily outfit-planning routine to look effortlessly stylish. Pick the right accessories It may seem generic, but it is still important to pick the right accessories to ensure your outfits have the best look. Three accessories can effortlessly upgrade any look. The best ones you can try are sunglasses, a belt, and a bag. Match these items with other outfit elements for a seamless flow. You can also go with options that have striking design elements that can elevate simple outfits and attract attention. Match the skirts with boots It is one of the best styling hacks popularized by many fashionistas – matching the boots with dresses or maxi skirts. Typically, dresses or skirts in delicate materials like lace look spectacular with solid, edgy boots. Mixing two opposite styles is one of the most genius ways to look fashionable.
7 delicious and nutritional snacks for kids

7 delicious and nutritional snacks for kids

Feeling frequent bouts of hunger is not unusual for kids. In fact, it’s quite normal for children in their developing years to feel hungry frequently. However, extreme hunger can lead children to reach out for processed foods, most of which are filled with artificial ingredients, added sugars, and refined flour. These foods have empty calories and no nutritional value. Here are some nutrition-rich kid snacks you can make for your kid without any hassles: Celery with peanut butter and raisins Also known as “ants on a log,” celery with raisins and peanut butter can prove to be a fun way to make your child have a vegetable. Chop a twig of celery into three or four pieces. Take some peanut butter and spread it evenly inside the hollow part of the celery. After that, put some raisins on the peanut butter. The three foods combined in this recipe can offer an excellent balance of nutrients like protein, fat, and carbs. However, ensure that the peanut butter you use is not loaded with added sugars or vegetable oils. Nuts Nuts are notable for their high-fiber content, along with healthy fats and antioxidants. To support your child’s growth, it is essential to provide them with sufficient dietary fats.
7 human foods safe for consumption by dogs

7 human foods safe for consumption by dogs

A dog is a man’s best friend. Now you might have heard this a lot of times, and if you have ever had a pet dog, then you know the joy they bring into the lives of others. However, as often happens with family, you must have been tempted to share your food with your pet dog. Unfortunately, not all human foods are pet-safe. Read on to learn about which foods your dog can eat. 7 human foods that are safe for consumption by dogs It is a known fact that dogs and puppies have different digestive systems compared to humans, making some of the foods you eat unhealthy or even toxic for them. Here are some of the human foods that are safe for dogs: Carrots Vegetables and fruits are known to be incredible sources of nutrition. Carrots are an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a snack that your puppy can eat at any time of the day. You can either cook it or even feed it as a raw snack, but remember to cut the vegetable into small pieces to avoid choking hazards. Watermelon Some fruits can probably make your dog incredibly sick, but watermelon is not one of them.

Popular Articles

4 essential vitamins for optimum eye health
health
01

4 essential vitamins for optimum eye health

The eyes are complex organs and need a variety of nutrients to function optimally. Many common health conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and others can negatively affect our eyes, which may lead up to a complete loss of vision. While some conditions like moderate astigmatism can be corrected using contact lenses or eye lenses, others can be prevented by consuming a healthy dose of these 4 vitamins: Vitamin A Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most common causes of blindness globally. Vitamin A plays a crucial role in maintaining a clear cornea (outside the covering of the eye). A person with this vitamin deficiency may find their eyes not producing enough moisture to stay lubricated. It is also essential for maintaining the eyes’ light-sensing cells called photoreceptors. A deficiency of vitamin A can also lead to xerophthalmia, a progressive eye disease that begins with night blindness. Continued deficiency can lead to the drying up of the eyes and tear ducts, and softening of the cornea, resulting in irreversible blindness. To maintain eye health, it is recommended to eat vitamin-A-rich foods, like sweet potatoes, leafy greens, pumpkins, squash, bell peppers, carrots, dairy products, egg yolks, and liver.
Read More
Avoid these 5 smartphone habits
smartphones
02

Avoid these 5 smartphone habits

For most people, it is next to impossible to get through the day without using smartphones at least a few times. You need to make calls, check updates on the go, and even use smart navigation systems on your phone. But some smartphone habits can severely hamper productivity, affect your health, and may make you overly dependent on the gadget. So, here are five smartphone habits to keep in check: Using an alarm app Using your phone as an alarm clock might seem completely harmless. After all, apps on the phone let you set multiple alarms. But it never stops at hitting the snooze or dismiss button once you wake up. You will be tempted to check your phone for messages and social media, which will delay getting out of bed. Opt for a conventional alarm clock and keep your phone away from you at night to avoid checking anything after getting up. Ignoring software updates Smartphone care is as important as learning how to use the device in moderation. Many people make the mistake of postponing crucial software updates and granting necessary application permissions. These habits make the device extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks that can access confidential data. Always keep your phone updated to ensure the latest security updates are installed.
Read More
7 foods that help fight against Bronchitis
health
03

7 foods that help fight against Bronchitis

When you have bronchitis, it’s easy to overeat greasy, salty, or sugary foods to relieve the coughing, breathing, and throat pain. Alternatively, you may decide not to consume anything at all. However, you should take care and watch what you eat as refined carbs and saturated fats might impede recovery. Knowing which foods to avoid and which to eat may influence the severity of bronchitis symptoms. Here’s a list of a few items you should avoid. Foods with preservatives and additives Sulfites, a form of preservative, may aggravate bronchitis. Liquor, dried fruits, pickled foods, maraschino cherries, and lime juice all contain sulfites. Processed and quick meals frequently contain chemical additives, flavors, and colorings. Some bronchitis patients may be susceptible to or intolerant to these artificial components. Gas-forming foods Eating large meals or gas-producing foods strains the diaphragm, especially if you suffer from acid reflux. This can cause chest pains and asthma flare-ups. Beans, cabbage, carbonated beverages, onions, and fried dishes are examples of these foods. Sugar and HFCS Do you enjoy drinking sugar-laden colas? Be cautious. They can be dangerous to your health. Avoiding syrups, candies, and other sugary foods will help to relieve symptoms such as coughing, irritation, and discomfort in your lungs.
Read More