What Are The Causes For Migraine Headaches?

Migraine headaches may indeed cause a lot of trouble; is can hinder a person from doing his/her daily chores, it can prevent a person from reporting for work, etc. As estimates have it, approximately 29.5 millions people in the United States are suffering from migraine headaches. This statistics is somewhat alarming since we all know, especially those who are always suffering from migraine headache pains, how a migraine headache attack can affect our daily lives.

Statistics from the National Headache Foundation, an organization set up to help migraine and other headache sufferers; some industries have been losing around $50 billion from absences and medical expenses caused by migraine and other kinds of headache pains. Fact data also shows that headaches, including migraine headaches, account for about 157 million lost working days in a year.

These statistics display an alarming rate and there's no doubt in saying that migraine headaches have a significant effect on the daily lives of those suffering from this conditions not only within the house but also at working places. But there’s no need to be miserable if you know how to avoid symptoms and attacks of a migraine headaches, the causes and triggers of migraine headaches, the types and kinds of migraine headaches and the right medications and treatments for each migraine headaches kind.

Now, here are some of the things that cause migraine headaches;

• Food - there are some sufferers who are getting their triggers by too much sleep, hence, depriving their body of food longer than what is normal. It is therefore advisable that you eat on time but be sure that you know the food that you’re eating since there are some that can trigger a migraine headache.

The following food can trigger migraines on some patient;
o Cheese
o Oranges and other citrus
o Alcohol (red wine, brandy, whisky)
o Chocolate
o Vinegar and pickled foods
o Smoked foods
o Sour cream and yogurt
o Nuts
o Yeast
o Wheat
o Onions
o Bananas
o Pork
o Caffeine
o Avocado
o Foods with nitrite and nitrates
o Foods with monosodium glutamate
o Corn, cane sugar
o Eggs
o Peas
o Beef

Not all migraine headaches sufferers may get triggers from all of these foods; some of these foods may precipitate migraine headaches on some people while some may not.

• Smoking – this is definitely a factor in some headaches, especially cluster headaches; a study shows that 53 percent of migraine sufferers became migraine-free when they gave up smoking and other migraine triggers.

• Stress - you may find that you suffer from attacks not during periods of stress, but immediately afterward; this can be exacerbated by too much sleep, a late breakfast, and caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

• Excitement - this is considered as another form of stress; when you are enjoying yourself, you can still be experiencing stress, as you are producing lots of adrenaline.

• Posture – when you have a bad back, shoulders, or neck, this can give you a headache; having poor posture without even realizing it, and sitting at computer terminals all day, on cheap chairs with glaring or dim lighting, is a notorious cause of postural problems.

• Sleep Disturbance - too much or too little sleep may bring on an attack; fasting for long periods lowers your blood sugar and makes you vulnerable to an attack. Getting up at your normal time may eliminate "weekend" headaches.

• Illness – some of your attacks are worse or more frequent when you are ill and at a low ebb.

• Environmental Factors – some sufferers are sensitive to bright light, flickering light, strong smells, stuffy atmospheres (particularly in newer office buildings with no fresh air circulating), and fluorescent lighting while some cannot tolerate certain household chemicals.

• Your Personal Triggers - each individual might have his or her own personal triggers, and it is only by identifying or if possible, eliminating those triggers that the root cause of the problem can be addressed.

So you see, we can avoid migraine headache from disrupting us; we just have to know what may cause or trigger the attack. In turn, be always ready for medications and treatments.