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Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Smoking, Alcohol and Contraceptives may case Migraine Headaches

Over time, a few theories have been explored as being the cause of migraine headaches. However, people today can attest to the fact that specific things cause migraines in their case.

What Causes Migraine Headaches - The Theories Explored

Back in the 1940s, scientists believed that migraine-headaches were triggered by an initial spasm that partially closed the arteries leading to the cerebrum. This, they believed, caused a decrease in the blood flow to part of the brain, hence the sudden headache and severe pain.
In the 1970s, it was researched and believed that dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters in the brain, had a significant effect on blood flow to the brain, hence causing pain as a result of the irregular flow.

What Causes Migraine Headaches for Many People:

- Foods like chocolate, cheese, nuts and caffeine can cause headache migraines. Using MSG in food can also trigger an attack.

- Severe lack of sleep can cause a migraine to come on in many people. The same also goes for too much sleep.

- People with illnesses like depression, epilepsy, anxiety and Tourette syndrome get migraine-headaches quite frequently. In fact, any condition that induces large amounts of stress can cause migraine headaches to occur.

- Missing a meal or suddenly changing an eating pattern can cause migraine-headaches to attack. It is best that any change in eating pattern be phased in slowly as opposed to being introduced abruptly.

- Many people have reported that taking contraceptives causes migraines.

- Smoking or inhalation of second hand cigarette smoke can be what causes migraine headaches in some people.

- Excessive consumption of alcohol can instantly trigger a headache migraine which can last for hours.

You now know what causes migraine headaches and can better determine what situations you need to avoid. If you're unsure of your particular trigger(s), keep a headache diary and write down what you do as well as when the attacks happen.

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