A migraine refers to a common neurological disease that causes throbbing and pulsing on the side of your head. This is a genetic disorder that about 12% of Americans suffer from.
Migraines may last hours or even days and can intensify with physical activity, sounds, smells, and even light.
Managing Migraine Triggers
Migraines are a more complex form of a headache, due to the additional symptoms that occur. Along with chronic pain and throbbing, most people experience nausea, vomiting, and extreme light and sound sensitivity. Although many things can cause a person to have sudden onset of a migraine, here are some of the more common migraine triggers and how to cope with them.
Stress - The biggest and most common cause of migraines is stress. Severe and or frequent stress can change your brain’s functions and structures. Highly responsive emotions can become a trigger.
One way to deal with stress is to identify things known to cause you stress and or tension and work on reducing these factors in your life. This can help change your body’s psychological response to stress, reducing the chances of your stress triggering a migraine.
Caffeine - In some cases, many people find that symptoms of their migraines are heightened after consuming caffeine, while others report relief with caffeine intake during a migraine attack. There are even migraine medications that can contain anywhere from 65mg of caffeine per dose or more.
Being conscious of your caffeine sensitivity during an attack and before could be the trigger standing between you and your next migraine.
Dehydration - Dehydration affects multiple body functions and can cause symptoms like dizziness and confusion. Research shows that about 1/3 of Americans who experience migraines reported dehydration as a trigger.
Tracking your fluid intake throughout the day and carrying a water bottle can help keep you properly hydrated. The recommended daily intake of water is 2 liters.
Diet - There are many foods these days that can trigger migraines, with the most common ones being foods that contain MSG, histamine, cheese, chocolate, dairy, caffeine, and even foods with stronger smells.
If you are able to identify specific food triggers, it is recommended to avoid them as much as possible or eliminate them from your diet completely.
Other common migraine triggers:
- Lack of sleep
- Jet lag
- Hunger
- Additives
- Alcohol
- Medication overuse
- Smells
- Weather
- Female hormones
- Physical activity
- And more
If you or a loved one are looking for natural migraine relief, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.