Blood vessel dilations in the brain produce intense incapacitating headaches called migraines. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines are a genetically based neurological disease that affect approximately 18 percent of women and 6 percent of men. Although an intense unilateral throbbing identifies most migraines, about one-third of suffers experience bilateral headaches. There are many triggers that can contribute to frequent migraine headaches.
Bright or Flashing Lights
Sensitivity to sunlight, fluorescent light or flashing light is a common trigger and symptom of migraines. Wearing sunglasses indoors as well as outside identifies many frequent migraine sufferers.
Repetitive or High Pitch Noises
Repetitive noises may be annoying to most people, but migraine sufferers should actively avoid them. High-pitched noise, often associated with electrical humming, can trigger intense headaches and migraines.
Strong Scents
Scent may be one of the more difficult triggers to control but also represents one of the most common. Cleaning supplies, perfumes, colognes and cooking all represent potential migraine instigators.
Hormonal Fluctuations
Women are likely to report migraines at the beginning or during a menstrual cycle when a considerable drop in estrogen occurs. Although some women believe that hormonal contraceptives help prevent migraines, the National Headache Foundation reports that a high percentage of women experience stronger and more frequent migraines with the use of hormonal contraceptives.
Blood Sugar Changes
Skipping meals or consuming refined sugars produces large fluctuations in blood sugar that can cause disruptions in the central nervous system. Eating refined sugar produces a rapid increase in blood sugar levels that the body compensates for by increasing insulin levels. Insulin lowers blood sugar causing a blood vessels in the brain to constrict producing migraine auras. If blood sugar remains low, the body will increase the quantity of blood flow to the brain and release hormones that likewise trigger the release of stored glucose into the blood stream. This will increase blood pressure and dilate blood vessels in the brain producing head pain.
Food Allergies or Sensitivities
Prevalent food allergies and sensitivities include alcohol, chocolate, MSG, caffeine, salty foods, processed foods and aged cheese. The body responds to these antigens by first constricting blood flow to the brain. During the bodies attempt to compensate, blood pressure and blood flow is increased to the brain and this vasodilation causes intense migraine pain and can last for hours.
Sleep-wake Pattern Changes
Both missing sleep and getting too much sleep will trigger migraine attacks in some individuals. Light or repetitive noises during sleep prevent most migraine sufferers from achieving any long-term deep sleep pattern at night.
