The pain caused by chronic migraine headaches can be relentless and affect everyday activities. Doctors at the St. John Health Chronic Headache and Migraine Institute report that 28 million people in the United States suffer with some level of migraine. The pain becomes most acute between the ages of 20 and 45 and affects women five times more often than men. There are a variety of causes for chronic migraines, most of which are related to lifestyle choices and environmental triggers.
Food
Patients often are asked to keep a diary of their food intake for a period of two weeks to try to find foods that may be causing their headaches. When patients discover a certain food is almost always followed by a migraine, they should avoid that particular food for two to four weeks to see if the headaches decrease. If you suffer from migraines, avoid alcohol and food that contains tyramine, an amino acid that is a protein found in various foods and broken down into the essential amino acids used by the body. While labels do not typically refer to the chemical additive, it is can be identified by a similar chemical called phenylalanine. Another additive that is a common trigger of migraine headaches is monosodium glutamate (MSG), used liberally in Chinese food and prepared foods. Other foods that can cause migraine headaches include ice cream, aged cheeses, salted, smoked or cured meat, raw onions, lima beans and olives.
Sinuses
Sinus infections can cause migraine headaches, especially as the pain worsens in the afternoon and evening. Colds and allergies typically cause the sinus problems that precipitate a migraine headache. Patients prone to sinus headaches should avoid dust, pollen, smoke, fumes and strong odors.
Environment
Environmental factors can cause the sudden onset of a migraine, such as when the barometric pressure changes. Extreme changes in weather often can trigger a migraine. Often, a migraine results from a combination of triggers. Levels of sleeping and eating are important variables that can cause a migraine headache, report researchers at the National Headache Foundation.
Drugs
In addition to alcohol, over-the-counter medications, caffeine and nicotine are other substances that are known to cause migraine headaches. Prescription medicines given to patients to treat migraines also can cause additional headache trauma. Overuse of medications should be monitored, especially in people with a history of substance abuse. Rebound headaches can appear if any headache medicine is used for more than two days a week. Doctors at the National Headache Foundation also report that antidepressants, beta-blockers, anticonvulsants and even Botox injections can cause migraine headaches if used more than prescribed.
