A migraine can strike without warning or there can be subtle signals, such as a stiff neck, tingling, blurred vision, congested sinuses or even nausea. Migraines vary in symptoms and intensity, and their causes are often a mystery to the patient. According to FamilyDoctor.org, fluctuating chemicals in your brain may cause your blood vessels to swell, resulting in a migraine. Finding the cause of your migraines is a process of elimination, but some triggers are more common than are others. See your doctor if you suffer from frequent migraines.
Food Triggers
Keeping a food diary may help pinpoint the causes of migraines. Family Doctor lists aged and processed meat products, such as hot dogs, lunch meat, pepperoni, ham and sausage as potential triggers.
Foods containing yeast, such as bread and doughnuts, may cause migraines in some, while others may get a migraine after eating beans, including lima beans, pinto beans and green beans. Avocados and red wine may cause migraines.
Canned and processed foods, such as soups and stews, may contain monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer that elicits migraines in some. Other potential triggers include pickled foods like sauerkraut and olives, peanut butter and nuts, chocolate and artificial sweeteners.
Even fruits and vegetables, including papaya, pea pods, figs, raisins, onions, red plums and passion fruit can set off a migraine.
Hormones
A woman may experience a migraine just before or after her menstrual period, according to MayoClinic.com, due to fluctuating estrogen levels. Hormonal fluctuations may also occur during pregnancy and menopause or if the woman is on hormonal birth control.
Lifestyle Triggers
Altering your sleeping patterns can produce a migraine, explains MayoClinic.com, and so can stress and depression. Strenuous physical activity, including sex, may trigger a migraine.
Outside Stimulus
Some migraine sufferers report that bright lights, loud noises or even certain odors can start a migraine. Others suffer when the weather or the barometric pressure changes.
Genetic Link
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that genetics play a strong role in migraines, but you may suffer from these vascular headaches even if no one else in your family does.
