The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that16 percent of those surveyed had a migraine or other type of headache in the three preceding months. Headaches are considered to be migraine headaches if pain occurs on more days than not. The exact cause of migraines is still not known, but both genetics and environmental factors such as diet and stress appear to play a role.
Diagnosis
A person suffering from chronic headaches should consult a physician to aide in the diagnosis of migraine headaches and rule out other conditions and diseases that could be causing the headaches, such as tumor or hypertension. A doctor might want to review a migraine patient's planned diet change to be sure she is getting enough nutrition for her condition.
Symptoms
Patients should keep a log book of dates on which they experience migraines, along with the foods that might have triggered the pain. Migraine sufferers usually describe a pulsing pain on one or both sides of the head. Pain severity and location can vary from person to person and even from headache to headache. Patients often describe sensitivity to light and sound. Patients should note which symptoms seem to correlate with ingestion of specific foods.
Foods
Diet does not necessarily trigger all migraines in all patients, but some people do report an increase in the number and severity of headaches after eating certain foods. A low-tyramine diet might prevent some migraine headaches for some people. Tyramine is not a food additive, but occurs naturally as food is aged, fermented or stored. Foods that are low in tyramine include sausages, aged cheeses, sauerkraut and tap beer, according to the National Headache Foundation. Chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, some types of breads and crackers should be avoided. Foods containing monosodium glutamate, or MSG, might cause headaches; soy sauces, meat tenderizers and seasoned salt often contain MSG.
Herbs
MayoClinic.com reports that the herbs feverfew and butterbur might prevent and reduce the severity of migraine headaches. Riboflavin, or vitamin B-2, in high doses also might prevent migraines by correcting deficiencies of this vitamin in brain cells. Dietary supplements such as magnesium sulfate might reduce frequency of headaches, and intravenous solutions containing magnesium seem to help some migraine sufferers, especially if they are magnesium-deficient.
Other Factors
Other things appear to promote the onset of migraines, including stress, fatigue and lack of food or sleep. Women suffering from hormonal abnormalities also might experience migraines. Women are three times more likely to suffer migraines than men, according to MayoClinic.com.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Migraines: Causes
- National Headache Foundation: Low Tyramine Diet for Headaches
- National Headache Foundation: Diet and Headache
- MayoClinic.com: Migraine: Alternative Medicine
- MayoClinic.com: Migraine: Risk Factors
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