A migraine is a common neurological disease that causes a number of symptoms, the most common symptom is a throbbing, pulsing headache on one side of your head. There are some factors that trigger the migraine headache such as some physical activities, lights, sounds, smells, etc. It can last for at least 4 - 6 hours, and sometimes even 2 - 4 days.
It is important to notice what is triggering your headache. Following are some of them -
Stress
Migraine can be triggered by a significant increase or decrease in physical or psychological stress. Studies have found that stress triggers migraine headaches in between 50 and 80 percent of migraine sufferers. Some people had migraines after a stressful event, while others had a new attack in the middle of a stressful event.
Poor sleep
One of the most common factors associated with migraine is sleep disruption. Inadequate sleep is frequently cited as a trigger for acute migraine attacks. Excessive sleep is another frequently mentioned trigger.
Lack of sleep changes in your work schedule can also contribute to migraine onset. The most common sleep disorder associated with chronic migraine is insomnia. People who suffer from chronic migraines and insomnia are more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression.
These conditions all have one thing in common: a lack of sleep. Many people, however, report that sleep frequently relieves their migraine headaches.
Medication overuse:
One of the most common causes of migraine is medication overuse. People who abuse common analgesics, or painkillers, are more likely to progress from occasional migraines to chronic migraines. Migraine sufferers frequently overuse medications such as opioids and butalbital.
Overuse of these and other pain relievers, such as OTC (NSAIDs), may result in more frequent headaches. It may also result in more pain. Opioid drugs are especially likely to be linked to the development of chronic migraine.
Before migraine symptoms can be controlled, it may be necessary to discontinue offending medications.
Dehydration or hunger
Migraine sufferers would be wise to avoid skipping meals. Skipping meals is consistently linked to the onset of migraines, according to research. It's unclear how this will happen. It causes a decrease in blood glucose levels. Dehydration is also a migraine trigger. A lack of water has been linked to the onset of headaches.
Bright lights and loud sounds
Some people claim that bright, flickering, or pulsating lights, as well as loud noises, can trigger migraines. Sunlight exposure can cause migraines.
Hormones in women
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, women are three times more likely than men to suffer from migraine headaches. Female sex hormone fluctuations may play a role in headache onset and severity, according to evidence. Oral contraceptives may aggravate symptoms, whereas pregnancy may provide relief for some migraine sufferers. Pregnancy, on the other hand, has been linked to worsening symptoms in some women. Menopause may provide some relief from the severity of headaches.
Other potential triggers are as follows:
- Environmental changes, barometric pressure changes, strong winds, or changes in altitude are examples of changing weather conditions.
- Getting exhausted and Overexertion.
- Dieting strictly or a lack of water intake.
- Changes in your regular sleeping pattern.
- Being at loud noisy places.
- Smoking, perfumes, and other strong odors.
- Blood vessels swelling due to certain medications
Are you worried about your triggers?
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Steps to Avoid Your Triggers
Eat healthy food and drink healthy
Eat good food and notice whatever food you take does it triggers migraine or not. If you get a headache, make a list of the foods and drinks you consumed before the headache began. If you notice the same over time, avoid that item.
Reduce your stress
There are numerous approaches to reduce stress like you can work out, meditate, pray, spend time with people you care about, and do things you enjoy. Set a plan in place if you can change some of the things that make you tense. Counseling and stress management classes are also worthwhile endeavours. You can also look into biofeedback, which teaches you how to control certain aspects of your body (such as your heart rate and breathing) to reduce stress.
Maintain your energy levels
Maintain a regular eating schedule and avoid dehydration.
Do not skip foods
Mealtimes should not be skipped. Eat timely, maintain a good time schedule of eating food.
Reduce your caffeine intake
Migraines can be caused by consuming too much of any food or drink. However, abruptly reducing one's workload may also result in them. So, if caffeine appears to be one of your headache triggers, try to reduce it gradually.
Exercise should be done with caution
Everyone requires some form of physical activity on a regular basis. It's an important part of staying healthy. You can still exercise if you are one of them. Inquire with your doctor about what would be beneficial.
Get enough sleep
A migraine is more likely if your sleep habits are disrupted or if you are extremely tired.
Conclusion
If you're one of the millions of people who suffer from migraines on a regular or irregular basis, it's critical to understand your personal migraine triggers and do everything you can to avoid them. It's also important to remember that taking too many migraine medications can worsen your symptoms.
