Top 25 Migraine Headache Causes And Treatments You Must Know

migraine headache causes

Updates: 05/5/2024

If you have ever had a headache, then you will be motivated to do whatever you could to avoid having another. Fortunately, you could take steps to decrease your risk of getting a headache. Read on the whole article below to learn more about 25 migraine headache causes and treatments.

I. Migraine Headache Causes – Foods That Cause Headaches

1. Refined Sugars

migraine headaches causes and curesSugar refining is the process of extracting out the sugar from some plant materials and then eliminating unnecessary materials from the extracted raw sugar. In fact, these materials include remaining soil, stalk fibers, bacteria, and waxes. The process of sugar refining contains washing, boiling, centrifuging, filtering, and drying. If people consume refined sugar constantly, they will depress their immune system, resulting in serious headaches as migraines as well. It may also contribute to infertility, and raise the chance of suffering from cancer. Migraine or headache is caused by decline in the level of oxygen because of constricting arteries around the brain. Often, the constriction is resulted from sudden modifications in the level of blood glucose. In the normal cases, insulin produced in the pancreas will keep the delivery of glucose constantly, yet when the system fails, the arteries will cramp up and force flow. And, headache is a symptom of “Brain’s Distress”.

If you take refined sugar continuously, then you are coping with one of the trigger of “system failure”, headache. Moreover, the sickness that starts off with a headache could go up to diabetes or strokes. Therefore, it is better for you to take control of your sugar intake and the “health discipline” should be maintained. You can make use of coconut palm sugar or raw honey as alternatives of refined sugar.

 2. Meat

The fact is a number of various types of meat, poultry, fish, or daily products are thought to be triggers of headache and migraine. Processed meats, such as aged, canned, or cured are some of the top culprits. In order to be safe, you should avoid hot dogs, sausage, pepperoni, bologna, and salami. Also, such dairy products like buttermilk or sour cream could trigger migraines. Besides, some common cheese, containing cheddar, Swiss, provolone, and mozzarella are also considered as triggers.

See: tasty recipes for better health and quick juice recipes for detoxifying body.

3. Red Wine And Alcohol

migraine headaches causes and symptomsRed wine has been linked to migraine headaches. The alcohol in any beverage causes enhanced blood flow in the brain and also results in dehydration, which might be headache triggers. Those people who are suffering from migraine tend to get worse hangovers from different kinds of alcohol. Additionally, alcohol also triggers a headache in those going through a period of cluster headaches.

4. Nuts, Seeds

Some common foods, such as nuts or seeds might be linked to serious headaches in some people. Actually, nuts are considered as a “time pass food” which will be the “best friends” to help you kill time. Nevertheless, over consumption of nuts will lead to dizziness and headache. Even, small intake of nuts also triggers a headache. Pumpkin and Sesame seeds intake also causes the similar effect, headache. Some people might have a headache when eating these foods with a significantly low quantity. However, those people do not belong to the majority.

5. Caffeinated Drinks

Excessive intake of caffeine might contribute to the onset of headache and migraine attack. You had better not have too more than 4 to 5 cups of coffee, tea or cola per day. Some individuals find that suddenly stopping caffeine can be a trigger of headache. In case that you suspect this, might cut down on caffeine more steadily. There are some people finding that cutting back the consumption of caffeine in the weekend can impact on the headache and migraine attacks. Thus, if you often consume caffeinated drinks or energy drinks including stimulant drugs mainly caffeine, these drinks affect your heart rates, mental state, and blood pressure. People get addicted to these drinks and feel hard to get rid of them. Relaxation beverages also include caffeine, the trigger. Quitting consuming caffeinated drinks will help you reduce the risk of respiratory distress, insomnia, as well as gastrointestinal upset.

People can get more tips on getting rid of caffeine here to stop the negative impacts of caffeine efficiently.

6. Cheese 

migraine headaches causes and treatmentsAged cheese is more likely to cause a headache . The culprit might be a substance named tyramine that forms as the proteins in cheese break down overtime. Tyramine is an amino acid which has been thought to trigger headaches by decreasing serotonin levels in the brain and also impacting on the dilation of blood vessels. Several experts doubt that those foods, which contain tyramine are main trigger, as their connection to headaches and migraines is based on several older studies. Excessive consumption of aged cheese causes weight gain, dairy allergy, high blood pressure, amine sensitivity, and headaches. Headaches could be severe as well as “forever” sometimes.

Check out: healthy tips for migraines and headaches.

II. Migraine Headache Causes – Other Triggers Of Headaches

1. Change In Routine

Many people find that just minor changes in their routine could contribute to a migraine. For instance, changing sleep pattern or only changes caused by long trips could precede a headache attack. Even, just a pleasant change like a holiday could be implicated.

2. Weather

migraine headaches causes reviewDid you find that when the temperature changes, so does the likelihood of developing a headache and migraine? Whether it is a cold snap or a heat wave, the change could trigger a headache. Hot days are another popular culprit. The changes in barometric pressure also lead to headaches as well. Though you cannot change the weather, you could wear sunglasses on bright days, reduce dehydration, and avoid midday sun. By this way, you can avoid headache’s trigger effectively.

3. Strong Scents

Even nice smells, if they are too strong, they also trigger migraines in different people. The reason of this problem is still unclear, but the odors might stimulate the human nervous system. It is said that the most common culprit are perfume, paint, and certain kinds of flowers.

4. Skipping Meals

When people skip meals, they might suffer from hunger headaches. These problems are not always obvious. If you skip a certain meal, your head can start to ache before you recognize you are hungry. The trouble is a dip in blood sugar. However, it is not a good idea if you try to overcome your hunger headache with candy bars. Sweetened foods could cause blood sugar to increase and then drop lower drastically.

5. Hair Accessories

migraine headaches causes guideThe fact is how you wear your hair could take a toll on the head. If there is any tight ponytail on your head, it might strain the connective tissue in the scalp, causing a hairdo headache. In other words, headaches, tight-fitting hats, and braids could create the same impact. If you find that these are the causes of your current headaches, then let your hair down to get fast relief.

6. Exercises

Some strenuous exercises, containing sex, could sometimes lead to migraines and headaches. Examples are sex headache and joggers’ headache. These kinds of headaches are most common in those people who are susceptible to headaches and migraines.

If you want to know some low-impact exercises that can improve your flexibility and mobility, refer the guide in our website here.

7. Constant Poor Posture

Actually, working up a sweat can build pressure in your head as well as neck muscle, and slouching at the desk also does the same. Common forms of poor posture contain hunching the shoulders, using a chair which is too high or too low, and cradling a phone between the ear and shoulder. When you have frequent tension headaches, you had better consider changing your normal posture. It might be the culprit.

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8. Hormone Changes

This is a particularly troublesome trigger for a lot of women. The fluctuation of estrogen, resulted from menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, might cause a headache or migraine. As progesterone and estrogen are such potent migraine causes, females are nearly three times more likely than males to get migraines. There is a subset of migraine headaches known as menstrual migraine that can happen several days before the beginning of a woman’s period and during the first or two days of her period.

And, hormone medications, such as oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy also trigger and even make the condition of headache worse.

See: ways to control hormone levels 

9. Stress

migraine headaches causes pdfThe most common headache trigger is stress. Migraine sufferers might have highly responsive emotionally. Worry, shock, anxiety, and sadness could all release brain chemicals causing a migraine headache. Ironically, the sense of release after a anxious period could also result in migraines that can be the cause of weekend headaches.

Relieve stress and depression instantly and methods to control panic attacks right now with tips in our website.

10. Inactivity

According to recent research, those people who are inactive are more likely to get migraines and headaches than those who often work out. Just 30 minutes of cardio each day, five days per week, can relieve anxiety and stress, stimulate blood to the brain, and get happy hormone called endorphins flowing. However, the advice is that you should consult your doctor as exercise inappropriately can also cause headaches.

III. Migraine Headaches Treatments

1. Acupuncture migraine headaches treatments with acupuncture

By using the acupuncture method, tiny needles will be inserted under your skin to re-align flows of energy in your body. This method helps prevent migraines as well as medications do and with fewer side effects. The studies indicated that acupuncture also helps those with episodic and chronic headaches ease their pain effectively.

2. Massage

To relief temporary headaches, rub your temples or get your back, neck, shoulders and head massage. You will feel better immediately, but you have to repeat it again. According to a study, migraine sufferers who had 6 massage sessions per week reduced their pain and regained their better sleep during these massage time and the 3 following weeks than those who did not apply massage methods.

3. Stretching

Stretches can be used as a headache relief. Try the following stretches to ease your headaches and get relaxed: (1) Neck range (keep your chin forward – upward & toward each shoulder); (2) shoulder shrugs (shrug up  & forward, and up & back) (3) neck isometrics (press your palms into the forehead & hold; next press your hand on each side of your head).

Stretch once or twice/day for 20 minutes/session. Hold each stretch for 5 seconds, then relax for 5 seconds, and repeat 3 times.

Read on: Stretches For Sciatica

4. Aerobics migraine headaches treatments with aerobics

Some aerobic exercises like biking, brisk walking and swimming help reduce headache frequency and intensity.

In a study from the journal Headache, headache patients who followed an indoor cycling program in 12 weeks improved their migraines and quality of life.

5. Relaxation Exercises

There are different kinds of relaxation exercises such as mental imagery, deep breathing and relaxing to music help migraine sufferers relieve tension headaches effectively! In a study of 90 participants with migraine, they improved their sleep and ease headaches better than using acupuncture methods.

6. Cool Compresses

Place a cool and soft compress over the forehead and this method will help blood vessels constrict and ease headache instantly.

7. Avoid Nitrites & Nitrates

It is recommended that people should avoid headache-inducing substances like nitrates and nitrites in processed foods, alcohol, cheese, chocolate, caffeine and so on because they are headache triggers. Instead, taking magnesium, vitamin B2 as headache relieves without side effects.

8. Meditation

Meditation techniques are found to increase focus attention and quiet in the mind from distractions like headaches and nervousness. In a study, migraine patients reduced their headaches and improved their pain tolerance better than some other treatments like muscle relaxation and secular meditation.

9. Yoga

You may hear about many health and beauty benefits of Yoga. To cure migraine, you can practice the camel pose or other suggested poses to ease your headaches and anxiety naturally.

Yoga works based on breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation, so it helps balance your spirit, mind and body. A study in migraine shown that a group of people using yoga therapy to cure their headaches had less painful attacks than those who did not do Yoga exercises.

The above information about migraine headaches causes are collected from experts and those people, who are usually suffer from headache. Hope that this article of migraine headaches causes is beneficial for you. Most importantly, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and keeping your stress under control will help you prevent headache naturally.

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