Migraine Headache Causes
The exact causes pertaining to each type of migraine is yet largely unknown. It is understood however that this condition arises due to a series of reactions in the central nervous system occurring due to changes in the body.
Family history is often thought of as one of the primary reasons that may lead to the problem. It has been noticed that, migraine sufferers, who have similar history in the family may inherit certain sensitivities that give rise to conditions producing inflammation in the blood vessels and nerves around the brain and scalp, which results in extreme pain.
Apart from this certain factors often help culminate into the process of developing Migraine headaches. These can be listed as- Exertion, Environmental factors- (like change in weather, altitude, etc), consumption of alcohol, over the counter medicines or incorrect dosages, Hormonal changes- especially in women, stress and hunger.
In addition, Migraine headaches are at times caused due to excess of food containing caffeine like- coffee and chocolate or presence of monosodium glutamate – to be found in Chinese food and nitrates –present in processed foods and hot dogs, etc.
Migraine triggers are internal and external factors that can set a migraine in motion. Triggers are individual, and what affects one person will not necessarily affect another. The migraine trigger is the thing that starts the chain reaction, in people who are already predisposed to migraine. In other words, people who already have the disease might get the symptoms when a trigger lights the fuse.
Understanding migraine triggers has evolved, and there has been a lot of discussion about what should be considered a migraine trigger. For example, stress, or how you cope with it. We now know that stress doesn't cause migraine, but many people believe it could be a trigger. However, a growing consensus now believes that stress doesn't even trigger a migraine, but instead wears you down so that you may be more likely to “react” to a trigger.
Migraine triggers are different for everyone, and so the list could be very long. Below are some of the more common triggers, using the categories of internal and external. This does not mean that every one of these things could trigger a migraine
- Hormonal changes - This includes changes during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and changes due to birth control pills or HRT (hormone replacement therapy).
- Changes in your daily schedule - Oversleeping, not getting enough sleep, skipping a meal, a rest after a hectic schedule.
- Weather - Particularly rapidly dropping barometric pressure, but also rising pressure, temperature or humidity. Walking into a headwind can trigger migraines in some.
- Foods - Foods high in tyramine are believed to be among the worst migraine triggers. This would include things such as aged cheese and deli meats. There are many foods that could trigger migraine. Caffeine, chocolate, bananas, MSG, (found in things such as canned stews, soya sauce, and powdered soups), and citrus fruits. Visit our page on diet and migraine for more on dietary migraine triggers.
- Environment - This could include cigarette smoke, perfumes, or fresh paint.
Risk Factors of Migraine Headaches
Up to 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. They affect up to 18% of women and 6% of men. In fact, 70% of all migraine sufferers are women. This significantly greater incidence in women holds throughout the world and in every culture. Although the incidence of migraine is similar for boys and girls during childhood, it increases in girls after puberty.
Hormone Fluctuations in Women - Most migraines in women develop during the hormonally active years between adolescence and menopause. Fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone, rather than their presence, appear to increase the risk for migraines and their severity in some women.
- About half of women with migraines report headaches associated with their menstrual cycle, although true menstrual migraines may actually be less common. So-called true menstrual migraines tend not to have auras and to increase in prevalence between two days before and five days after the onset of period.
- The first three months of pregnancy can exacerbate migraines in some women, although one study reported that pregnancy had little effect one way or the other on severity in most women with chronic headaches.
- Women whose migraines are affected by pregnancy or menstruation are also likely to have worse migraines if they take oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapies.
General Age of Onset - More than 20% of adults with migraines report that their headaches started before age 10 and over 45% say they started under age 20. The prevalence of migraine declines in both men and women after age 40.
Migraine in Children - Migraine headaches occur in all ages and can appear in children as young as four years of age. Migraines in children are equally prevalent in boys and girls. Migraine is common in children and may be under-diagnosed. Some studies estimate that about 10% of children between six and 20 years of age suffer from migraine.
Migraine Onset in Older Adults - Although uncommon, late-life migraine occurs in about 1% of the population, usually in men. In such cases, it often occurs as migraine with visual disturbances but without headache.
Family History - Migraine headaches can be inherited. If both parents suffer from migraines, their children have a 75 percent chance of getting them; when only one parent gets migraines, there is a 50 percent chance his or her children will be afflicted. In March 2002, UCLA geneticists, reporting in the American Journal of Human Genetics, discovered the first evidence that migraine with aura is hereditary.
Ethnic Differences - Caucasians have a higher risk than either African Americans or Asians. Worldwide, one study reported that migraines are most common in North America. They are slightly less prevalent in South America and Europe and far less common in Asia and Africa. Investigators believe that the differences are due to genetic variations, not environmental factors.
Other Medical Conditions Associated with Migraines
- Asthma and allergies - Some studies have reported an association between migraine and asthma. One observed that parents with migraines had a greater chance of having children with asthma and allergies. These conditions have also been associated with a higher risk for conversion from having periodic migraines attacks to a chronic form (transformed migraines).
- H. pylori infection - People who are infected with the bacteria H. pylori, the major cause of peptic ulcers, are at higher risk for migraines.
- Epilepsy - Patients with epilepsy are twice as likely to have migraines as the general population. Interestingly, a 2002 study found that menstrual migraines and certain epileptic seizures tend to occur during the same phases of the menstrual cycle.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Raynaud's syndrome.
- Mitral valve prolapse.
- Narcolepsy.
Personality Traits - One study suggested that women with migraines tend to over-respond to stressful situations. In the study, they were more likely than other women to be diligent, conscientious, and overly sensitive to pressure from others. More likely, however, a person’s family history of migraine, rather than any personality tic, is the important risk factor.
Next Steps:
While you may find this medical information useful, as the next step we strongly recommend that you make an appointment to see one of our physicians to ensure that your health issues are properly addressed.
To schedule an appointment with our physicians, please call our patient coordinator at 1-212-679-9667, send the form below or an email to: info@patientsmedical.com. We are currently accepting new patients and look forward to being of assistance.
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Article Last Updated: 06/26/2009