What Causes Migraine Headaches

Certain things can set off migraines in some people include the following:

changes in weather or altitude

changes in sleeping patterns

missing meals or fasting

menstrual periods

intense physical activity

smoking

strong or unusual odors,bright lights or loud noises

being tired, stressed or depressed

certains foods, see list below, especialy those that contain tyramine, sodium nitrate or phenelalamine

Aged, canned, cured or processed meat, including bologna, game, ham, herring, hot dogs, pepperoni and sausage.

Aged cheese

Alcoholic beverages

Aspartane

Avocados

Beans, including pole, broad, lima, italian, navy, pinto,and garbanzo

Brewer's Yeast, including fresh yeast coffee cake

Caffeine (in excess)

Canned soup or buoillon cubes

Chocolate. cocoa

Cultured dairy products, such as buttermilk and sour cream

Figs

Lentils

Meat tenderizer

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Nuts and Peanut butter

Onions, except small amounts for flavoring

Papaya

Passion Fruit

Pea pods

Pickled, preserved or marinated foods, such as olives and pickles and some snack foods

Raisins

Red plums

Sauerkraut

Seasoned salt

Snow Peas

Soy sauce

Migraine headaches seem to be caused in part by changes in the level of a body chemical called serotonin. Serotonin plays many roles in the body, and it can have an effect on the blood vessels. When serotonin levels are high, blood vessels constrict ( shrink). When serotonin levels fall, the blood vessels dilate (swells). This swelling can cause pain or other problems

Many things can affect the level of serotonin in your body, including your level of blodd sugar, certain foods and changes in your estrogen level if you're a woman

The pain of a migraine headache can be intense. It can get in the way of your daily activities. Migraines aren't the same in all people.

You may also have "premonition" several hours to a day before your headaches starts. Premonitions are feelings you can get that can signal a migraine is coming. These feelings can include intense energy, fatigue, food cravings and mood changes.Possible symptoms are listed in the box below.

Light headedness

Tender scalp

Feeling cold or sweaty

Stiff or tender neck

Stopped-up nose

Being borthered by light, noise or odors

Nausea and vomiting

Changes in how you see, including blurred vision or blinds spots

Intense throbbing or dull aching pain on one side of your head or both sides.

CLASSIC MIGRAINES, starts with a warning sign, called an aura. The aura often involves changes in the way you see. You may see flashing light and colors. You may temporarily lose some of your vision, such as your side vision.

You may also feel a strange prickly or burning sensation, or have muscle weakness on one side of your body. You may have trouble communicating. You may also feel depressed, irritable and restless.

Auras last about 15 to 30 minutes. Auras may occur before or after your head pain, and sometimes the pain and aura overlap, or the pain never occurs. The head pain of classic migraines may occur on one side of your head or on both sides.

COMMON MIGRAINES, don't start with an aura. Common migraines may start more slowly than classic migraines, last longer and interfere more with daily activities. The pain of common migraines may be on only one side of your head.

Migraines may last from 4 to 72 hours. They may happen only once or twice a year, or as often as daily. Women are more likely to have migraines than men.

 There are 2 types of Migraine treatments. Some treatment are used to relieve the headache pain.Most of these treatments should be started as soon as you think you're getting a migraine. The other type includes treatments that are used to prevent headaches before they occur

Yes. Nonprescription medicines that can help relieve migraine pain include aspirin, acetaminophen ( tylenol), acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine combination (Excedrin Migraine), ibuprofen ( Motrin), naproxyn ( Aleve) and ketoprofen (Orudis KT)

 People who have more severe pain may need prescription medicine, A medicine called ergotamine ( brand name Ergomar) can be effective alone or combined with other medicines. Dihydroergotamine( Migranal, D.H.E. 45)is related to ergotamine and can be helpful.

Other prescription medicines include sumatriptan (Imetrix), zoltripan(Zomig), naratriptan(Amerge), rezatriptan ( maxalt), almotrptan( Axert). eltriptan (Relpax) and frovatriptan( frova)

If the pain won't go away, stronger medicine may be needed, such as a narcotic ( stadol nasal spray) or medicines that contains barbiturate. These medicines can be habit-forming and should be used cautiously.

Yes. Medicine to prevent migraines maybe helpful your headaches happen more than twice a month or if your headaches make it hard for you to work and function. Examples of medicines used to prevent migraines include propranolol( Inderal), timotol ( blocadren) ,divalproex (Depakote) and some antidepressant.

 Try to avoid foods or other things that seem to cause migraines for you. get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of fluids. try to relax and reduce the stress in your life.

 Lie down in a dark quiet room

put a cold compress or rag over your forehead.

Massage your scalp using a lot of pressure.

Put Pressure on yur temples.