Causes of migraine 

The quick overview: 

Estrogen / Menstrual Migraines 
Food 
Stress 
Weather 
Cold 
Lights, sounds and scents 
Hunger 
Irregular lifestyles 
Treatment and prevention 

Most likely there are many causes of migraines. In some patients, migraine is triggered by a single factor, among others, there are several. Some causes of migraine we can do something about or avoid. If it is not possible to prevent the migraines, they can usually (but not always)  be controlled with medication. 

Menstrual Migraine / Migraine Estrogen

About 3 out of 4 migraineurs are women. Some women, but not all, get migraines mainly around their menstruation. Hormone related migraine seems to coincide with the time when estrogen blood levels  drop suddenly, right at the start of menstruation. 

Approximately 10% of the women who take supplements of estrogen, either as contraceptives or as a supplement after menopause, get migraines within 6 months of starting the hormone treatment. Since the migraines do not come right after hormone treatment was started, it may be difficult to see the connection. All women who are offered a treatment with estrogens should be made aware that migraines, which start during the first half or full year of hormone therapy, may be due to hormone treatment. Alternatives to estrogen should be discussed with your doctor. 

Some women naturally have estrogen levels in the blood that trigger migraines around their menstruation. The best thing you can say about menstruation migraine is that it is predictable. To top 

Food

Food is often cited as triggers for migraines. The best-known migraine-inducing foods are chocolate, red wine, cheese and alcohol. The taste enhancer monosodium glutamate and caffeine are also mentioned frequently. 

There are many studies that have shown that the type of chemical substances called monoamines may trigger migraines. There are two monoamines, which are especially migraine-inducing: tyramine and phenylethylamine. 

Tyramine found in fermented products. For example in old cheese, yogurt, herring in brine, smoked mackerel, alcoholic beverages and generally in foods that have undergone a "maturation" as well as in "monosodium glutamate". 

Phenylethylamine is found, for instance in chocolate, red wine, the sweetener aspartame and probably in citrus concentrate. 

It may be difficult to prove that your migraines are actually triggered by one or more foods. We tend to eat a varied diet, and even tiny amounts of the unfortunate foods can trigger an attack. 

The simplest way to check whether you have food migraine is to keep a diary of everything you eat and drink. If you do not see a pattern, you may try for one week or two to leave out as many migraine triggering products as possible. Your diet may be a little monotonous during this elimination period, but hopefully some migraines may be avoided.  If elimination gives an effect, it is time to do a provocation with old cheese (tyramine rich) or aspartame (rich in phenylethylamine). Always talk with your doctor before you begin a diet. 

Foods considered to be "safe" include milk, oatmeal, sugar, salt, fresh fish, fresh chicken, flour and grains, pasta (the ordinary yellow type), rice, lentils, butter, oil, onion, carrots, leeks, beets, celery, potatoes, peeled apples and pears . However, you should avoid foods that you know you are allergic to. 

Since citric acid is used as antioxidants and flavoring of many finished, you should avoid full- and semi-manufactured foods. Surface-treated fruit and vegetables can also trigger migraines. So there are many pitfalls if you try a period exclusively with foods that do not trigger a migraine. To top 

Stress

Stress is probably the one reason  most migraineurs mention when asked whether they know a trigger for their migraines. We are all stressed out and can easily find a reason for the migraine came just at the time. 

But there are few biochemical studies showing that stress triggers migraines, and even fewer controlled experiments in which test migraenieurs have suffered migraine triggered by stress. Under severe stress  a series of nerves deliver a little bit of the substance NO, which can trigger migraine symptoms. To top 

Weather

Everyone talks about the weather and nobody does anything about it. As with stress, weather something we are all exposed to, and it changes so much that it is always possible to argue that a migraine came just after a change in the weather. 

There is very little information from controlled studies, for example changes in air pressure or temperature, which has provoked migraine. To top 

Cold

 
Cold is specifically mentioned as a cause for migraine. Especially cold around the head seems to give a migraine. The cold is fortunately something you can do something about, for example with a smart cap or hat. It also seems as if one can avoid migraines induced by cold, by not letting cold air into the nose. To top 

Lights, sounds and scents

 
Migraineurs are more sensitive to light, sounds and smells than non-migraineurs, even in the periods between migraines. It is therefore likely that light, sounds and smells can trigger migraine attacks. Individuals with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) can get migraines when they meet certain fragrances. To top 

Hunger

There are many reports that migraine is triggered if you miss a meal. When blood sugar falls, a migraine may begin. Fortunately the problem can often be solved by a snack in time. To top 

Irregular lifestyles

Migraines often occur during weekends when you just feel so good and want to sleep late, take it easy and "do something else". Although it is sad to have to operate in a regular program also on public holidays, it is something you can control, at least to some extent, in contrast to the weather and stress. To top 

Treatment or prevention

Fortunately, the development of new drugs for migraine has been rapid in recent years, and new drugs are emerging. It is, however,  always better to prevent an attack than to treat it. Even the best medicine affects your body. 

Many migraineurs find it hard to plan their lives because they constantly fear a migraine. With the present modern types of medications, many migraineurs have the opportunity to have a normal life. Knowledge of the migrainetriggers can provide even more opportunities for a fulfilling life. To top

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