Migraines are a common ailment. In order to prevent headache attacks, it is helpful to know certain triggers. We give you the most common causes that can cause migraines.
Anyone who suffers from migraines gets paroxysmal severe headaches, which are accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light and noise. Migraines are very common. According to the German Migraine and Headache Society, an estimated 10 to 15 percent of people in Germany regularly suffer from migraines. Women in particular are affected more often. In order to end the migraine attack quickly or even to avoid it, it is important to counteract it with medication or home remedies at an early stage. It is also advisable to be aware of certain triggers that can cause migraines.
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The most common migraine triggers
According to the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, around 90 percent of all migraine patients state that they identify at least one trigger factor that triggers a migraine attack. Physical or emotional stress (77%), menstruation (72%), bright or flickering lights (65%) and various smells (61%) are mentioned most frequently .
Stress
Do you usually have attacks when you were previously under tension and want to calm down? Many sufferers suffer from so-called “weekend migraines”. As a preventative measure, you should always allow yourself breaks during stressful phases. Good relaxation measures include yoga or meditation.
hormonal reasons
Many affected women suffer from migraines shortly before the onset of their menstrual period . This is due to hormonal fluctuations and the drop in estrogen and progesterone. Another trigger is birth control pills , which can often make migraines worse. It is best to talk to your gynaecologist. Changing the pill or non-hormonal contraceptive methods may be possible alternatives.
weather fluctuations
Strong weather changes in spring and autumn can be triggers for migraine sufferers. It is not yet clear why some people get headaches from changing weather and others do not. However, possible causes can be considered: In the case of gravity waves, a high and a low pressure area meet, which creates vibrations in the air. Weather-sensitive people can react to this with a headache. Incidentally, muggy summer weather is also considered to be typical headache and migraine weather. Weather-sensitive people should spend as much time as possible in the fresh air to harden their bodies. Regular endurance sports such as jogging or cycling improve adaptability.
diet and alcohol
An unhealthy diet, lack of fluids, fluctuating blood sugar levels or skipping meals can trigger migraine attacks. Preservatives and flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate are suspected of triggering migraines. However, there is no scientific proof of this. Alcoholic beverages in particular are among the most common triggers. The combination of alcohol and accompanying substances such as red-violet grape dye plays a role here. For this reason, migraine sufferers should avoid red wine.
Irregular sleep
An irregular sleep-wake cycle can also promote migraines. Affected people should therefore always go to bed and get up at the same time – even at the weekend. Too little sleep can also cause migraines. Most people can get by with seven to eight hours of sleep.
Recognize the causes: Keep a migraine diary
It is best to keep a migraine diary in which you write down when and in which situations you got migraines in order to better draw possible connections between triggering events and attacks.
