If you suffer from migraines, you know that having one isn’t exactly fun. And we are sure it wouldn’t be comforting to know that over 16% of American adults also suffer from this condition.
What’s interesting to note is what causes migraine in one may not cause migraine in another. Yes, migraine triggers are completely different for your friends, neighbor, or the millions of other people who suffer from it. So, what can cause a migraine? Take a good look at sneaky little triggers that you never thought would cause migraine.
Hunger
Most people do not feel hungry enough, so they often tend to skip breakfast or any other meals, for that matter. That’s because skipping calories can cause your blood sugar to drop dramatically, leading to a headache or a migraine episode.
Dehydration
One way that gives you a splitting migraine is dehydration. While drinking a lesser amount of fluids can cause migraines, dehydration is one of the chief reasons you may end up with a migraine.
Dehydration can trigger several underlying medical conditions, such as primary headache disorders, including migraines.
Weather Changes
Your head may be more sensitive to changes in the weather than you thought. By changes in weather we mean, changes in heat, humidity, wind, and a drop in barometric pressure. It is a sure shot migraine trigger for most people, as stated by the American Headache Society. Although not much research is available, it still offers some food for thought to people suffering from migraines how they must be more careful with changes in weather to avoid migraines.
Teeth Grinding
Bruxism or teeth grinding/clenching can trigger headaches and even cause migraine episodes. You may suffer from that because clenching your teeth at night puts a lot of pressure on the temporomandibular joint and the head and neck muscles. Although not a pretty sight, in such cases, you may have to wear a nightguard or a custom orthotic appliance to prevent a recurring migraine attack.
Stress and Anxiety
While a little bit of stress is acceptable for everyone, problems arise when you cannot handle life stress, worry, or anxiety, and it invariably triggers off a migraine. Stress can cause migraine attacks for almost 70% of people who experience migraines. People who have generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, in particular, are more prone to migraine attacks.
Exercise
While there are unending benefits of exercise, people suffering from migraines must be wary about the kind of exercise they do. As per the American Migraine Foundation, the impact of exercise differ from person to person. And can trigger migraines and, in some cases, treat migraines.
While, on the one hand, regular exercise can drastically reduce the frequency of migraines, all thanks to endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. It can also reduce stress and can help people sleep better at night, the two other triggers for migraines.
On the other hand, exercise offsets a migraine for some people. It’s mostly not known why that’s the case, but health practitioners believe that exercise in some cases increases blood pressure levels, which in turn affects the nerves in the brain.
Allergies
While the smell of the outdoors can be pretty invigorating, in some cases blooming buds and trees, pollen can create havoc. It may cause offset an asthma attack, leading to never-ending bouts of sneezing, wheezing, and congestion. But for others, these outdoor allergic offenders may increase the incidences of migraines.
Light, Sound, and Smell
Sensory stimuli like bright light, loud sounds, and strong smells can lead to a splitting migraine. Sensory triggers such as visual stimulation can often cause a migraine. Sometimes it can be triggered off with bright or flashing lights. Sometimes, it can be certain visual patterns. Strong smells like perfumes can also trigger off migraines.
Computer Screens
This is a complete no-brainer as we are all guilty of staring at a screen for too long sometimes. But if you’re are someone who is prone to migraine bouts, you may want to think twice before watching or binge-watching your favorite Netflix series.
Research says that spending over two hours daily gazing at a screen can lead to migraines, especially in young adults, who are more prone to indulge in binge-watching fests.
If you are susceptible to migraine attacks, find out what causes the triggers and avoid the same to prevent further attacks in the future.