Common Migraine Triggers

There’s no doubt that migraines can be extremely unpleasant conditions to deal with. Whether you’re experiencing intense pain or your discomfort is double with feelings of nausea and extreme sensitivity to light or sound, they can be very unpleasant and difficult to manage. But what if you’re dealing with constant headaches that show up pretty often?

While most people seek treatment for conditions like back pain at a Glendale clinic, many ignore the signs and symptoms of migraines and learn to “just deal with them.” However, migraines can really impact your quality of life and are a lifestyle factor that needs to be changed. It’s important to be aware of what factors trigger your migraines, so you can determine the right form of treatment for addressing your pain and discomfort.

Keep reading to discover some of the most common migraine triggers.

Are You Experiencing a Migraine?

Before we move onto the common triggers, it’s important to determine how you can diagnose one, so you don’t end up addressing a different form of headache using the wrong treatment.

Intense Headaches

Keep in mind that while migraines can manifest as different symptoms for different people, the most common symptom is intense pain. The pain might start off pretty dull and neutral, and grow into a sharper pain.

Extreme Sensitivity

Another common sign that you’re having a migraine is intense sensitivity to sound or light. If going outside on a sunny day is too much for you, or you can’t seem to handle those around you talking loudly, you’re probably experiencing a migraine — especially if it occurs with head pain.

Fatigue

If you’re feeling extremely tired to the point where you might even be dizzy, you could be experiencing a migraine. However, fatigue can also be a symptom of other health conditions, especially when it’s coupled with symptoms like neck pain in Glendale. Therefore, it’s important to notice other symptoms that occur as well — see if it occurs with a throbbing headache or sensitivity to sound or light.

Other Symptoms

As previously stated, migraines can manifest themselves with a variety of different symptoms. You might also experience temperature changes and feeling very hot or cold, stomach pain, vomiting, poor appetite, diarrhea, or even a fever.

Common Migraine Triggers

Now that you know how to better diagnose a migraine, it’s important to explore some of the most common migraine triggers, so you can address yours and find relief soon:

Prolonged Stress

Stress can be harmful to us in many ways — it can cause emotional, mental, and physical symptoms that deeply affect us. When you experience a heavy amount of stress, whether it’s related to work, your personal life, or other factors, your body starts to produce more of the stress hormone cortisol. Scientists have discovered that constant stress can lead to a change in the brain’s blood vessels and cause migraines. Stress can also lead to other health conditions, including heart disease, obesity, issues with digestion, and anxiety and depression.

Food

Certain foods, including refined sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and certain additives can contribute to the development of migraines. Certain components and ingredients and different foods can trigger migraines for different reasons, whether that’s due to withdrawal that follows or because of regular consumption.

Weather Changes

Weather changes are common triggers for many people who experience migraines. That’s because a change in the weather can create a chemical imbalance in our brains, which could then lead to migraines. Your body’s not used to certain conditions, and it’s directly showing you that.

Hormonal Changes in Women

Another likely migraine trigger for women is a change in hormones. Whether your migraines occur on a monthly basis around or during menstruation, you’re pregnant, or you’re currently undergoing menopause, all of these situations can really impact your body’s hormone levels. As your hormone levels change your body chemistry is essentially changing, which commonly causes migraines.

Changes in Sleep Patterns

If you’re used to getting less than 7 hours of sleep and now you’re getting 10 hours a night, or you’re used to sleeping 9 hours and now you’re only sleeping 6, there’s a high chance you might be experiencing migraines. You can fix these issues by sticking to a regular sleep schedule and getting between 7-9 hours of sleep a night.

Environmental Factors

While weather conditions can certainly cause an imbalance that leads to headaches, they’re certainly not the only environmental factors that can cause migraines. For a lot of people, smoke, air pollution, certain fragrances, chemicals, and bright or flickering lights and trigger migraines.

Dehydration

One of the most overlooked triggers is dehydration. When you’re not drinking enough water your body starts to lose more water than it takes in, which can manifest with a variety of symptoms. You might experience a migraine as well as increased thirst, tiredness, fatigue, dry skin, muscle cramping, and dizziness. You might even experience greater confusion, an ability to concentrate, or mood swings.

Certain Medications

Another common culprit of migraines is medication. If you’re taking medications to treat a condition, while they might be making your condition better, they might also cause side effects. Common side effects are migraines, because certain ingredients can change your body chemistry and bring you pain. There are, however, certain medications that can help alleviate migraines and improve symptoms. Speak with a healthcare professional at a pain clinic in Glendale about available options and other forms of treatment.

Whatever the cause might be, if you’re searching to relieve your chronic pain in Glendale, it’s important to start by taking note of your symptoms and when they occur. Do they usually occur after eating or drinking, or along with changes in weather? If you’re a woman, could they be related to menstruation? Taking note of when they occur and potential causes can help you identify the culprit and find an effective form of treatment.

Are You Dealing With Chronic Pain in Glendale?

While migraines themselves aren’t dangerous (unless they signal an underlying condition that requires greater attention), they can be extremely unpleasant and painful to deal with. If you’re looking for an effective form of pain management in Glendale, where you can discover what causes your symptoms and how you can treat them, visit a pain clinic in Glendale where you can work with knowledgeable and experienced professionals who will help you relieve pain and get on your way to living a happier, more fulfilling life.