Aug 11, 2010 21:33
If you are looking for the exact cause of migraine headache, I’m sorry that I may have to disappoint you. Although there is no exact cause of migraine headaches known as yet, there are some possible causes that worth your attention.
One explanation is that migraine headache may be caused by malfunctions in the central nervous system that may be a result of changes in the body or in the environment. Another explanation is that of a family disorder history which may indicate that it is passed down from generations and may result in inflammation in the vessels carrying blood as well as nerves surrounding the brain which results in a lot of pain.
The stimulus that can be considered as having triggered the migraine headache could be any one that includes having consumed alcohol, changes in the weather, due to consumption of foods, a result of glare, due to hormonal changes in women, hunger, not getting enough sleep, medications, perfumes or even stress. These are not the exact cause of migraine headache, but avoiding these stimulus are proven to reduce your chance of migraine headache.
Pain that is experienced as a result of a migraine headache can be throbbing or pulsating and becomes more intense as a result of routine activity or through coughing, straining or when the head is lowered. The severity of the headache is such that the person is unable to perform daily activities or stay asleep at night.
The exact cause of migraine headache can be first noticed when pain begins on one side of the head and spreads over a period of an hour or two after which it may gradually subside. It may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and becoming averse to light. Whatever be the cause of migraine headaches, experts agree that further studies are required mainly due to the different episodes of headaches that people experience and no one instance can be pinpointed as being the exact cause of migraine headaches.
Another possible explanation of the exact cause of migraine headache can be attributed to a combining of blood vessel expansion accompanied by a release of certain chemicals which results in inflammation and pain. These chemicals are known as dopamine and serotonin and are usually found in the brain and may result in the abnormal activity of the blood vessels.
The last possible exact cause of migraine headache could be smoking, which may act both as a cause and an interference with medical treatment to alleviate migraine headaches. According to other experts another exact cause of migraine headache could be guilt and fear.
Instead of finding the exact cause of migraine headache, it is equally important for the person suffering from migraines, to try and note down what triggered the pain. Was it second-hand smoke at a restaurant, an extremely sunny day, fear of an exam or something else?