How To Tell If A Migraine Headache Is Coming Your Way

The occurrence of the migraine headache is not a new phenomenon that has only been occurring in recent history; in fact migraine headache symptoms have plagued individuals for centuries as far back as records can count. Any person can experience a migraine headache; however there are some individuals who will be more prone to suffering from an occurrence of migraine headache than others. Understanding the risk factors, triggers, as well as warning signs that often occur before the experience of a migraine headache can allow individuals to better recognize when a migraine headache may be coming their way.

Risk Factors
Some of the risk factors that seem to play a role in making a person more prone or more at risk to experiencing a migraine headache are as follows:
• Family History – research has proven that genetics do play a large role in the occurrence of a migraine headache. In fact, studies show that up to 90% of individuals who experience an occurrence of a migraine headache (or experience chronic occurrences of migraine headache) have a family history of those who suffer from migraine headache.
• Gender – other research shows that gender also plays a large role in those who are more likely to experience the occurrence of migraine headache. Women are far more likely than men to experience a migraine headache, and studies show that this may occur because of hormonal changes that can affect or trigger the occurrence of a migraine headache. More specifically when speaking of how hormones affect migraine headache in women, it seems to be pinpointed around the hormone estrogen, this is also thought to be why women complain of more occurrences of migraine headache around the times of their monthly cycles because of the changes in estrogen that take place.
• Age – studies also show that most individuals who will experience a migraine headache in their lifetime will have had their first migraine headache by the age of 40 years old, and the majority of those who will suffer from occurrences of migraine headache will have had their first occurrence during adolescence. However, while these are statistics which are most common, it is also not heard of for someone to have their first migraine headache after the age of 40, nor is it unheard of for children to experience a migraine headache before adolescence occurs.
• Other Medical Issues – additional research shows that those who are more prone to experiencing migraine headache are those individuals who also have the following conditions such as high blood pressure, depression, stroke, epilepsy, as well as anxiety.

Triggers
In addition to a person being more prone to experiencing migraine headache is what is termed in the medical work as “triggers”. Triggers are certain events or circumstances that can set off the occurrence of a migraine headache. Often times these triggers begin with a specific source (or combination of sources) such as physiological, physical, or environmental events. Included below are some of the most common migraine headache triggers are stress, hormones, sleep, certain lighting, certain foods, as well as the practice of fasting. Understanding how each of these triggers may play a role in the individual who suffers from a migraine headache is important for recognizing when a migraine headache may occur. Being able to avoid the personal triggers, whether they are physiological, physical, or environmental triggers, can help to reduce the frequency and severity of their migraine headache occurrences.

Warning!
If a person is more prone to experience a migraine headache because of certain tendencies and they have missed the triggers, it is important that they at least be able to recognize the warning signs that often occur before a migraine headache takes place. Every individual of course is different and each person who suffers from migraine headache will have their own personal set of warning signs, however the most common warnings signs that a migraine headache is about to occur are as follows: drowsiness, fatigue, irritability, obsessive yawning, mood changes, as well as food cravings (especially for foods that are high in sugar or salt content). If a person can become aware of their own personal warnings signs that precede a migraine headache, then hopefully they can take preventative and abortive actions to stop the migraine headache before it attacks in full force.

Tags: constipation, Depression, emotional stress, Fatigue, migraine triggers, strange food cravings, triggers