Triggers Can Be A Warning That Severe Pain Is On The Way

Migraine headaches are debilitating and can leave a person suffering from intense pain for up to three days. When a migraine attacks a person the individual is forced to surrender his or her control, schedule and productivity in order to seek rest, darkness and solitude until the pain disappears. A migraine headache is caused by an enlargement of blood vessels that creates a series of chemicals to be released and attack arteries in the brain. Once the chemicals have been released to wreak their havoc, the enlarging of the arteries begins to send painful symptoms that only magnifies until the arteries have stopped expanding or migraine relief has been found.

The symptoms of a migraine only add to the frustration that a migraine brings. By recognizing the warning signs or symptoms commonly related to a migraine, an individual is than able to prepare his or herself emotionally and physically for the onset of intense head pain. Awareness can limit the immobilizing affect that a migraine headache can have and steps to finding migraine relief can be taken. Migraine headaches often start revealing signs several hours and even days before attacking in full force. A shocking 40% of most migraines have preemptive signs before striking an individual helpless.

Signs A Migraine Is On The Way
Preemptive warning signs if known can be a valuable tool with helping reduce one’s pain level and duration. Studies have shown that if a migraine treatment is implemented at the first sign of a migraine attack than the migraine patient has a better chance of maintaining functionality during his or her attack. The warning sides that tell if a migraine is on the verge of breaking through may be overlooked or explained away, however if these warning signs are noted and charted migraines can be stopped before they get started.

• Sleepiness is often explained away by an overactive brain, bed discomfort and a million other reasons but drowsiness is a sign that a migraine might be in the near future.
• Sudden irritability or changes in mood. Irritability can often be chalked away as not having had a good night’s rest, be cautious of overlooking unexplained irritability.
• Fatigue
• Bouts of depression
• Obsessive yawning
• Cravings for foods high in sugar of lathered in salt

Symptoms such as the ones mentioned might go unnoticed by most, but those that suffer with frequent migraine headaches should take note of the warnings signs, chart them and prepare for the onset of a migraine headache.

Know Your Trigger
One other important thing for migraine sufferers to be made aware of is what triggers the onset of their migraine headaches. Through clinical studies and research, doctors and scientist have come to understand that though they are unable to pinpoint exact cause’s biological events may play a role in the development of a migraine. A migraine trigger could be influenced by one’s environment or any physiological upset that can lead to the onset of a headache; those who are prone to headaches are more susceptible. Migraine triggers are difficult to distinguish and very few migraine sufferers are aware that they even exist.

Triggers That Could Start A Migraine
• Stress
• Sleep – one’s sleep habits have much to do with migraines, whether it be: sleep deprivation, too much sleep or broken up sleep they are all connected to headaches. Studies have shown that when sleep habits are improved migraine headaches are less current and have shorter duration.
• Fasting – caution should always be had when headache prone individuals take to fasting. A lack of nutrients to the body can reduce blood sugar levels setting off a series of stress-related hormones.
• Hormones – for women who experience migraines once a month around the time of their menstrual may be aware of menstrual migraines and how they can affect functionality. Some women during their monthly cycle lose estrogen and the loss of estrogen sets off a chemical imbalance and the result is a migraine.
• Lighting – lighting has been known to enhance mood and is often used as a mood enhancer however, flashing, bright high intensity and visually stimulating light sources can be a factor in developing painful migraine symptoms.
• Smells – cigarette smoke
• Alcohol – Tyramine is a chemical found in wine that has been proven to activate a migraine quicker than if no alcohol was used.
• Foods
o Aged cheese
o Chocolate
• Caffeine – often used to help improve energy levels can have the reverse effect on headache prone people. Caffeine in small doses may have little effect on migraine sufferers but if overindulgence is had one can expect regular migraines.

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