what causes migraine headaches?

Question

constantly or on a regular basis?

Answer 1

well, here's some helpful information on causes & symptoms of headaches. hope it's helpful to you!!

The most common types of headaches usually are not serious but may occur again and again.

--Tension headaches -- the most common type of headache and are episodes of constant aching, tightness, pressure, and pain around the forehead, temples, or back of the head and neck. Symptoms usually occur on both sides of the head rather than just one side.
Tension headaches usually do not stop a person from doing his or her regular activities. These headaches usually do not cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light or noise. A tension headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. Some people experience chronic tension headaches, which means they get a headache on 15 or more days a month.
Tension headaches are related to muscles tightening in the back of the neck or head because of stress, anxiety, fatigue, hunger, anger, poor posture, or overexertion.
Treatment for tension headaches usually includes aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonprescription pain relievers. Aspirin should not be given to anyone age 20 years or younger because it has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious disease that most often affects children. Prescription medications, such as antidepressants, may be needed to treat tension headaches. Additional therapies, including stress management or biofeedback, may reduce or prevent tension headaches

--Cluster headaches -- these are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. The headaches appear suddenly and cause severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head, along with a watery eye and nasal congestion on the affected side of the head. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown. Although there is no cure for cluster headaches, medications can reduce the frequency and duration of the painful headaches.
--Migraine headaches -- Approximately one-third of people who have migraine headaches first began having them as teenagers. are painful, sometimes disabling headaches that are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, noise, and smell. These throbbing headaches usually occur on only one side of the head, although the pain can shift from one side of the head to the other, or can occur on both sides at the same time. Migraines involve changes in chemicals and blood vessels in the brain, which trigger pain signals leading to headache and other symptoms.
Migraine headaches tend to recur. A migraine headache typically lasts 4 to 24 hours but in some cases can last up to 3 days. Some people have symptoms, such as visual disturbances, that occur before a headache starts. These symptoms are called a migraine aura.
Some people have several headaches per month; others have headaches much less often. Treatment usually includes medications to prevent a migraine from occurring or to stop a migraine once it begins. In some people, migraines may be triggered by certain foods or smells. Eliminating exposure to these triggers may stop the headaches.

Here's a list of common causes of headaches include:

--Alcohol, caffeine, or other drug use or withdrawal.
--Changes in the levels of chemicals in the body (neurotransmitters).
--Coughing or sneezing.
--Dehydration.
--Dental problems or procedures, such as pain from grinding the teeth or from a root canal.
--Eating or drinking cold foods and fluids.
--Emotional stress.
--Exposure to smoke or fumes from chemicals, including carbon monoxide.
--Eyestrain.
--Fever.
--High altitude. Lower oxygen levels at high altitudes can cause headaches.
--Medical procedures, such as the aftereffects of a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
--Medications. Many medications can cause headaches.
--Muscle strain in the neck, upper back, or shoulder muscles.
--Upper respiratory infections.

If you have headaches, with these serious symptoms, definitely consult a doc!
Although rare, a headache may be a sign of a serious illness. Other symptoms, such as vomiting, dizziness, or changes in vision, may also be present. The following serious illnesses or injuries can cause headaches.
--A head injury:
--Injury to the brain
--Fracture of the skull
--Bleeding in or around the brain
--Brain tumor, which causes swelling within the brain.
--Infection in the brain (encephalitis) or of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
--Stroke, a problem that occurs when a blood vessel (artery) that supplies blood to the brain bursts or is blocked by a blood clot.
--A rupture of a blood vessel with bleeding in or around the brain (aneurysm)

Other health conditions that can cause or contribute to headaches include:

--Alcohol, caffeine, or drug abuse, overuse, or withdrawal.
--Fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread muscle and soft tissue pain and tenderness.
--Glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the nerves at the back of the eye.
--High blood pressure (hypertension).
--High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
--Infection in the sinuses, such as sinusitis or an abscess.
--Inflammatory problems , such as arthritis, lupus, or temporal arteritis.
--Kidney disease, which causes wastes to build up in the blood.
--Low calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia) or overactivity of the gland that helps control the release of calcium into the blood (hyperparathyroidism).
--Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by certain types of ticks.
--Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression.
--Problems with pregnancy, such as severe high blood pressure (preeclampsia).
--Sleep problems, such as insomnia or sleep apnea.
--Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism (if you want to learn more about thyroid, please contact me...I have seceral best answers for thyroid problems)
**PLEASE NOTE**
Headache with signs of serious illness!!

When a headache, vomiting, fever, or a seizure occurs along with another serious illness, immediate medical care is needed. Signs of serious illness include:

--A sudden, severe headache.
--Confusion or extreme irritability.
--Extreme sleepiness.
--New and different skin rash or severe bruises.
--New double vision, blurred vision, or blind spots.
--Persistent nausea or vomiting.
--Rapid, difficult breathing.
--Severe neck stiffness or pain.
--Severe sensitivity to light (photophobia).
--Severe pain.
--Unsteadiness that prevents standing or walking (ataxia or vertigo).
Although uncommon, a headache with signs of a serious illness may be a sign of:

--An infection in or around the brain, such as encephalitis, meningitis, or a brain abscess.
--A momentary blockage of a blood vessel (transient ischemic attack, or TIA) in the brain.
--Rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.

Answer 2

Migraine Headaches are typically from a change in the dilation and constriction of the blood vessels in the brain, as well as chemical irritation to nerve centers that perceive pain. There is a lot if correlation to tightness in the musculature at the base of the head that triggers stress responses by the brain, making migraines worse. You may want to be checked by a chiropractor to see if the bone of the neck are adding to the migraines.

Chiropractic may not help get rid of all of your migraines, but it can help in reducing the frequency and intensity.

Answer 3

No one knows for sure, but the most accepted theory:

Stimulus (stress, noise, etc) causes release of neurotransmitters in the brain - these neurotransmitters make the arteries in your brains constrict. Too little blood goes through the arteries, so your brain responds by:

1. Stimulating a nerve (called the trigeminal)
2. Dilating the arteries

The debate is on whether it is the stimulation of that nerve or too much blood moving through the arteries which causes the pain associated with migraines. The truth is probably somewhere in between in that both play a role.

Answer 4

Migraines can be caused by a wide range of different things, which can sometimes make it difficult to track down the precise cause. Talking to your doctor about it will definitely help though.

Answer 5

Many reason and theories, each person has their own personal type of migraine. I found out I have problems with weather, foods, sugar over 10mg. Also sensative to many things. I was told this and that. I really have to watch myself to see what changes and helps me. Doctors and Other people can say this helps and this doesn't but really you must try it. Start a journal and food journal that helped me the most. :)

Answer 6

I used to get a migraine at least once a month, but now I get them less than twice a year. The only thing that has changed is that I'm taking allergy medicine (for my allergies) regularly.

Answer 7

Sometimes they're caused by a food trigger like chocolate or aged cheese. Sometimes they're caused by stress.

Answer 8

One of my many triggers is a change in air pressure such as a low weather front approaching. I can beat the weatherman's predictions every time.

Answer 9

Stress..... or maybe a tumor.

Answer 10

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