what causes migrane headaches?

Question

the doctor says migrain headaches and stress headaches are different how can they be when stress brings migraine headaches on

Answer 1

yes they are totally different although they may have same cause... the main reason why they are dffrent is that the when you have a normal headache.... the pain is mostly all over the head and it is caused by the dilation of veins in the head specially on the temporal lobe... while in the case of a migraine, the pain is concentrated mostly on one side of the head... left or right.. in my case, its the left sides mostly aches... in connection also with my eye defect which is the left eye is more defected... the veins in migraine is rather constricted than dilated... so when you take a medicine for head ache when you have a migraine, tendency is the pain wont go away or it could go worse since they have opposite vein reactions...

Answer 2

Certainly stress and other factors can contribute to migrane headaches. Poor sleep habits are another cause. This may be a direct result of what's causing the stress, so a chain-reaction is in effect. Blood vessels constricting in your brain may cause the pain, but what triggers that? Incidentally, a cool rag, or even (if you're brave enough), running cold water (not ice cold!) over your head may help alleviate the pain without medication.
Try to keep from eating or drinking (especially alcohol) after 7pm.
Take a warm bath before going to bed.
Read a book or some other activity that is peaceful to you. Try to avoid watching television, especially violence, before going to bed.
And, it's true, masturbation is known to be a good way of relaxing your body in preparation for a good night's rest.
The most important thing is to get the amount of your sleep that your body needs.
How can you tell what your body needs?
The best solution to that is to take a vacation. Seriously. Go to bed at the same time every night. Try to make it near the time you normally go to bed. Use room darkening shades, or wear a mask and sleep in! It may take a few days to 'get into the groove', but eventually you will find that your body will sleep for 8-9 hours (some people sleep less).
Then, keep up that habit. If you find that you need 9 hours of sleep, then go to bed early enough that you get 9 hours of sleep each night - and that includes weekend. Keep bedtime the same throughout the week.

Answer 3

You are having a severe stress headache and not a migraine. Migraines are caused by vasodialation, a nerve disorder. Sometimes this is brought on by hormones or magnesium deficiency. I suppose stress could cause your hormones to get out of whack and that could trigger a hormonal migraine in some people but it wouldn't be so fast you could make the connection like that.

A migraine feels different than a stress headache, you are extremely nauseated, your eyes don't work properly, you feel like you were just hit in the head with a large brick. It is similar to a concussion. A stress headache feels tight, severe, with pain shooting down the neck and across the shoulders.

Doctors have good meds for migraines but precious little for stress headaches. You should see a massage therapist. A good one can cure a stress headache and regular massage therapy can prevent them.

Answer 4

I suffer from migrains too. THEY SUCK! There are many different reasons a person can get them. Sleep is not really one of them, unless you are chronically fatigued, it does not sound like it if you get 10-12 hours of sleep. However something most people do not consider is food allergies. Also dehydration...Do you drink enough water? AND I know this could be the worst thing ever...but I get migrains from drinking beer, I am allergic to something in beer. I know 2 men that are as well. I start getting a fairly bad headache about 1-2 hours after I drink a beer, and I am talking only one beer, and only certain beers. You can experiment and keep a notebook of your food/fluid intake, note what you ingest at what time and when you get the migrains. Also note your water intake to see if you drink enough, most people do not. Dehydration will cause problems you aren't even aware of. If you have a food/fluid allergy, then you will see a pattern form in a few weeks. A Dr will tell you the same thing, after they run the battery of very pricey lab work. Good luck

Answer 5

Depends on the person. Can be stress, chocolate, aged cheese, red wines. These seem to be the most common triggers. Mine dropped significantly when the doctor noticed the correlation between my period and my migraine and that I was on the pill. My cholesterol level also dropped over 100 points after I went off. Keep a "headache diary" for a couple months, then talk some more with your doctor.

Answer 6

stress headaches can move around the head, usually in the upper back area. They can usually be treated with Motrin or acetaminophen. Once a migraine sets in, and the pain is usually in the same area for the person having it, nothing over the counter will touch it (usually, though my sister tries and sometimes is successful heading them off with Excedrin), nausea and sensitivity to light and smells can come along as well.
Migraine triggers can be different for everyone. I can get them from MSG or sulfites. I used to get them while I was on the pill. It can be different for everyone, while some people might have some things in common that trigger theirs. I rarely get one anymore, usually when I have eaten something with a trigger in it that I did not check for on the ingredients.

Answer 7

I was told that migraines are caused from blood vessels in your head constricting. No blood getting through. Stress headaches are usually like tension headaches: in your neck and up the back of your head.

Answer 8

I used to have migraines...they can be brought on by stress or by your neck muscles tensing up. I was told to cut back on caffeine and keep a daily journal of what I ate. I found out later on that my birth control pills where causing my migraines.

Answer 9

it can be a lot of things. the food you eat, the weather, and stress. i have had migraines for over 9 years, and none of my doctors can find the reason why. i have been hospitalized many times, and tried every medicine out there for them. they make me sick and pass out. its mostly stress...its because things can sweel inside the brain and put pressure on sensitive areas and cause the pain. its horrible.
the best thing you can do when you have one, is be in a quiet, somewhat dark place so you can rest and try to relax the muscles in the brain. try massaging the temples, that helps sometimes.

Answer 10

migrane headaches are kinda like the regular headaches that you get...but a stress headache is like you know when your stressing and all that stuff...