Currently, exact causes of migraine headaches are an area of active research. However, researchers have found that several factors, such as genetics and the environment, seem to play a role.
There are a variety of different factors that can trigger migraines. For some people, certain foods or drinks (e.g. alcohol) can trigger migraine headaches. Other common triggers of migraine attacks include stress, lack of sleep, bright lights, and strong smells. If you suffer from headaches, it's important to keep track of your triggers so you can avoid them in the future.
Some key migraine headaches triggers include:
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Emotional: Anxiety, stress
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Physical: Overexertion or lack of exercise
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Hormonal: Hormonal changes in women during certain life stages
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Environmental: Sudden shift in living environment (maybe related to stress)
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Dietary: An unhealthy diet, skipping meals, caffeine or alcohol
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Medicines: Overdependence on migraine medication