Causes of Migraines

Causes Of Migraines Migraine is severe headache that is often accompanied by vomiting,nausea, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, and sensitivity to light and sound. This headache can last for hours or even a number of days. Approximately 70% of people suffering from migraines have a first-degree relative experiencing the same problem. Migraine can therefore be said to be a hereditary disease. Migraine headaches are caused by enlargement of blood vessels. During a headache temporal artery enlarges allowing more blood to flow through it than normal.Temporal artery is located on the outside of the skull just below the skin of the temple. Swelling of the temporal artery triggers the release of chemicals that leads to inflammation of the artery and pain. Three Main Causes Of Migraines Three factors triggering migraines include changes in the chemicals of the brain, hormones and environmental factors. Changes In The Chemicals Of The Brain Migraine is caused by the decrease of a chemicals dopamine and serotonin. Decrease in the level of serotonin causes the blood vessels in a part of a human brain to contract suddenly. Sudden contraction causes aura. Aura is characterized by haze, zig-zag lines and lights. After sometime, the blood vessels dilate hence increasing blood flow. Increased blood flow leads to a severe headache. Hormones Some scientists believe that migraine is caused by fluctuation in the level of hormones. A hormone change that causes migraine can be cited on women during their periods. Some women claim that they have migraine attack during their periods. This type of migraine is known as menstrual migraine. The hormone associated with menstrual migraine is oestrogen. This hormone fall just before women have their period.Menstrual migraine strike two days before or three days after the period. Environmental Factors

Some environmental factors make the brain hyperactive. The brain becomes hyperactive in response to these factors. The environmental factors causing migraine include: .Loud noises .Flickering TV or computer screens .Bright lights .Strong smells .Stuffy atmosphere .Very low or high temperatures .Smoky rooms Environmental factors starts a series of chemical changes leading to irritation of pain sensing nerves located around the head. As A result, blood vessels expand and leak chemicals which cause further irritation on the nerves. Migraines can be classified as migraine without aura, abdominal migraine, complicated migraine, ophthalmic migraine and status migrainosus.However there exists a number of treatment methods.These includes administration of drugs e.g. triptans. People should avoid factors that are likely to trigger migraines i.e. environmental and dietary factors.

Report written by: http://www.causesofmigraines.org/