Food And Weather: What's Causing Those Awful Migraines?
Migraines can be extremely painful and sometimes even disabling, but they're more common than you may think. In fact, 12 percent of the American population suffers from the 8th-most worldwide debilitating illness. When they come on, you have to pull down the shades, crawl underneath a blanket in a dark bedroom, and pray that the throbbing passes soon. Whether you experience the throbbing pain or you get nauseated from the migraine, here are two things that may be causing you to experience those mind-numbing migraines:
What You're Eating Could Be Hurting Your Head.
Believe it or not, food could also be causing your headaches. According to WebMD, alcohol and caffeinated beverages are both popular beverages that can lead to migraines. For the alcohol, it may be due to the fact that the alcohol encourages rapid blood flow to the head, which could result in the migraine.
WebMD further reports that various types of cheese can also create chronic headaches. This may be due to the natural chemical, tyramine. In addition, many individuals will develop a migraine after eating foods that contain high amounts of mono-sodium glutamate (MSG). With MSG-related migraines, you could also experience dizziness, pulsing pain and a burning feeling in your chest.
If you think food may be the problem, you should keep a food journal of the foods and beverages that you eat and when your migraines begin. This will help your doctor pinpoint the food or foods that may be causing your headaches.
Maybe It's the Weather Instead.
As strange as it may sound, the weather could be playing a huge role in the development of your migraines. Specific headache triggers related to the weather include changes in temperature or humidity, storms, dusty environments and extremely dry conditions. It has also been reported that high winds, altitude changes, extreme temperatures (hot or cold) and changes in barometric pressure can cause headaches. There isn't a clear-cut answer as to why, other than the fact that some people may just be more sensitive to environmental changes.
If you suspect the weather to be the problem or some type of environmental condition, keep a note of where you are and what the weather is like when you feel a headache forming. This may be able to help you health care provider determine the exact type of condition that is promoting your migraines.
If you're suffering from migraines, especially frequent ones, it is crucial that you schedule an appointment with a health care provider as soon as possible. In some cases, there could be a serious underlying medical condition that needs to be treated. In other instances, a physician can develop and prescribe a treatment plan for you based on your symptoms and triggers. You may even be referred to a chiropractor to receive a chiropractic adjustment or a massage therapist for a massage.
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