Migraine Headache (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Migraine Headache Overview
- Migraine Headache Causes
- Migraine Headache Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Migraine Headache Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Other Therapy
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Migraine Headache - Effective Treatments
Migraine Headache Causes
The exact cause of migraine headaches is not clearly understood, though experts believe they are due to a combination of the expansion of blood vessels and the release of certain chemicals, which causes inflammation and pain.
The chemicals dopamine and serotonin are among those involved in migraine. These chemicals are found normally in the brain and can cause blood vessels to act abnormally if they are present in abnormal amounts or if the blood vessels are unusually sensitive to them.
Various triggers are thought to bring about migraine in certain people prone to developing migraine. Different people may have different triggers:
- Certain foods, especially chocolate, cheese, nuts, alcohol, and MSG, bring on headaches in some people. (MSG is a food enhancer used in many foods including Chinese food.)
- Missing a meal may bring on a headache.
- Stress and tension are also risk factors. People often have migraines during times of increased emotional or physical stress.
- Birth control pills are a common trigger. Women may have migraines at the end of the pill cycle as the estrogen component of the pill is stopped. This is called an estrogen-withdrawal headache.
- Smoking may cause migraines or interfere with treatment.
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Migraine Headache »
Migraines are severe, throbbing headaches frequently located in the temples or frontal head regions.

