Headaches – quite an extensive category of pain caused by a variety of triggers. Severe throbbing pain, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light, sound, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness of the face, – This is exactly what a migraine looks like. Attacks of this type of headache last from 4 to 72 hours. Migraines are caused by a range of genetic and environmental factors, including certain vitamin deficiencies.
Causes of migraine: what factors provoke headaches?
Potential causes of migraine include the following:
- hormonal changes – fluctuations in estrogen levels in women (and men, by the way, too) can lead to headaches, often disturbing the fair sex before or during menstruation;
- certain foods (especially salty and processed foods), as well as fasting, can trigger migraine attacks;
- drinks – alcohol and liquids containing a large amount of caffeine;
- stress – an extremely common trigger not only for migraines, but also for other types of headaches;
- sensory stimuli – sunlight, loud noises, unusual or overpowering odors;
- changes in sleep patterns (meaning not only lack of sleep, but also an overabundance of sleep);
- physical factors – manual work, intense exercise and other activities that cause muscle tension are associated with headaches in some people;
- lack of potassium or calcium in the diet;
- changes in environmental conditions (changes in weather or pressure drops);
- Medications (vasodilators and oral contraceptives).
The causes of migraine range from genetic predisposition to the influence of various exogenous factors.
Lack of vitamins as a cause of migraines: what is the body lacking?
Another migraine trigger is called a lack of vitamins. Studies have found that vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid supplements help to halve the frequency of migraines within 6 months. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) has also been found to help prevent migraine attacks.
Read also: In hot pursuit: a map of headaches and their possible causes
Another vitamin whose deficiency has been cited as the cause of migraines is vitamin D. Researchers found that 43% of chronic migraine sufferers were deficient in this vitamin.
Deficiency of folic acid and vitamin B12 can lead to the development of pernicious anemia. If this disease is severe, it can, in addition to fatigue, memory loss and irritability, lead to migraines.
It is believed that certain genetic mutations can lead to the production of high levels of homocysteine, which increases vulnerability to migraine attacks. Studies show that vitamins B6 and B12 lower homocysteine levels.
Deficiency of B vitamins and vitamin D – possible causes of migraines.
Based on the foregoing, it can be concluded that migraine attacks can be prevented by avoiding the triggers of this type of headache, as well as ensuring that the body receives a sufficient amount of vitamins B12, B6, B2, D and folic acid.
As usual, estet-portal.com reminds that the most accurate determination of the source of a particular pain, including the cause of migraine, is possible after consulting a doctor and conducting all the necessary tests. For effective relief from migraine attacks, it is important to follow the recommendations of a specialist, selected according to your case.
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