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If you are someone who suffers from migraines, then you know that (contrary to popular belief) they are not just “bad headaches.” Migraines can be so terrible that you think you have to go to the hospital. They can come with blurry vision, anxiety, nausea, depression and, yes, a very bad headache. But they can make it impossible for a person to do the tiniest task, like make a sandwich, let alone go to work. So if you know all of this, then you probably are constantly on the hunt to discover what triggers a migraine so that you can stay far, far away from it. Unfortunately, many of life’s best things can trigger migraines. Even more unfortunate is the fact that many of life’s best things that women love in particular can cause migraines. And this is what they are.
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The pill
Birth control doesn’t necessarily trigger migraines, but those that offer a variance in hormonal doses in one pack can. Any time your estrogen levels fluctuate, you can experience a migraine.
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What can be done
If you suffer from migraines, intense stimuli like a bright, sunny day can trigger a migraine. While a sunny day might inspire you to go for a jog or move our yoga session outdoors, you should consider avoiding extending time in bright light, and always wear sunglasses.
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Oversleeping
You probably know that not sleeping enough will cause a migraine, but did you know that sleeping too much can, too? Any change in sleep schedule can trigger a migraine, which is why jet lag almost always brings one on.
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Seasonal changes
We know that seasonal depression is possible, and studies have found an increase in migraines among people experiencing depression. With that in mind, it’s not so surprising that a sudden change in the weather can bring on a migraine.
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Relaxing
There’s such thing as a letdown migraine. It’s what happens when your brain has been pumping out stress chemicals consistently, and then you totally relax. The process your brain goes through when it abruptly stops producing those chemicals can trigger a migraine.
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What you can do
Find ways to manage stress as it comes up, rather than thinking, “I’ll just tolerate it and relax at the end of the week.” Doing so can only result in a migraine that ruins your relaxing weekend.
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Food
Food that causes a migraine in one person won’t necessarily cause one in another. If you know you have a sensitivity to food because it causes indigestion or nausea, it may also cause migraines.
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What you can do
If you suffer from regular migraines, you should keep a diary of what you eat, and a diary recording each time a migraine occurs. This can help you track foods that could be triggering migraines.
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Infrequent exercise
Exercise sets off a series of events in your body, most of which are good, but they’re intense and can trigger a migraine. If you barely exercise but get in a long jog very so often, you might come home to a migraine.
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Coffee, coffee, coffee
Any change in caffeine habits can cause a migraine. Caffeine triggers chemical responses in your brain. Not getting caffeine triggers them, too. If these responses happen suddenly, it could result in a migraine.
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What you can do
Keep your caffeine habits consistent. It’s best not to get accustomed to five cups of coffee a day, because at one point in your life, you’ll probably want to cut back, or you just won’t have access to coffee, and then you could face a migraine.
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Red wine
Many studies have found that dark alcohol is a migraine trigger for a large percentage of sufferers, but really any alcohol can be a problem.
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What you can do
A lot of migraine sufferers reportedly have little to no issue with vodka. If you must drink wine, try white (like white, and not yellowish). Take an Aleve before drinking and never drink on an empty stomach.
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Irregular meals
Many migraine sufferers say that skipping meals or eating at irregular times can trigger a migraine. The jury is still out on exactly why this happens, but it could be the low blood sugar or the stress associated with being hungry.
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What you can do
Always keep quality protein sources on hand like almonds in case you can’t eat at your scheduled time. Besides that, keep to regular mealtimes.
