Migraine can afflict people of all ages. Still, the incidence of migraines varies among different people. Several studies show that women may experience headaches as much as three times more than men. But why are women more likely to have migraine headaches than men? And what are the causes of migraine in female?
The answer to this question lies in various factors, including hormonal drops and menstrual factors, among others.
A migraine may cause severe throbbing pain or sensation on one or both sides of your head. This pain can last for hours or even days. This pounding pain may get worse during any activity or by bright lights or loud noises.
This pain may manifest itself in different stages. It can generally progress through four stages. However, not everyone suffering from migraines goes through all these stages. You may cycle through all these stages, or you may experience just one or two stages.
- Prodrome: You might notice subtle changes before an upcoming migraine. These changes include; mood changes, food cravings, constipation, increased thirst, or frequent yawning.
- Aura: Auras are reversible symptoms of your nervous system. The symptoms may begin gradually but can last for 20 to 60 minutes.
- Attack: A migraine’s duration varies from person to person. But during a migraine attack, you might have pain on one or both sides of your head.
- Post-drome: After a migraine attack, you might feel drained or washed out for up to a day. Moreover, sudden head movement may bring on the pain again.
These stages of migraine may vary from person to person. Therefore, it is essential to learn about the causes of migraines among women, so you may better alleviate your pain. But how migraine occurs? Let’s uncover some of the causes of migraines in females:
Hormones
Fluctuations in the level of a hormone called estrogen can contribute to developing a chronic headache or migraine. The female reproductive system is regulated by this hormone. Moreover, it also controls the chemicals in the brain. However, a drop in estrogen level may cause a headache.
It is possible that the estrogen level drops during certain periods. These may be:
Before Menstruation
During menstruation, estrogen levels may drop shortly before you get your periods. This drop may lead to migraine headaches.
During Pregnancy
Your estrogen levels rise quickly due to migraine in pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester. It happens to help the uterus and placenta to transfer nutrients and support the development of your baby. So you may sometimes feel headaches due to changes in estrogen levels.
After Giving Birth
After delivering your baby, the estrogen levels may drop, which sometimes causes headaches.
Hormonal changes play a key role in the occurrence of migraine headaches. But they are not the single cause. Migraines in Females can also occur due to other factors as well.
Anxiety and Stress
When you are anxious due to stress, you may likely eat unhealthy food, have mood swings, or have a poor sleep cycle. Moreover, shifts in your physical or psychological stress can trigger a migraine.
During stressful events, certain chemicals in the brain are released. The release of these chemicals brings muscle tensions and can cause migraines.
Sleep Problems
Sleep problems can also trigger migraines among women. Irregular sleep patterns or sleep disorders like sleep apnea and insomnia may cause migraines and tension-type headaches. Therefore, modifying your sleep habits could potentially help manage your headaches.
Still wondering what causes migraines in females? The following are more such factors that lead to this condition:
Physical Activities
Intense physical activities are one of the many reasons for migraine in females. Overexertion may cause swelling of blood vessels in your head or neck, which can trigger a headache.
Food Habits
Certain food habits or eating unhealthy food may also aggravate your migraine. Moreover, if you skip a meal, your blood sugar level could drop, triggering a headache.
What Food Causes Migraines in Females?
Salty food is one of the reasons for migraines in women and aged cheese can also start a migraine. Therefore, you should avoid these foods if you often complain of migraines.
Must Read: Best Healthy Foods That Everyone Should Include in Their Diet
Weather
Changes in the weather conditions may also cause headaches. Storm fronts, changes in barometric pressure, strong winds, or changes in altitude can trigger your migraine. Sometimes, the weather of a particular place may not suit us, which can aggravate the chances of a migraine headache.
Light Sensitivity
By now, you must have gotten a clear idea of what causes migraines in women. But there’s more! Certain women get migraine headaches because of light sensitivity.
This light sensitivity is also known by the name photophobia. This photophobia starts in your optic nerve, which carries messages from the eyes to the brain. People with chronic migraines might be more sensitive to the lights.
Moreover, being sensitive to loud noise often comes with light sensitivity. Bright lights and loud noises can trigger the pain, and in some cases, it may also cause severe headaches.
How many types of Migraines are there?
- Vestibular Migraine
- Abdominal Migraine
- Chronic Migraine
- Menstrual Migraine
- Migraine with aura
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FAQ
Q. What brings on migraine?
A. Our lifestyle and bad food habits cause migraine fever that eventually leads to headaches and pain.