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Page 38
| Change in sleep patterns and meal times. Both too little or too much sleep can act as triggers. |
| Hormone levels. The normal fluctuations in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or from estrogen replacement therapy can be potent triggers. Oral contraceptives also can women migraine. Please see Women and Migraine, page 43 for more details. |
| Sensory irritants, such as glaring or flickering lights or unusual odors. |
| Polluted air or stuffy rooms. |
| Smoking. Suffering from chronic headache is one more good reason to quit smoking. Smoking seems to be a negative factor for those with chronic pain conditions in general. The way in which smoking tobacco might be associated with exacerbation of pain conditions is not known with certainty, but there are many possible routes, and none of them is good for the health. Smoking can cause headaches as nicotine constricts the blood vessels while inhaled carbon monoxide overly expands them, thus creating a condition which often triggers migraines and cluster headaches. |
| Blood Clotting. Another cause of headaches is blood clotting, also known as platelet aggregation. Clotting creates constriction of the arteries, which results in inadequate blood supply to the brain. This is then followed by a rebound dilation of the blood vessels, leading to headaches. |
| Foods That Can Trigger Headaches |
| Foods precipitate migraine attacks in many people, not only due to allergies, but also because these foods contain compounds known as "vasoactive amines," which can |
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