Migraine, which is one of the most common pains today, can be triggered by many factors ranging from hormones to foods and environmental factors. Stating that migraine, which is seriously affected by food, can vary from person to person, Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı warns, "Try to find your own trigger". Emphasizing the importance of drinking plenty of water, Tarlacı underlines that you should not sleep too much, especially on weekends.
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı stated that migraine, one of the most common pains in the society, does not have a single cause and drew attention to triggering factors.
Stating that migraine is basically a pain caused by genetic structure, caused by excessive expansion of the vessels leading to the head, Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı said, "The pain in migraine is caused by the brain membranes, scalp and blood vessels. Therefore, the pain is throbbing. Throbbing increases with movement, climbing stairs, accompanied by nausea-vomiting, light-sound disturbance. In general, the pain lasts longer than 4 hours and restricts daily life activities."
It is necessary to avoid triggers in migraine
Pointing out that most migraine attacks start spontaneously, but some stimuli called triggers can play a role in the formation of a migraine attack, Tarlacı said, "Various triggers can initiate a migraine attack depending on the conditions. Stress exhibits a strong connection with migraine. Anxiety, tension, excitement, anger are among the reasons that can lead to a migraine attack. Sometimes a migraine attack can also be triggered when the stress ends and begins to subside. The end of a very cheerful and laughing day may end with pain. Triggering factors should be avoided. It is especially easy to avoid foods known to be triggering," he said.
Changes in hormones affect
Referring to the factors affecting migraine, Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı said that hormonal changes, environmental factors, foods, exercise and fatigue can affect migraine. Prof. Tarlacı listed the hormonal changes as follows: "Menstrual changes, use of birth control pills, hormone treatments in the first 3 months of pregnancy and in the 6th month after birth and during menopause."
Do not sleep too much on weekends
Stating that environmental factors are also effective in migraine, Tarlacı said, "Bright / flashing lights, computer games, emotions such as anger and too much joy, skipping meals, starvation, irregular eating, strong odors such as smoke / perfume, climate changes and seasonal transitions are also among the important environmental factors." Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı stated that sleeping less and sleeping too much, especially at the weekend, affects migraine and warned, "Wake up at the same time on the weekend as on weekdays."
Some foods trigger migraine!
Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı underlined that fermented alcohols, red wine, excessive coffee and caffeine, excessive tea drinking, artificial sweeteners, pickles, prepared foods containing monosodium glutamate and foods containing nitrate are trigger foods.
Try to find your own trigger
Stating that food affects migraine very seriously, but migraine can differ from person to person, Tarlacı said, "Try to find your own trigger. Not everyone has the same triggers," she warned. Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı said the following:
"The factors that trigger migraine may vary from person to person. In some people, migraine may be related to eating chocolate. Foods such as aged cheddar cheese tyramine, salami and sausage can cause migraine pain because they contain nitrite. Avoid prepared foods containing these substances. Migraine patients should never consume foods that they know trigger migraine. Other than that, there is no need to restrict their lives.
Drink plenty of water
"Irregular eating and drinking fluids are among the triggers of migraine. Drink plenty of fluids. Even drink a lot, walk around with a water bottle in your hand. Especially in the summer months, lack of fluid intake can significantly increase the severity of pain."
Exercise and fatigue can also be triggers
Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı noted that irregular and prolonged strenuous exercise, usually over 30 minutes, is also a trigger in migraine and suggested: "Migraine patients can be protected from this trigger with short 20-minute exercises and then a break and exercise again."