What Are the Causes of Constant Migraine Headaches?

Migraines are a common, recurring, incurable type of headache that often cause substantial pain. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 11 percent of the population in the United States suffers migraines regularly.

Causes

• Migraines result from abnormal activity in the brain. Although doctors previously thought they were due to blood vessels narrowing and opening, they currently believe that genes that regulate activity in certain brain cells play a significant role.

Brain Factors

• Migraines may involve changes in the brain chemical serotonin, which helps control pain throughout the nervous system, and the trigeminal nerve, a neural pathway for pain. When serotonin levels decrease, the trigeminal nerve produces neuropeptides, which are substances that provoke migraine pain.

Triggers

• Stimuli called triggers often prompt migraines. Examples include bright light; certain foods or drinks, such as alcohol and chocolate; hormone fluctuations in women; medications; and stress.

Risk Factors

• Migraines are more common among women, people below the age of 40 and individuals with a family background of migraines. Women are also more likely to experience migraines near the beginning of menstruation.

Considerations

• Migraine sufferers can reduce the severity and number of migraines by avoiding known triggers, avoiding estrogen if hormones are a factor and exercising regularly to decrease tension.