Causes of Chronic Migraine Headaches

Migraine is a generic term that can apply to any severe headache that causes sensitivity to light and sound. Chronic migraine is a disorder that causes pain in the cranium due to increased vessel and capillary dilation; regular headache pain is caused by blood vessel constriction. The pain associated with chronic migraine headaches is often described as throbbing, unilateral pain, concentrated on one side of the head. Although the different types of migraines afflicting more than 30 million Americans have a variety of causes, understanding the possible risk factors goes a long way in helping migraine prevention.

Migraines and Aura

• Migraine with aura and migraine without aura are the two most prevalent categories of migraine headaches. "Aura" refers to a neurological phenomenon that occurs about 30 minutes before intense migraine pain. Auras may include shimmering hallucinations, vision loss, speech difficulties and dizziness. Aside from aura, classic migraine symptoms include intense headache pain, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting. Headache-free migraine is a rare form of migraine that causes aura phenomenon without the other classic migraine symptoms.

Other Migraine Types

• Migraines of other types are classified by differences in symptoms. Abdominal migraines are indicated by abdominal pain without a clear digestive or gastrointestinal cause or disorder. A basilar artery migraine causes a disruption in the basilar artery, which supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood; symptoms include speech problems, weakened motor ability and vertigo. Carotidynia can cause swelling located around the neck's carotid artery and produce intense pain in the lower regions of the face, including the jaw or neck. Ophthalmoplegic migraine pain is concentrated in the eyes and can produce vomiting and optic nerve paralysis. Status migraine produces pain for periods lasting longer than 72 hours.

Hormones

• Because of the role estrogen plays in migraines, women are at greater risk of experiencing migraine symptoms than men. Fluctuations in estrogen levels caused by the menstrual cycle can increase the occurrence of migraine symptoms. Medications affecting hormonal levels, such as contraceptive pills, can cause estrogen levels to fluctuate. Pregnancy, menopause and monthly periods see the greatest occurrence of migraine symptoms in women. According to MAGNUM, most pregnancy-related migraine symptoms occur during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Genetics

• Migraines are genetically based, meaning that family history is a major risk factor in experiencing migraines. According to MAGNUM, close to 38 million Americans have a genetic propensity toward experiencing migraine symptoms. If one parent of an individual suffers from migraine, that individual has a 50 percent chance of experiencing migraines. That risk is not inflated by psychological or environmental causes.

Other Causes

• Stress from career or family life can increase the occurrence of migraine symptoms. Excessive sensory stimuli, especially visual or aural (sound), can trigger migraines. Certain foods, such as beer, red wine, chocolate, caffeine and aged cheeses can increase an individual's susceptibility to migraine. Fasting or general malnutrition can also contribute to migraines. Other causes include barometric changes in the environment, changes in sleeping patterns and certain medications.

Treatments

• Drugs prescribed to alleviate migraines fall into two categories: pain-relieving medications and preventative medications. Pain-relieving medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), triptans, anti-nausea medications and opiates. These drugs are used during a migraine attack and aim to inhibit symptoms that are already present. Preventative medications include cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs and Botox. These drugs can help inhibit the occurrence of migraine symptoms in those at risk for headaches.

Complications

• Migraine treatments cause an array of side effects. NSAIDs taken for migraine relief can cause abdominal pain, bleeding and ulcers. As your body builds up resistance to the pain-relieving medications, a condition known as "rebound headaches" can occur, in which pain-relieving medications themselves can trigger migraine symptoms. Those who use high doses of medication more than nine days out of the month are at risk. Triptans and certain antidepressants can cause serotonin syndrome, an excess of serotonin produced in the body. This complication can cause shivering, diarrhea, fever, muscle rigidity and seizures, and it can be fatal if untreated.