Causes of Migraines

Well-recognized predisposing factors, even among those not prone to headache, are overindulgence in food or alcohol, or exposure to stuffy, poorly ventilated atmospheres.

Migraine headaches can also be induced by fatigue, stress, anxiety and overexcitement. In fact, excitement and emotions rank high on the list of predisposing factors. Violent emotions exceed all other acute circumstances to provoke migraine reactions, and in many patients, especially sufferers from classical migraine, are responsible for the vast majority of all attacks experienced, sudden rage is the commonest precipitant, although fright and panic may be equally potent in younger patients. Sudden elation, such as at a moment of triumph or unexpected good fortune may also have the same effect.

As well as emotional stress, there may be other contributory factors such as exposure to bright lights, excessive noise, hunger, alcohol, eating certain foods such as cheese, chocolate, cucumbers, tomatoes, fatty foods, wheat, onions and even oranges. If, as is likely, one or more of these predisposing factors are applicable to your case, then there is every possibility that by avoiding or eliminating these factors you can reduce the frequency of your headaches, or even prevent them.

(Dr. Oliver W. Sacks, Migraine: The Evolution of a Common Disorder, 1970).