Migraines and other headaches can be debilitating and have a negative impact on your career, participating in family activities and isolate you from life.

Migraine and Headache Triggers

A number of factors may trigger migraines and headaches including:
Hormonal changes in women-Fluctuations in estrogen seem to trigger headaches in many women with a history of migraines. Many report headaches immediately before or during their periods. Some women during pregnancy or menopause have an increased tendency to develop migraines.
Taking hormonal medications-Women who take oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy and who have a history of frequent headaches or migraines must be monitored more closely than usual.
Foods-Aged cheeses, salty foods and processed foods may trigger migraines. Skipping meals or fasting also can trigger attacks.
Food additives-The sweetener aspartame and the preservative monosodium glutamate, found in many foods, may trigger migraines.
Drinks-Alcohol, especially wine, diet drinks with aspartame and highly caffeinated beverages may trigger migraines.
Stress-Stress at work or home can cause migraines.
Sensory stimuli-Bright or flashing lights and sun glare can induce migraines, as can loud sounds. Unusual smells — including perfume, paint thinner, secondhand smoke and others — can trigger migraines in some people.
Changes in wake-sleep pattern-Missing sleep or getting too much sleep may trigger migraines in some people, as can jet lag.
Physical factors-Intense physical exertion, including sexual activity, may provoke migraines in some people.
Changes in the environment-A change of weather or barometric pressure can prompt a migraine.
Medications-Oral contraceptives and vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin, can aggravate migraines. Read medication warnings and side effects carefully as many list migraines and headaches as risks.

Treatments for Headaches and Migraines

One treatment protocol for headache employs a device called the Tx360, which administers nerve blocks, using an anesthetic solution, to the nasal pathways. This is a simple painless procedure that takes less than a minute. The Mi-Rx protocol, as it is called, most effectively treats atypical face pain, trigeminal neuralgia, as well as cluster, tension, and migraine headaches.

If your spine is misaligned, a common cause of headaches due to tension within the neck, it creates an imbalance which throws off your Central Nervous System. In this case, a chiropractic adjustment may also be recommended.