Another element in migraine is the release of chemicals by the trigeminal nerve . This nerve supplies sensation to the entire face , scalp , lining of the eyes , nasal cavity and sinuses , teeth and gums , jaw joints , parts of the neck and ears , even shoulders . This nerve releases inflammatory peptides – short pieces of proteins – into the tissues nearby . These peptides ( CGRP , substance P , etc .) can cause the local blood vessels to become " leaky ," losing their serum into surrounding tissues . The tissues can even swell and become painful on this basis . Classic migraine headache may occur when branches of the trigeminal nerve going to the lining of the brain get inflamed , causing painful throbbing headache due to sensitization of the blood vessels around the brain by the inflammatory peptides . However , if branches going to the sinuses are involved instead of those going to the lining of the brain , the symptoms may not seem like classic migraine headache , but instead may be sinus congestion and runny nose . These patients often feel that they have sinusitis , but scans show no anatomic abnormality of the sinuses .
Other symptoms of migraine activity in the brain may include retention of fluid , lethargy , nausea , fainting , anxiety , fever , and even ( rarely ) seizures .
What is Migraine Trigger ?
A migraine trigger is any environmental , dietary , or physiologic factor that can provoke migraine activity in the brain .
Environmental triggers
Examples of environmental triggers include odors , bright lights , noise , and other excessive sensory stimuli . Painful stimuli that trigger migraine usually occur in the head and neck . The most common of these are neck injury and spasm , temporomandibular joint pain , and sinus inflammation . Forty percent of migraineurs report that they are affected by weather changes . The mechanism of this trigger is not currently understood .
Food triggers
There are hundreds of potential food triggers for migraine . Comprehensive lists of foods that may contribute to triggering migraine can easily be found on the Web . In general , these foods fall into two main categories : 1 ) byproducts of food aging and 2 ) foods with chemicals similar to the neurotransmitters that our brains use . Byproducts of food aging are found in fermented products like red wine , aged cheeses , and yeast in fresh bread and yogurt . Foods with chemicals similar to our own neurotransmitters that may aggravate migraine are coffee , chocolate , MSG , and the