Smells that Cause Migraines
Smell plays a significant role in triggering a migraine. While different scents affect migraine patients differently, several common smells are particularly troublesome for migraine sufferers, such as chemical fumes, gasoline, cigarette smoke, perfumes and fragrances, and even food smells. Migraines cause severe, pulsating pain usually on one side of the head that can last for hours or even days. Other migraine symptoms include nausea, dizziness, vomiting, moodiness, and fatigue. The top smells that trigger migraines include: 1. Cigarette smoke Cigarette smoke can be experienced from smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke. Nicotine is the main ingredient that triggers the headache. It starts when the blood vessels’ sizes in the brain change. Another way is by irritating the nose and throat, hence an allergic reaction. The best and effective way to avoid it is to stay away from smokers and do not smoke. 2. Food odors Most foods are delicious, but the problem is that most of the smells can trigger severe attacks. The onion bears a strong smell, and so does turkey, cheese sandwich, and dark chocolate can be food triggers. They contain food chemicals that can cause a chronic migraine. Others include fish, processed meats, diet drinks, and stilton. It is advisable to have a trigger diary; it will eliminate any food that causes any discomfort.