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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).
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