However, these additional symptoms are not very common. Doctors have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause for migraines. Some of them believe that migraines can be triggered by changes in hormonal levels. This would probably explain why migraines occur more frequently in women before, during and after menstruation. Birth control pills have also been known to increase the severity of migraines in women who tend to suffer from these headaches.
Some people link the incidence of their migraine attacks to particular drugs, food or additives.
For instance, alcohol is a known vasodilator. Stress has been linked to the occurrence of migraines, but it is not a direct cause-effect relationship because some people get migraines more often on vacations and weekends. However, anxiety is definitely a factor for people who have migraine attacks more than twice a week. Most people who have a migraine attack take medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen that give them a measure of relief. If these are not effective, the doctor can prescribe drugs that contain an ergot preparation that has the effect of constricting the blood vessels.