migraine headaches causes
Patient Comments Share Your Story. The exact cause of migraine headaches is not clearly understood, though experts believe they are due to a combination of the expansion of blood vessels and the release of certain chemicals, which causes inflammation and pain. The chemicals dopamine and serotonin are among those involved in migraine.
A number of factors may trigger migraines, including: 1  Hormonal changes in women. Fluctuations in estrogen seem to trigger headaches in many women. 2  Foods. Aged cheeses, salty foods and processed foods may trigger migraines. 3  Food additives.