Migraine Causes (Cont.)

Brain Chemicals

Another theory for the cause of migraine headaches focuses on chemical changes in the brain. When chemicals in the brain that send messages from one cell to another -- including the messages that signal blood vessels to get narrow or expand -- are interrupted, migraines can occur.
 

Genetics

More recently, genes have been linked to a possible cause of migraine headaches. People who get migraines may inherit abnormal genes that control the functions of certain brain cells. Something that the person's body is, in some way, sensitive to also triggers the actual headaches.

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD