Common Triggers of Ocular Migraine
Common Triggers of Ocular Migraine
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An ocular migraine affects vision, usually in one eye and can be accompanied with pain, typical for a migraine. Often, people who suffer from an ocular migraine experience loss of vision that can last from a few to 30 minutes. It rarely lasts longer than an hour. People with an ocular migraine frequently report the loss of vision in the same eye. Ocular migraine happens when blood vessels contracts and hinders regular blood flow to the eye. After the episode, blood vessels expand and enable blood flowing smoothly, again. Luckily, ocular migraine represents a serious condition neither for eyes nor overall health. However, it is important to consult a doctor, because the loss of vision can point to some other disease such as lupus, epilepsy, inflammation of the arteries, or hardening of the arteries. Even though an ocular migraine does not require any treatment, it could be wise to acknowledge the common triggers that can affect an ocular migraine and avoid its uncomfortable symptoms. To find out more about the common triggers of an ocular migraine, the article “Causes of Ocular Migraines” gives us the following list.
Common Triggers of Ocular Migraine
• Bright lights
• Loud sounds
• Powerful odors
• Stress, anxiety, relaxation after a period of stress
• Changing weather
• Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine
• Too much caffeine or withdrawal from caffeine
• Foods containing nitrates (hot dogs, luncheon meats)
• Foods containing monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG (fast foods, seasonings, spices, broths)
• Foods containing tyramine (aged cheeses, hard sausages, smoked fish, soy products, fava beans)
• Artificial sweeteners
Like any other disease, the ocular migraine can be triggered in a different way in various people. Frequently, there is no one single trigger that invokes a migraine. Usually, a set of triggers make an ocular migraine happen and is unique for every single person. Mostly, ocular migraine appears as a result of the stressful lifestyle. If this is the case, the changes in everyday habits can alleviate the symptoms and reduce their appearance. These changes should include a healthy diet, regular meals, at least 7-8 hours of sleep, and exercising. Relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or massage, can also be helpful and relieve the stress. Apart from this, medical experts suggest writing a diary that keeps track of the changes in a diet, sleeping habits, headaches, episodes of an ocular migraine and triggers that run the episodes. In this way, it will be easier to spot particular triggers and avoid them.
