Migraines are an intense headache that varies in different levels of pain, which is usually accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light, dizziness, throbbing pain, and irritability.
Five different smells that cause migraines are:
1. Food smells
Strong; odorous foods affect people with migraines very often. Foods like onions, tomatoes, eggs, cheeses, chocolate, nuts, wheat, dairy products, and anything citrus-scented can produce severe headaches. Food smells cause migraines because the scents affect your blood vessels by causing them to swell and enlarge. Also, they could stimulate parts of the brain, which connect to the nervous system. It’s best to steer clear of any of these food items if you are vulnerable to migraines.
2. Cleaning products
Almost any cleaning product can be troublesome for anyone who receives migraines. Some chemicals’ odors are so powerful, like bleach, and can cause long-lasting migraines. Cleaning products affect your body the same way as food smells. There are a few ways you can avoid this issue. You can supplement odorous cleaning products for ones that don’t contain as strong of a scent. If you can not get around using the migraine-inducing products, make sure you’re working in an area that has good air circulation. Thirdly, wear a mask if needed. Fourthly, and lastly, use the products for a short amount of time. Take breaks when possible.
3. Cigarette smoke
Not only does smoking cause migraines, but so does second-hand smoking. Due to Nicotine being a vasoactive substance, it can affect the size of your blood vessels. It may also cause an allergic reaction, which would irritate your nose and or your throat, causing headaches. The simple solution: don’t smoke and stay away from smokers.
4. Alcohol
Alcohol can produce migraines by causing you to be dehydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it forces you to urinate. Along with being a diuretic, it possesses components that trigger headaches. Normally, it takes anywhere from thirty minutes to three hours for a headache to form from drinking. There are two possible ways you can avoid getting migraines: don’t drink or drink minimally. Try not to overdo your alcohol consumption when you are celebrating or hanging out with your friends.
5. Perfume
Probably the biggest and most common producer of migraines is the smell of perfumes. They are created to have relatively strong scents, so it is no wonder that many people have issues with them. Perfumes are the same as food smells and cleaning products because they affect your body in the same way. They affect your blood vessels. Usually, detergents, lotions, soaps, deodorant, and cologne, to name a few, cause migraines. The only way to avoid getting migraines from them is to search for alternatives that aren’t heavily scented.