Allergy Headaches - Are My Migraines Really Allergic Reactions?

Allergy headaches are a bit controversial in the field of medicine at the current time, but none the less many people continue to believe that food items causing migraines are the result of an allergic reaction.

First of all, a true allergic reaction involves the release of histamine and itching and swelling may result. Based on this the reaction to foods is not an allergy if the only result is a migraine.

But I Have A Stuffy Nose?
This is probably the most common comment I get from patients about their migraines. If you need to review migraine symptoms in order to figure out your symptoms, please do so. If you are having a stuffy nose in reaction to pollen, animal dander and other known allergens please see your doctor as becoming sensitized to these items could eventually result in a severe allergic reaction such as swollen lips and closing of the throat.

Having said that, some foods such as shellfish can cause severe allergic reactions, but usually no headache!

So What Causes My Migraine When I Eat These Foods?
When people have a reaction to food items that cause a migraine, usually something in the food is triggering the migraine headache symptoms. Tannins in red wine are famous, as is monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is a preservative and flavor enhancer found in many items.

So really what is happening here is a food intolerance. Many people notice that when their migraines come under control, they are able to tolerate small amounts of migraine food triggers that previously provoked a headache.

How to Avoid A Food Allergy Headache
One of the simplest ways to avoid migraine triggers is to keep a diary. I know, I know...you have heard this before but sometimes if you haven't done this for awhile you might find something new! Once you figure out what foods are not good for you well then..the rest is obvious.

Something else to consider is the amount of packaged foods and chemicals in your diet. Many migraineurs are neurologically sensitive to medications and chemicals that can trigger a migraine. It would make sense then that perhaps the chemicals in packaged foods may also affect you. Perhaps trying organic foods in a diet may reduce the frequency of chemically induced migraine.