• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Clinical Trials
  • Resources
    • Generational Health
    • Top Blacks in Healthcare 2025
    • Hall Of Fame
    • Clinical Trials Resource Center
    • Obesity Resource Center
    • Cancer Resource Center
    • Wellness on the Yard
    • Immunocompromised Care
    • BDO Resource Library
  • Find A Doctor
  • BDO TV
Home / Health Conditions / Chronic Migraine / 5 Things You Never Knew Were Triggering Your Migraines

5 Things You Never Knew Were Triggering Your Migraines

African American woman with headache

Dealing with another migraine? Wondering what caused it this time and what you avoid to prevent the next one? The average individual would be quick to attribute his/her migraine to stress or lack of sleep. But the triggers could be something you never expected. 

 

Your hair accessories can be responsible for your migraine

A smashing ponytail hairdo doesn’t stop at just fetching you a bunch of Instagram likes; it can still fetch you a migraine. Well, the blacklist isn’t just exclusive to ponytails; tight braids, headbands, or hats that fit your head tightly can introduce substantial strain to your scalp connective tissue.

You May Also Like
Psoriatic Arthritis Can Feel Beyond Your Control. Consider a Different Direction. Learn More Here. Psoriatic Arthritis Can Feel Beyond Your Control. Consider a Different Direction. Learn More Here.

The end product is a nagging headache. This condition is generally termed the cutaneous allodynia. This is pain emerging from a non-painful stimulus to your scalp. This pain can be triggered just when you brush your hair, shower, or even ear earrings.

Should you remove your ponytails, the compression headache would typically disappear within 60 minutes. If such a headache persists, you can resort to OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen. 

 

You May Also Like
Get GLP-1s Delivered to You As Low As $99/Month! Get GLP-1s Delivered to You As Low As $99/Month!

Strong scents can trigger migraine

Migraine experience is commonly associated with osmophobia. The latter is a condition where there is significantly reduced tolerance (or amplified sensitivity) to odors. 

In these situations, these unique odors can trigger a migraine attack. Some of the most prevalent migraine-inducing scents include chemical fumes like gasoline, car exhaust, cigarette, pesticide, or nail polish.

There is yet to be a definitive scientific explanation for the relatively decreased tolerance to odors in particular individuals. In most cases, such odor-induced migraine is closely followed by a nauseous sensation in the individual. 

Reducing the frequency of this migraine attack variant is essentially decreasing your exposure to such odors. Self-awareness can be beneficial here in identifying the specific scents that trigger your migraine and avoiding them diligently.  

Your weight could be behind your migraine

While not conclusive at the stage, research associating migraine with one’s body mass index (BMI) is fast consolidating. Studies are pointing at a stronger connection between obesity and severe headaches. 

Specifically, these findings have shown an increased prevalence of chronic headaches occurring every day in morbidly obese (or outrightly obese) individuals.

Another study revealed that obese people experiencing migraines experienced a reasonable decline in migraine attacks when they dropped weight. Such weight loss simultaneously triggered a slash in the severity of such migraine attacks.

It could be that amazing sex you had last night.

Feel free to nominate this as the craziest migraine trigger on the list. It is not uncommon to feel a pang of headache after orgasm. 

This headache can immediately precede or come after a sexual climax. In other cases, you would sense a latent pang forming in your neck with the hikes in the sexual thrill. 

Well, there is little to be disturbed over regarding these sex-triggered migraines. Some tend to stop very quickly within minutes, while other types of this migraine variant can stretch into 72 hours. 

Make sure to consult a medical practitioner if such migraines prevail too long. That may be suggestive of a far-reaching biological malfunction.

 

Exercises could cause migraines, too!

With social media dripping with 6-pack abs and taut stomachs, many are increasingly resorting to high-intensity exercises. Unfortunately, some of these exercises come with a pronounced stress coefficient, often leading to headaches. 

Strenuous exercises like jogging, weightlifting, and rowing can trigger migraines. It is crucial to reach out for professional medical attention if you experience other symptoms like double vision, vomiting, or stiffness in the neck.

By Lotus Felix | Published May 29, 2021

The Latest In Chronic Migraine

contraceptive

Which Contraceptive Is Right for You? 4 Things to Consider

With so much information online and an overwhelming number of contraceptive options available, choosing the right method can feel daunting. Should you take the pill, get an IUD, try an injection, or opt for an estrogen-free option? These are just read more about Which Contraceptive Is Right for You? 4 Things to Consider
organ transplant

Getting His Life Back: Regaining Strength After a Triple-Organ Transplant

  Valance Sams Sr. believes that he has experienced "a miracle." Sams, now 46, underwent a triple organ transplant in the spring of 2023, making him one of fewer than 50 people in the United States to ever receive three read more about Getting His Life Back: Regaining Strength After a Triple-Organ Transplant
sex headache

Is Your Sex Life Giving You a Headache?

As a consenting adult wanting to explore a good time with another consenting adult (or multiple, no judgment here), it’s fine to have the urge and want to or actually act on it. Sex is a part of life, so read more about Is Your Sex Life Giving You a Headache?
migraine relief

Get Instant Migraine Relief With This Natural Remedy

One of the most painful inconveniences in this world is a headache. Specifically, a headache that leads to a migraine or becomes a chronic migraine. The disturbance a headache can cause to your day can really set you back when read more about Get Instant Migraine Relief With This Natural Remedy
CBD oil

7 Reasons Why You Need CBD in Your Medicine Cabinet

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid chemical found naturally in cannabis (marijuana and hemp) plants. Below are 7 reasons why you should have CBD oil in your medicine cabinet. 1. CBD doesn’t induce the “high” sensation frequently associated with cannabis.  That read more about 7 Reasons Why You Need CBD in Your Medicine Cabinet
migraines

Could Migraines Raise Odds for Complications in Pregnancy?

Women who suffer from migraines may have a higher risk of preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications, a new study suggests. Black women have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of preeclampsia (12.4%) compared with Hispanic (8.2%) and white women (7.1%), according to read more about Could Migraines Raise Odds for Complications in Pregnancy?

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Icon

Caring for You, Too - Caregiver Workbook

1 file(s) 297 KB
Download

Trending Articles

How to Treat Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Black People

How to Treat Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Black People

5 Early Signs of Bed Bugs You Need To Know

early signs of bed bugs

Why I Did Clinical Trials for TNBC: “It Very Likely Saved And Extended My Life”

Why I Did a Trial for TNBC: "It Very Likely Saved And Extended My Life"

This Clinical Trial Reversed a Rare Cause of Vision Loss

This Clinical Trial Reversed a Rare Cause of Vision Loss

What Black Americans Need to Know Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer

lung cancer clinical trials
Find a Culturally Sensitive Doctor

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

Resource Centers

  • Top Blacks in Healthcare
  • Clinical Trials
  • Wellness on the Yard
  • Cancer
  • Immunocompromised Care
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Careers
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising & Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2025, Black Doctor, Inc. All rights reserved.