Histamine may trigger migraines

One of my most vivid memories of my childhood is the visits to endless specialists offices: being prodded, scraped, jabbed, and inspected. I’ve had migraine headaches since I was about five years old, and no doctor has ever been able to tell me what causes them.

I stay away from MSG, hot dogs, and certain kinds of cheese — but really it’s more superstition than any hard-and-fast evidence that they contribute to migraine pain.

So I was pleased to see this study that suggests that histamine may be involved in triggering migraines, because I believe that once we’re closer to the origin, we’re closer to the cure. Histamine is the compound that causes allergies.

The study surveyed 294 people with and without nasal allergies, and found that patients with allergies were 14 times more likely to have symptoms of migraine.

Now, if only we can find a prevention for histamine. I’m sure any migraine sufferer would tell you that the throbbing, pulsating pain of a migraine is one of the worst feelings in the world.

Researchers are currently studying whether topical steroid medications can treat or prevent migraine in people with nasal allergies. I sure hope so.