The relationship between allergies and headache continues to be controversial. Many patients with migraine headache attribute their reactions to certain foods as being an allergic condition. In most cases this is not correct. The vast majority of foods that play a role in migraine contain vasoactive or neuroactive amino acids such as tyramine, dopamine, phenylethylamine or monosodium glutamate that can trigger a migraine. This is not an allergic reaction.

The sensitive nervous system of patients with migraine may allow them to have attacks provoked by certain specific smells or lighting situations. When a true allergy exists to a compound in the air, the nasal or respiratory tissues react because of the white blood cells or inflammation involved in allergy. This causes chemicals to be released that lead to the nasal congestion, drainage and sneezing which we typically relate to hay fever.

Studies of migraine patients to evaluate for abnormalities of that portion of the immune system and white blood cells responsible for infection have not found evidence of a relationship between allergy and migraine. However, people with migraine are at higher risk of also suffering from allergies and asthma. One common factor is the role of inflammation in each of these disorders.

There are some individuals who have respiratory or seasonal allergies that contribute to or cause headaches arising from their nasal passages or sinuses. Examination and diagnostic tests can isolate and specifically help to resolve these problems for most patients.

What is an Allergy Headache?

An allergy headache is a headache that is caused by allergies. There are three different types of headaches that can be caused by an allergic disease. These are the following:

1. Sinus Headaches – the main symptom of a sinus headache is facial pain (pain behind your eyes, cheekbones, forehead and nose).

2. Migraines – Migraines can vary from mild to severe. They are usually accompanied with throbbing pain, pain on one side of your head, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, etc. Sometimes migraine headaches run in families. There are two different types of migraine headaches: common and classic. A classic migraine is severe and the duration is long. There are usually signs of a classic migraine coming on, such as an aura, which can be partial loss of vision, a funny odor or strange sound. Common migraines are usually not as severe as classic migraines. The duration of a common migraine is usually shorter than that of a classic migraine as well. However, it can be just as disabling as a classic migraine. There are also no auras that precede the common migraine.

3. Cluster Headaches - Cluster headaches begin suddenly and are more common in men than in women. A cluster headache usually lasts about forty-five to ninety minutes, but can be a few minutes or even hours. They also usually happen at the same time every day for several weeks, which is known as a cluster period. The cluster period usually lasts about four to eight weeks and can take place every three or four months. Cluster headaches are accompanied by pain around one eye. The painful eye and that side of your nose can become red, runny and swollen. Because of the pain and attempts to relieve the pain, cluster headaches can frighten you and those around you. You can also feel restless with cluster headaches.

How Are These Headaches Related to Allergies?

Food allergy could be a trigger of recurrent, persistent migraine headaches in a few people, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s allergy headaches are caused by a food allergy. If your headaches are caused by a food allergy, only a few foods usually trigger migraines and by limiting or avoiding them, you can experience complete or highly noticeable relief without having to take any medications. If you have a solid diagnosis of migraine made by a medical professional in the diagnosis and treatment of migraine headaches, it may be best to keep a diary of the foods you eat and their relation to your headaches. Then you should request a consultation with an allergist for evaluation and probably specific allergy testing.

There are a number of people who have respiratory or seasonal allergies (sometimes known as hay fever) that contribute to or cause headaches. This type of allergic headache takes place from your nasal passages or sinuses. An examination and diagnostic tests can isolate and specifically help to resolve these problems for most of you.

Food additives or naturally occurring food chemicals such as monosodium glutamate, which is usually added to oriental food and packaged foods, can aggravate some migraines. Another cause could be tyramine, which is found in many cheeses or phenylethylamine, which is found in chocolate, or alcohol. The artificial sweetener, aspartame, has also been reported as a migraine trigger in some people.

At times migraine and other headache patients may get headaches related to allergic problems. The allergic reaction may provoke an increase in their normal headaches or migraines.

Some migraine sufferers will experience nasal congestion or sinus type symptoms as part of their migraine attack. These headaches should not be confused with “sinus headache” or “sinus infection” but diagnosed and treated as migraine.