WHAT TRIGGERS MIGRAINE HEADACHES?

Researchers think that people who suffer from migraines are hypersensitive to migraine triggers (see migraine glossary). A trigger can be a certain food, an environmental condition, or a hormonal factor, and your migraine triggers may not be the same as someone else’s.

No matter how many migraine triggers you avoid, some migraine attacks will occur. However, staying clear of your known migraine triggers and following a migraine treatment plan mayminimize your chances of future migraines.
Your doctor or healthcare professional will want to know about your headache triggers, but he or she will also need other information to diagnose migraine.

While just about anything can trigger migraines, here is a list of the more frequently reported migraine triggers:


Food Migraine Triggers: 

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Sodium-Nitrite-Laden Meat (hot dogs, deli meats, etc.)
• Msg - Monosodium Glutamate (see migraine glossary) (food additive found in some processed meats, soups, salad dressings, etc.)
• Aspartame (artificial sweetener)
• Chocolate
• Citrus Fruit
• Tyramine (chemical found in aged cheese)
• Caffeine (chemical found in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, etc.)
• Nuts
• Onions
• Beans
• Pickled Herring
• Dried Smoked Fish
• Dairy Products
• Sour Cream
• Yogurt (yeast extracts)
• Fatty Foods

Physical Migraine Triggers:

• Lack of Sleep or Too Much Sleep
• Irregular Sleep Patterns
• Napping
• Head Trauma
• Physical Exertion
• Fatigue
• Vigorous Activity (for instance, exercise)
• Sudden or Intense Exertion
• Irregular Meal Patterns
• Skipped Meals

Environmental Migraine Triggers:

• Glare or Bright Light
• Flashing or Flickering Lights
• Fluorescent Lighting
• Weather Changes
• Strong Odors (bad or good)
• Repetitive Visual Patterns (stripes, zigzags, etc.)
• Air Pollution
• Secondhand Smoke
• ChemiCal Fumes
• Motion or Travel

Hormonal Migraine Triggers:
• Menstruation (including premenstrual)
• Ovulation
• Hormone Supplements

Psychological Migraine Triggers:

• Stress (see migraine glossary)
• Post-Stress Activity
• Anxiety or Worry
• Depression
 
Drug/Chemical Migraine Triggers:
• Nitroglycerine
• Histamine
• Reserpine (hypertension drug)
• Hydralazine (drug that lowers blood pressure)
• Diuretics
• Anti-Asthma Medications

by: Auracol