Migraine triggers can range from missing meals to flickering sunlight – these factors often combine over time until a person crosses their migraine threshold.
Stressful factors that put strain on the body may contribute to migraine attacks, including hunger and dehydration as well as hormonal fluctuations such as those seen during menstruation and perimenopause. Other common triggers may include odors, lighting or sounds.
Foods
Foods such as aged cheeses, salty or processed foods and alcohol may trigger migraines in some individuals. Food additives like aspartame (a sweetener) and monosodium glutamate (MSG), both widely used flavor enhancers in processed food preparations can also trigger migraines. Skipping meals or not eating enough may exacerbate migraine symptoms as well.
Change is good, but be wary of adopting too restrictive of a diet plan; doing so may result in nutritional deficiencies. Instead, make healthy eating an everyday priority with an emphasis on moderation.
Some triggers cannot be avoided, such as hormonal shifts during menstruation and pregnancy, changes in weather pressure, stress from work or family obligations and certain smells such as bright or flashing lights and loud sounds; other triggers include physical strain such as intense exercise or sexual activity and environmental factors like secondhand smoke as well as certain chemicals found in perfume, paint thinner and cleaning products; oral contraceptives and vasodilators may also contribute to migraine attacks in some individuals.
Alcohol
Certain alcoholic drinks such as red wine contain tyramine, which has been implicated as a migraine trigger. However, other organic components in the drink could also play a part in inducing migraine attacks; some migraine sufferers report even one glass of wine can trigger an attack while others show no adverse reaction when drinking small amounts. This may explain why certain migraine sufferers report their attacks were brought on by even small amounts of alcohol consumption while other have no reaction whatsoever from drinking any amount at all.
Alcohol contains other components, including by-products of fermentation known as congeners, that could also play a part in its effects. Darker drinks tend to contain more congeners than white wines or beer – although more research needs to be conducted in order to be certain of this hypothesis.
Keep a headache journal and record any triggers you observe to help identify effective methods to manage migraine attacks, such as getting enough rest and eating on a consistent schedule, limiting exposure to environmental factors like weather-related changes in barometric pressure or secondhand smoke, or taking acute medication.
Dehydration
Migraines can be debilitating, with symptoms including severe pain, nausea and light and sound sensitivity. Though each individual’s triggers differ, dehydration often plays a part in initiating migraine attacks for some people.
Dehydration causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, restricting oxygen and nutrition from reaching its head and possibly leading to episodes of migraine pain, or lower its threshold thresholds.
Individuals suffering from migraine should aim to stay adequately hydrated at all times by drinking at least eight glasses of water each day – this will not only benefit their health and wellbeing, but can help prevent future migraines as well. Staying hydrated also involves limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption since these beverages have dehydrating effects on the body.
Stress
There is a long list of everyday factors that can trigger migraine headaches: foods, caffeine, weather changes and stress can all play a part. Once they cross your threshold at once and occur at once, a headache could follow suit. Sleep disorders could also play a part, along with skipped meals, rushing out without eating and getting too little rest.
Changes in hormone levels can trigger attacks for some individuals. This includes fluctuation between menstruation cycles and during gestation.
Relaxation techniques like biofeedback and meditation can help reduce the effects of stress in your life and ward off migraine attacks. Establishing healthy routines such as sleeping eight hours every night and eating at consistent times every day may also prove helpful; migraine triggers should also be avoided while using prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers may still be needed if attacks become frequent and severe.
