Migraines can be debilitating headaches that disrupt daily activities and disrupt sleep. Migraine attacks typically come in clusters, lasting weeks or months before subsiding completely and leaving no trace of pain behind.
Foods and alcoholic beverages, stress, menstruation and weather changes are often triggers of migraine attacks.
1. Stress
Stress can trigger migraines for those who suffer them; those experiencing chronic migraines (more than 15 days per month) often report high stress levels. To stay protected against migraine attacks and prevent future migraine attacks from happening, it’s essential to identify and manage triggers, including those caused by social factors like workplace or family relationships. For those living with ongoing migraine symptoms, your physician may suggest preventive medications like topiramate/propranolol/Vydura (rimegepant).
Foods, alcohol beverages and weather changes are among the more frequent triggers. Maintaining a headache diary can help both you and your physician identify which triggers are impacting your health and wellbeing. Stress reduction strategies may reduce migraine episodes while improving quality of life for many – these could include regular exercise, good nutrition, getting enough restful sleep as well as mindfulness or relaxation techniques.
2. Changes in weather
Studies have indicated that changes in weather can trigger migraines. Warm weather with high humidity and variations in barometric pressure, rain or storms as well as airplanes may all act as possible triggers of migraine headaches for some people.
Bright light can be a trigger for migraine sufferers, making it important to stay up-to-date on weather forecasts before heading outdoors. To be on the safe side and limit any sudden temperature or pressure changes from occurring outside, stay inside if at all possible during such times.
Strong odors can also act as triggers, so it’s helpful to identify them and understand your personal triggers. Some individuals may be particularly sensitive to alcohol while for others it could be beer but not wine that sets off their sensitivities. Unlocking your personal triggers may require time and experimentation – don’t be discouraged if this takes time!
3. Diet
No definitive link can be established between diet and migraine; however, certain dietary triggers have been known to lead to symptoms including nausea, vomiting and light/sound sensitivity. Red wine, chocolate, artificial sweeteners or skipping meals have all been identified as potential triggers.
Diet plays an essential role for patients suffering from migraines. Dietary restrictions may help reduce migraine attacks by skipping meals or avoiding foods containing MSG (eggplant, canned soups, processed meats and cheese, certain vitamins and herbal supplements).
Migraineurs should keep a food diary to identify potential triggers. An elimination diet – where one suspect food is removed temporarily before slowly being reintroduced gradually back into their diet to measure impact – may also prove effective when under the guidance of healthcare provider or headache specialist.
4. Hormonal changes
Migraine is a complex neurological condition with genetic influences, characterized by episodes of moderate-to-severe headaches accompanied by nausea, light and sound sensitivity and other symptoms that last from hours to days and substantially reduce quality of life for those affected by it.
As migraine triggers include internal or external stimuli such as food, loud sounds, bright lights and strong smells, keeping a diary can help identify patterns and identify ways to overcome them.
Research has demonstrated that various triggers can contribute to migraines, with people who experience them typically experiencing multiple sources of triggers such as menstruation, stress, skipping meals or sleep deprivation being common causes. Women tend to be more prone to migraines than men and one trigger alone usually is not sufficient to provoke an attack.
5. Changes in sleep
Sleep deprivation is one of the primary triggers of migraine attacks. Sleep loss can result from overstressing, menstrual cycle changes or having an extremely busy schedule that leaves little time for restful slumber. Other sources can also disrupt our rest – aged cheeses, fermented foods or processed or cured meats such as hotdogs may play a part.
Finding your triggers may be difficult. Sometimes what seems like an obvious trigger may actually just be an early warning sign for an attack – such as cravings or being more sensitive to light, noise or smells. A headache diary is an effective way of helping identify potential triggers so that more informed choices can be made regarding food, beverages and activities.
