Migraine headache triggers
Triggers of migraine headache vary among individuals and include behavioral factors, foods, hormones, medicines, lights, odors, or other environmental factors. The most common migraine triggers are:1
- Stress (either during a stressful time or right after stress subsides).
- Menstrual cycle in women.
- Changes in sleep—getting either too much or too little sleep.
- Fasting or skipping meals.
- Changes in the weather, heat, or high humidity.
- Bright lights, glare, reflected sunlight, or other intense visual stimuli.
- Foods, such as chocolate.
- Alcohol—all alcohol, or one type of alcohol in particular, like beer or wine.
- Odors such as perfume, paint, dust, and certain flowers.
Other migraine triggers include:
- Strong emotions, such as depression or anxiety.
- Physical exercise.
- Aspartame.
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG).
- Nitrates, which are found in cured meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and cold cuts.
- Tyramines, which are found in pickled or marinated foods, aged cheeses, and yeast.
- Smoking or being around someone who smokes.
- Excessive caffeine or caffeine withdrawal.
- Birth control pills and hormone therapy.
- Medications that expand (dilate) the blood vessels (vasodilators), such as nifedipine, and nitrates.
- Overuse of headache pain medications, leading to rebound headaches.
| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: July 3, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology | |
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