10 Common Migraine Triggers

Nip it in the bud – that’s the best way to take care of a migraine. Don’t let it strike. Recognize the warning signs that you might have one heading your way and check it right there. Learning what your migraine triggers are will help you effectively manage them. Now, not all triggers are common to everyone. Some people may have a migraine triggered by one thing and others may not. However, there are certain migraine triggers which are common to most. These are –

• Irregularity in your sleep schedule – Sleep renews and reinvigorates us to take on the daily activities of life. Lack of sleep or changes in your sleep schedule can bring on a migraine.
• Stress – Stress is possibly the most significant causal factor behind a migraine. It also forms a vicious cycle. Your stress causes you a migraine, and then you keep feeding this migraine because you now worry about having another migraine attack.
• Caffeine and alcohol consumption – Some people may experience intense migraine headaches after consuming caffeine or alcohol.
• Hormones – Women tend to experience migraines more than men because of all of the hormonal shifts they undergo. They are subject to the “menstrual migraine” every month due to changes in the estrogen and progesterone levels in the body.
• Extreme weather changes – Heat and humidity which leads to perspiration and dehydration can cause migraines. Changes in barometric pressure are a common culprit too.
• Certain food items – Food products that contain MSG, histamine, artificial sweeteners can all cause a migraine.
• Dehydration – A third of all migraine attacks are caused because of dehydration. Since the water content of our body is so high, any changes in this can lead to dizziness, confusion and even serious medical emergencies.
• Strong smells – Certain odors or strong smells can activate nerve cells which are present in our nasal passages and bring on the onslaught of a migraine attack or worsen one, i.e. already present.
• Excessive light – Some migraine patients find it difficult to be around bright lights. They find flickering and fluorescent lightbulbs especially triggering.
• Overusing medication – Medication Overusing Headache is real. If you have been prescribed medication to treat your migraines, you will often find that this medication is making your migraines more frequent.

How to counteract these triggers

Once you’ve identified your migraine triggers, you can make appropriate lifestyle changes to lessen the frequency and severity of these migraines. If you’re under the treatment of a doctor, inform them about these triggers so they can come up with a treatment plan tailored to you. Carry your bottle of water with you while traveling to keep from getting dehydrated, carry sunglasses to protect you from migraine-inducing bright sunlight and try to steer clear of strong smells. Stay indoors during extreme weather changes and try to avoid food rich in synthetic properties. Limit your caffeine and alcohol consumption and try to maintain a regular sleep pattern. Practice meditation when you feel yourself getting stressed. All of this should help keep your migraines away.

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