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| Migraine Triggers |
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| What is the cause? |
| A migraine trigger is any factor that on exposure or
withdrawal leads to the development of an acute migraine headache.
Triggers may be categorized as behavioral, environmental, infectious, dietary, chemical,
or hormonal. The trigger theory supposes that exposure to various environmental factors precipitates,
or triggers, individual migraine episodes. Many people report that one or more dietary, physical,
hormonal, emotional, or environmental factors precipitate their migraines. The most-often reported triggers
include stress, over-illumination or glare, alcohol, foods, too much or too little sleep, and weather.
Some women experience migraines in conjunction with monthly menstrual cycles. Sometimes the migraine
occurs with no apparent "cause." |
| Migraine patients have long been advised to try to identify personal headache triggers by
looking for associations between their headaches and various suspected trigger factors.
Patients are urged to keep a "headache diary" in which to note what they eat and when they get
a headache, to look for correlations, and to try to avoid headache by avoiding factors they identify
as triggers. Typically this advice is accompanied by a list of trigger factors. |
| A wide range of events and conditions can alter conditions in the brain
that bring on nerve excitation and trigger migraines. They include, but are not limited to the following |
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Emotional stress (although the headaches often erupt after the stress has eased). |
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One study suggested that some migraine
headaches might be precipitated by a sudden drop in blood pressure
(hypotension). (Conversely, some cases have suggested that migraine
may cause hypotension.) |
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Intense physical exertion (such as after lifting, athletic endeavor, and even bowel movements or sexual activity). |
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Abrupt weather changes (such as Chinook winds). |
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Bright or flickering lights. |
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High altitude. |
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Travel motion. |
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Changes in sleep patterns. |
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Low blood sugar has been known to trigger headaches and fasting can often precipitate migraine. |
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| Chemicals found in certain foods may trigger headaches in some people. More than 100 foods have the capacity to trigger migraine headache. |
| For much more information ... |
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