Top 10 Migraine Triggers
For most people that suffer with headaches, any number of triggers can cause them to seek a dark room, a moist towel. While headaches sometimes seem to come out of nowhere, there is often some trigger that starts the process. By paying attention to what the environment was around you at the time the headache started, you can start to understand your triggers – and then we can help you find ways to manage those triggers so that you can bet back to life. The following are the 10 most common triggers, come back for some tips on how to mitigate headaches when these triggers are present.
1. Stress – Regardless of the underlying source, stress is a trigger for almost 70% of people with migraine.
2. Sleep – Irregular sleep schedules, either due to changes in or irregular sleep schedules, put you at risk for headaches.
3. Hormones – Women are three times more likely than men to experience migraines, often due to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels.
4. Caffeine and Alcohol – While many patients specifically identify red wine as a headache trigger, other types of alcohol, as well as caffeine, are also principal triggers.
5. Weather – Changes in pressure systems, storms, excessive heat, extreme weather changes, all are triggers that can lead to headaches.
6. Diet – Irregular food consumption, blood sugar levels, and even some specific foods are known headache triggers.
7. Dehydration – About 33% of people with headaches point to dehydration as a trigger, to some, even at the slightest hint.
8. Light – Natural, bright and fluorescent light, and even flickering bulbs trigger migraines.
9. Smell – Some smells may trigger a migraine attack when nasal passage nerves are triggered.
10. Medication Overuse – Taking the wrong type of medication regularly, even when being taken to counter headaches, is often a trigger for migraines.
When you consider this list keep in mind that your headaches are triggered differently than everyone else’s, so your list, while likely including some of the above, may not include all of these and may have other triggers. Please talk to your headache specialist about your triggers — whatever they may be, and without embarrassment as it will help us properly diagnose and treat your headaches. For more information, and to see how these triggers can be managed, please call 860.263.3603 to make an appointment.