Migraine Headache Triggers

What Are Migraine Triggers?

Have you ever heard someone claim that red wine “gives them” a migraine?  There is sometimes a lot of confusion and misconceptions about what a “migraine trigger” is. Red wine, stress, or MSG are not the cause of a migraine attack. A trigger is not something you’re allergic to. It does not cause the migraine. 

Anything Can Be A Trigger!

Triggers are a little extra push that may bring a migraine to the surface. People with a predisposition for migraine may have a hypersensitivity to certain things they eat, do, or experience. Food, drink, drugs, chemicals, environmental conditions, your mental state—actually, just about anything can act as a migraine trigger! And what may be a trigger for you may not be a trigger for a fellow sufferer. 

Discovering What Your Triggers Are

Sometimes migraine is inevitable, no matter how many triggers you avoid. Still, staying clear of your known triggers will stack the deck in your favor for minimizing and possibly avoiding attacks.

A List of Possible Migraine Triggers

While just about anything can act as a migraine trigger, here’s a list of the more frequently reported ones sufferers are hypersensitive to.

Common Food Triggers

This is a generic list, not everything on this list may apply specifically, however there may be triggers that aren’t on this list that do apply to the individual.

• alcoholic beverages
• sodium nitrite-laden meat (hot dogs, deli meats, etc.)
• MSG (monosodium glutamate)
• aspartame (artificial sweeteners) , Splenda, Nutra sweet
• chocolate
• tyramine (chemical found in aged cheeses)
• nuts (all tree nuts, peanuts and peanut butter are known triggers). Almonds are the exception, closer chemically to sunflower seeds
• onions
• beans
• dried smoked fish
• dairy products
• sour cream
• yogurt (yeast extracts)
• fatty foods 

Physical Triggers

• lack of sleep / too much sleep
• irregular sleep patterns
• napping
• head trauma
• physical exertion
• fatigue
• vigorous activity (exercise, etc.)
• sudden / intense exertion (sexual activity)
• irregular meal pattern
• skipped meals

Hormonal Triggers

• menstruation (including premenstrual)
• ovulation
• oral contraceptives
• hormone supplements

Psychologic Triggers

• stress
• anxiety / worry
• depression

Environmental Triggers

• glare / bright light
• flashing / flickering lights
• fluorescent lighting
• weather changes
• odors (bad or good
• repetitive visual patterns (stripes, zigzags, etc.)
• air pollution
• secondhand smoke
• chemical fumes
• motion / travel

Recognizing & Predicting Migraine Sufferers who understand how their migraine progresses (and recognize the symptoms, triggers, and other warning signs associated it) are the migraineurs who are best equipped to deal with its effects.