Last Updated on January 3, 2021 by Lori Geurin
Migraine headaches can come on quickly and, seemingly,
So let’s take a look at some factors that could be causing your
Migraine Triggers And Risk Factors
Migraine Triggers
- Strong or unusual smells
- Bright or flickering lights, especially fluorescent ones
- Loud sounds
- Food triggers including aspartame, nuts, citrus fruits, red wine, soft cheeses, large amounts of caffeine, and food with added nitrates or nitrites and MSG. And despite what you may have heard, chocolate doesn’t seem to be a trigger. This common misconception is likely due to people craving sweet foods, such as chocolate, before a migraine strikes.
- Dehydration – You can counteract this by drinking plenty of lemon water
- Stress (Read 5 Simple Ways To Relieve Stress And Relax for helpful tips)
- Not eating when you’re used to eating regular meals
- EMFs from computer screens and cell phones
- Weather changes, including high humidity, barometric pressure,
and high altitude - Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Vigorous exercise, especially if you’re not used to it (Check out 4 Essentials Before You Start A Health Or Fitness Program for advice to help you ease into a fitness plan.)
- Teeth grinding
- Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy
- Taking drugs including cannabis and cocaine
- A change in your routine
- Overuse of migraine medication, opiates,
and barbiturates
Related: 10 Signs You’re Having A Migraine
Now for some risk factors that make some people more susceptible to migraines.
Migraine Risk Factors
- Family history of migraines
- Being overweight or underweight
- Hormonal changes in women
- Lower education levels
- After puberty, women are up to three times more likely to get migraines than men
- Depression
- Age – Most people get their first migraine during adolescence, but there are always exceptions. My first migraine didn’t happen until I was 20.
Related: 10 Effective Treatments For Migraines
Summary – Migraine Triggers
Knowing your migraine triggers and the risk factors involved is an excellent preventative tool. Also, keeping a migraine diary can help you recognize common patterns. I’ve found an app that serves this purpose and I absolutely love it! It’s called Migraine Buddy and it is free.
You can learn more about it here: Migraine Buddy: THE App For People With Migraines
Also, if you have a child who suffers from migraines you might find Migraine Headaches In Children: Types, Symptoms & Treatments helpful.
I hope you’ve found this article helpful in thinking about possible causes for your migraine headaches.
What are your migraine triggers?
Please share in the comment section below. I love hearing your thoughts!
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I really needed this article! My 14-year-old has suffered from migraines for years and I’m always looking for more information so I can help her out!
Hey there, Kimberly! I’m so sorry to hear that your daughter is dealing with migraines at such a young age. Some of our kids have dealt with getting horrible headaches we thought were possibly migraines, but they don’t happen too often so it hasn’t been easy to figure out. Many of their severe headaches seem to be related to not drinking enough water so they’ve been working on that and it has helped a bit. My best to you and your daughter. Thanks.
This is such a great and informational article! Thank you for sharing migraine triggers and risk factors!
Hey LIndsey, You’re so welcome! And thanks for reading!
This is so interesting! I never knew there were so many triggers, I think for me mainly is being dehydrated, I feel so much better once I drink water. Thank you for sharing this!
Thanks for sharing this, Melissa! That’s good that you’ve figured out your trigger. Dehydration is a big one for many people.
Very informative article. I used to have really bad migraines, and I found later that it was due to dehydration. I had only been drinking about 16 ounces of water a day.
Thank you, Cecil! I’m hearing so many people say dehydration is a trigger for them too. I’m so glad you figured this out and hoping it helps you.