Migraine headaches cause severe pain that may last for several hours or even days. If you suffer from migraine headaches, you may experience sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting. Migraines may be so severe that they get in the way of your daily functioning. Keeping careful track of what you eat and the activities you engage in prior to onset of a migraine may help you identify your triggers so you can avoid them in the future.
Foods and Drinks
Migraines may be triggered by certain foods you consume on an occasional basis. Foods and beverages such as beer, wine, aged cheese, chocolate, caffeine, monosodium glutamate, aspartame and processed foods are common migraine triggers for many people. Avoiding these foods may help you reduce your instances of migraine, report Katherine A. Henry and Anthony P. Bossis, authors of "100 Questions & Answers about Migraine." They advise keeping a food diary so you can trace back to what you ate and drank in the hours leading up to a migraine. Once you discover if certain foods or drinks are triggers, you can eliminate them from your diet.
Environmental Changes
Stressful changes at work or home may trigger a migraine headache. Stress has a powerful effect on your overall mood and outlook, and it may cause severe headache pain if not dealt with properly. Changes in weather may bring on a migraine, according to MayoClinic.com, particularly when the changes are drastic. Changes in barometric pressure may also trigger a migraine. Travels, along with drastic changes in sleeping habits, are other environmental factors that may bring on a migraine. Henry and Bossis recommend keeping a headache diary so you can track what activities you were engaged in, how you felt and what type of weather was present when your migraine started. This helps you pinpoint the likely causes of your migraine headaches.
Outside Stimuli
A change in sensory stimuli may bring on a migraine, particularly if the changes are unexpected. Bright lights, flashing lights, sun glare and loud sounds can all bring on a migraine. MayoClinic.com adds that smells -- good or bad -- may cause a migraine. Examples are perfumes, cigarette smoke and chemicals, such as paint. A headache diary is helpful in identifying these triggers, so you may be able to avoid them in the future.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Migraine
- "100 Questions & Answers about Migraine"; Katherine A. Henry and Anthony P. Bossis; 2009
