Migraine Trigger List
What triggers a migraine?
It has been well established that migraine headaches can be triggered off in individuals prone to migraine headaches by certain so called ” migraine triggers”. Many of these triggers are foods and beverages such as cheese, alcohol, and caffeine containing substances. We also understand that migraine headaches can be caused by emotional stress, hormones, and changes in barometric pressure.
How and why these so called triggers are capable of generating headaches is not completely understood. By identifying and avoiding these triggering factors it is often possible to decrease the frequency of migraine headaches substantially. The following is a list of common migraine headache triggers.
DIET: Alcohol (especially red wine), chocolate, caffeine, aged cheese, MSG, nutrasweet/caffeine, nuts, processed meats, hot dogs, bacon
HORMONES: Menstruation, ovulation, puberty, menopause
CHANGES: Weather and barometric pressure changes.humidity, seasons, travel, altitude changes, schedule changes, sleeping patterns changes either to much or to little sleep, diet and skipping meals
SENSORY STIMULI: Strong or fluorescent light and glare, flickering lights, odours and loud noise
STRESS: Times of intense activity and or let-down periods from stress. Moving job loss or change.
THE NECK: A RECENTLY RECOGNIZED MIGRAINE TRIGGER
Another migraine triggering factor that has been recognized in provoking migraine headaches in individuals prone to migraine headaches is chronic or recurrent pain in the neck.
Pain stemming from the cervical facet joints, intravertebral discs, cervical muscles, ligaments and tendons are all transmitted by nerves in the upper part of the neck to the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve and the blood vessels that it innervates, is called the trigeminal neurovascular unit.
The trigeminal neurovascular unit is the group of nerves and blood vessel that are most commonly implicated in causing the pain of migraine headaches. In individuals with damage to structures innervated by nerves in the upper part of the neck there is a constant barrage of pain impulses into the trigeminal neurovascular unit. This constant flow of pain impulses into the trigeminal nerve from the neck is a commonly unrecognized triggering, aggravating and pertuating factor in individuals who suffer from freguent migraines.
If therapy is not adressed towards treasting the problems in the neck, it often results in failure of migraine therapy and overuse of painkillers whichmay result in the development of medication induced headaches. It is for this reason that your doctor has prescribed for you a “Neck Hygiene Program” which includes sleeping with a neck support pillow and doing a daily routine of neck and upper back stretching excercises.
Your doctor may also have suggested that you also see a physiotherapist, massage therapist or chiropractor for additional therapy to your neck.
By following your neck hygiene program you may be able to rerduce or eliminate your neck pain and decrese the frequency of your migraine headaches.