What causes a migraine headache?
While scientists do have theories about what causes migraines, the reason some people suffer from them while others don’t isn’t fully understood.1
Fortunately, we have more clarity when it comes to migraine triggers – although these vary from person to person. If you suffer from migraines and want to dentify your individual triggers, it may be helpful to keep a migraine diary. Take note of any common migraine triggers that occur before an attack, and then keep an eye out to see which triggers reoccur
1. Emotional stress
Emotional stress is a common trigger for almost 70% migraine sufferers.2 The bad news is that stress is pretty much ubiquitous in our busy, ‘always on’ world – but the good news is that there are as many ways to fight stress as there are causes of it. Relaxation techniques like meditation, reading and listening to music can help with stress reduction.4, 5
2. Physical stress
Many kinds of physical stress can trigger a migraine, including (but not limited to) intense exercise such as weightlifting or running.6
3. Dehydration
About one in three people who suffer from migraines cite dehydration as a trigger, so make sure you get those eight glasses a day. It’s also important to remember that staying adequately hydrated isn’t just about keeping your fluids topped up, but also limiting the consumption of diuretics like coffee and sugary drinks that can actively dehydrate you.2
4. Sleep changes
You might assume that poor quality or inadequate sleep can prompt a migraine, but actually getting more sleep than normal can trigger a migraine too.
5. Diet
There are a few foods you might want to limit, or steer clear of if you’re prone to migraines. The most common ones include foods that contain tyramine (like cured meats and certain cheeses) and food additives like aspartame and MSG (monosodium glutamate).2
