Migraine Headache Triggers

Pain Management: Migraine Headache Triggers
Original Content | January 01, 2006

Migraine Triggers
Migraines are often associated with triggers such as not eating, perfumes, eating certain cheeses, white or red wine and poor sleep quality. Migraine medications are unique in their action upon the nervous system. A headache specialist should be consulted whenever the treatment of more prolonged and difficult-to-manage headache syndromes is required.

Alcoholic beverages

Alcohol may be the most common dietary trigger. Red wine and beer are among the most likely to cause problems

Caffeine

Coffee, tea, iced tea and soft drinks have been the culprits for some migraine sufferers. Even decaf coffee and tea can be a problem.

Monosodium Glutamate

Many of us associate MSG with Chinese foods, but it is found in just about all processed foods—everything from frozen dinners, soups and gravy to salad dressings, bread crumbs, veggie burgers and protein concentrates. Read your labels to try to avoid: hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed plant protein, natural flavor or flavoring, and Kombu extract—since these are ways in which MSG may appear.

Processed meats

Aged, canned, cured, fermented, marinated, smoked, tenderized and/or preserved with nitrites can all be problematic. Foods like hotdogs, pepperoni, salami, bologna, beef jerky, bacon and smoked or pickled fish can all be triggers.

Stress

This is often a very strong trigger. Many migraine sufferers experience a bout immediately after a highly stressful situation.

Changes in barometric pressure

A change in the weather is often associated with the onset of a migraine. This also lends itself to the problem many migraine sufferers experience when trying to travel. The high altitude, dry air, motion and noise may all be triggers.

MY THOUGHTS

i'm not sure if i've shared this already. but it's worth sharing again just to remind everyone of migraine triggers. i ate 5 measly pieces of casuy after xmas. i had migraine for 3 days.