Triggers

Before we discuss what triggers are, it's important to emphasize that triggers do not cause migraine. Rather, "triggers" impact an existing biochemical imbalance in the body that then initiates the chain reaction that results in migraine.

Triggers are active environmental stimuli or other factors that either initiate or contribute to existing hormonal and/or metabolic imbalances that eventually manifest as a migraine. Any one person may respond to different triggers at different times. Eighty-five percent of migraineurs report triggers, and most are affected by three or more. The good news is that the majority of triggers can be avoided (see tables below) while only a few (e.g., menstruation, barometric pressure changes, altitude, weather changes in general) cannot.

Food Triggers

Alcoholic beverages especially red wine Aspartame (name brands include Equal, NutraSweet) Avocados Beans (including broad, garbanzo, Italian, lima, navy, pinto) Brewer's yeast Caffeine Cheese (aged) Chocolate Dairy products (cultured, such as buttermilk, sour cream) Figs Lentils Meats (aged, cured, or processed, such as bologna, hot dogs, herring, pepperoni)

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), including meat tenderizer Nuts Onions Papaya Passion fruit Peanut butter Pea pods Pickled or marinated foods (pickles, olives, snack foods, sauerkraut) Red plums Seasoned salt Snow peas Soups (canned or bouillon cubes) Soy sauce

Other Triggers

Bright lights Unusual odors Changes in sleeping habits/amount of sleep Intense physical (including sexual) activity

Stress Secondhand smoke Birth control pills