Migraine Triggers: Do You Know Yours?

In your quest for natural Migraine relief it’s important to understand your Migraine triggers. Identifying your triggers can help you make some positive lifestyle choices that greatly reduce your frequency of Migraine attacks. In the beginning, it can feel daunting to figure out all of your possible triggers. But with each trigger you discover you will give yourself greater opportunities to take charge of your Migraine disease.

With Patience Comes Greater Awareness

Patience is definitely a virtue when trying to discover your Migraine triggers. Some Migraine triggers might be right under your nose or staring you right in the face. If you create too much urgency in finding them they can seem elusive and go unnoticed. Have you ever found yourself running around your house frantically for your missing sunglasses only to find they were already on your head?

Be gentle and patient with yourself. With time and greater awareness you will be able to recognize many of your Migraine triggers and make some simple changes in your life to avoid them.

Migraine Prevention

The best strategy for Migraine prevention is to know your triggers, make lifestyle choices that help you avoid your triggers, and become more proactive than ever in reducing your stress levels. Stress is a well known exacerbating factor for all Migraine triggers. As you begin discovering your triggers, remember that even if you have triggers you are not yet aware of you can still support yourself in becoming less vulnerable to them by paying attention to your stress levels and taking action in reducing your stress.

Common Migraine Triggers

Here is a list of some common triggers for you to review. Use this list to help you become more aware of what might be triggering your Migraines.

Lights

Bright lights, strobe lighting, camera flashes, bright sunlight that reflects and has a strong piercing glare, flickering light from a computer screen, and fluorescent lights are all common Migraine triggers.

Weather Changes and Extremes

Extremely hot or cold weather can trigger Migraine attacks. Changes in atmospheric pressure, exposure to high winds, and even high humidity levels can bring on an attack.

Specific Foods

Some foods that are commonly known for triggering Migraines include the following:

• Alcoholic drinks (especially red wine and beer)
• Foods that contain the chemical “Tyramine” like aged cheeses, dried smoked fish and yogurt
• Foods that contain nitrates, aspartame, and MSG
• Dairy products
• Chocolate
• Caffeine: A significant change in caffeine consumption can also trigger Migraines whether you are significantly raising or lowering your caffeine intake.
• Citrus fruits
• Fatty foods
• Nuts

Odors/Scents/fragrances

Perfumes and citrus scents can trigger Migraines. Cigarette smoke, cleaning products, paint fumes, and even certain plants blooming can also trigger a Migraine.

Loud and Sudden noises

Sirens, alarms, noisy construction, and even music can trigger Migraines.

Inconsistent Eating Habits

Fasting, skipping meals, dieting and waiting too long in between meals to eat can all trigger Migraine attacks.

Disturbed Sleep /Changes in Sleeping Habits

Some Migraine sufferers find that not getting enough sleep or not sleeping well through the night can trigger Migraines. Also changes in sleep habits such as going to bed at 9:00pm one night, and then 12:00am the next can bring on a Migraine attack.

Emotional, Mental and Physical Stress*

Stress can lower your resistance to Migraine activity and exacerbate your Migraine triggers. Although today stress is not considered a trigger for Migraine it has the power to make you more vulnerable to ALL of your known and unknown triggers.

Hormonal Factors

Pregnancy, puberty, menstrual cycles, and birth control pills are all common Migraine triggers.

Migraine Prevention Is Easier When You Learn to Use Your Intuition:

Discovering your Migraine triggers can feel like challenging detective work, but it will greatly support you in Migraine prevention. A little intuition can go a long way in discovering your Migraine triggers so listen to your inner voice. Don’t deny your intuition just because it may be telling you something that feels odd.

It took me a few years to realize that people wearing narrow striped shirts triggered Migraines for me. My vision would get blurry right away, then I would get an aura, and then the Migraine pain would set in.

The idea that someone wearing a striped t-shirt could trigger a Migraine seemed so ridiculous to me that I immediately brushed it off and decided I was missing my real trigger. Now I know better. Beware of falling into the habit of letting your intellect argue with your intuition like I did. It could really save you some pain and frustration in your process of discovering what triggers your Migraines.

As you put on your detective hat and begin discovering your unique Migraine triggers consider this three part strategy to help you remain focused and patient while in pursuit of Migraine relief.

My strategy for Migraine Prevention

1) With each trigger you discover, create lifestyle choices that help you avoid these triggers as best you can

2) Keep Stress Relief a priority. Take daily actions to prevent and release stress. This will support you in becoming less vulnerable to your Migraine triggers.

Learn one of the most powerful natural migraine relief techniques today that will help you release stress, keep your nervous system calm and balanced, and support the overall health and functioning of your body.  Practicing this one technique daily can greatly support you in decreasing the intensity and frequency of your migraines, and I’m giving you a free audio that you can download and use anytime you wish to practice this technique.  Simply click on the link above, read about this powerful technique, and click on the audio link at the end of the article.