Trigger factors

Trigger factors are reported commonly but there is little consistency between patients.

Dietary triggers affect about 20% of people (1).

Most attacks have no obvious trigger, and some triggers that are identified are unavoidable.

Trigger factors include:

• bright lights
• certain foods:
  • alcoholic drinks
  • tyramine containing foodstuffs (cheese, citrus fruits, chocolate)
  • food may be considered a trigger when:
    1. migraine onset occurs within 6 hours of consumption
    2. the effect is reproducible
    3. withdrawal leads to improvement
• extremes of weather (e.g. very hot or cold, strong winds)
• long distance travel
• loud noise
• missing meals
• strenuous unaccustomed exercise
• too much or too little sleep
• emotional stress and anxiety
  
  

Reference:

1. British Association for the Study of Headache (BASH) guidelines 2004