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Migraine triggers, one by one
Eleven factors many people find associated with their migraine — from poor sleep and barometric pressure to caffeine and skipped meals. A trigger isn’t a cause you can prove from a single attack, but a dated record kept beside your attacks turns hunches into a pattern worth discussing.
- Barometric pressure and migraine: tracking the associationFalling barometric pressure and weather shifts travel with many people's migraine days. Here's the honest evidence and how a dated log spots your pattern.
- Poor sleep and migraine: tracking the linkToo little, too much or broken sleep is one of the most reported migraine triggers. Here's the honest evidence and how a dated diary reveals your sleep pattern.
- Stress and migraine: tracking the patternStress — and the let-down after it — is among the most reported migraine triggers. Here's the honest evidence and how a dated diary reveals your own pattern.
- Dehydration and migraine: tracking the associationNot drinking enough is a commonly reported migraine trigger. Here's the honest evidence linking it to attacks and how a dated diary reveals your pattern.
- Caffeine and migraine: tracking the linkCaffeine cuts both ways with migraine — intake and withdrawal. Here's the honest evidence and how a dated diary reveals your own caffeine pattern over time.
- Alcohol and migraine: tracking the patternAlcohol is a commonly reported migraine trigger, sometimes within hours. Here's the honest evidence and how a dated diary reveals your own drinking pattern.
- Skipped meals and migraine: tracking the associationMissed or delayed meals are a commonly reported migraine trigger. Here's the honest evidence linking them to attacks and how a dated diary reveals your pattern.
- Hormonal changes and migraine: tracking the associationFalling oestrogen around the period is linked to migraine for many people. Here's the honest evidence and how a dated diary reveals your hormonal pattern.
- Bright light and migraine: tracking the associationBright, harsh or flickering light is a commonly reported migraine trigger. Here's the honest evidence and how a dated diary reveals your own light pattern.
- Screen time and migraine: tracking the linkLong hours on screens are often blamed for migraine, but the picture is tangled. Here's the honest evidence and how a dated diary reveals your own pattern.
- Exercise and migraine: tracking the patternSudden or intense exertion is a reported migraine trigger for some, while regular activity may help. Here's the evidence and how a dated diary reveals yours.