Study, 2008
What triggers migraine headaches in people?
Emotional stress (64%), sleep problems (81%), and the premenstrual period (53% reported hormonal triggers) are major migraine triggers. Many people also reported dietary triggers and smells as causes.
What they did
Interviewed 200 people with migraines at a clinic. Asked them to describe what factors they believed triggered their migraine attacks, including food, hormones, physical activity, emotions, sleep, and environmental factors.
What they found
Most people reported at least one dietary trigger, with fasting being most common, followed by alcohol and chocolate. Hormonal factors appeared in 53%, with the premenstrual period being the most frequent hormonal trigger. Emotional stress was reported by 64%, sleep problems by 81%, smells by 36.5%, physical activity by 13%, and sexual activity by 2.5%.
What it means for you
For many people with migraines, the premenstrual period is a common time for attacks. Knowing personal triggers might help reduce how often migraines happen. However, these are people's beliefs about what causes their migraines, not scientifically measured triggers. Different people have different triggers, so what bothers one person may not bother someone else.
200
Number of people interviewed
53%
Percentage reporting hormonal triggers
81%
Percentage reporting sleep problems as a trigger
About the study
- Original title
- Trigger factors in migraine patients
- Authors
- Fukui PT, Gonçalves TR, Strabelli CG et al.
- Journal
- Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x2008000400011
Topics
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