Those who experience migraine attacks know how truly terrible they are. These attacks can be caused by a number of factors. Some of these can be strong enough to wake you up from your sleep.

Sometimes, it can even be a combination of factors that push you over the ‘migraine threshold’ and trigger these attacks.

Migraine triggers differ from person to person. Migraine triggers are specific to specific people, so you have to identify them smartly.

After conducting a survey of people suffering from migraine attacks, the Click Pharmacy found out 10 major triggers that cause these attacks.

Causes of Migraine Attacks

1.     Poor Sleep Habits

The most common trigger which causes migraine attacks in people is poor/disturbed sleep patterns. A good night’s sleep is very important to manage migraine attacks. In fact, besides the brain, adequate sleep affects several organs and their functioning in the body.

The neurotransmitters that bring sleep, headaches, and mood swings are same. Inadequate sleep signals your brain about the deprivation and causes headaches and changes in mood ultimately.

A loss of sleep also makes you that much more vulnerable to pain i.e. it lowers the pain threshold.

Remember, it is not only inadequate sleep that can cause migraine attacks. Any of the below-given conditions can be the reason you get these attacks:

• Too much sleep
• Too little sleep
• Disturbed sleep
• Poor quality sleep
• Irregular sleep routines
• Shifts in sleep routine

2.     Caffeine

Research says that you can develop caffeine dependency in less than a week.

Caffeine works the same as any drugs that sedate you. Once you are dependent and fail to get a regular dose, you will experience severe headache or a migraine attack.

Those with a migraine are strictly advised to avoid caffeine. In fact, cutting down on your caffeine consumption or completely avoiding it can actually be the solution to your problem.

If you are getting migraine attacks and caffeine is an important part of your life, start cutting on the consumption slowly and see the difference yourself.

3.     Stress

Most of the health issues we have are caused by stress and so is a migraine. Stress and anxiety give you a hard time falling asleep and eventually result in migraine attacks. The emotional stress fuels sleep issues and sleeplessness/insomnia which consequently cause a migraine.

If you think you are stressed, practice mindfulness, yoga, and/or meditation to manage it or see the doctor if you deem suitable.

4.     Diet and Obesity

Truth be told, many of us could be eating better but we are too fond of junk food and chocolates more than vegetables and natural candies i.e. fruits.

An unhealthy diet will eventually lead to obesity that can be a trigger for migraine attacks. While some of us can’t “eat right” all the time, the least we can do is attaining a realistic balance when it comes to eating choices.

Moreover, there are certain foods that can trigger migraine attacks on their own and these can include fish, poultry, vegetables, junk food or any other thing you eat. If you feel you get a migraine after eating something, you need to stop eating it or it will keep triggering attacks.

Again, this is highly variable. These foods differ from person to person based on their age, diet, body type, and other factors.

5.     Low Levels of Blood Sugar

The amount of glucose or sugar in our blood keeps our metabolism in balance. The blood sugar levels tend to rise after you eat or drink something and then drop back. The levels keep on dropping throughout the night because there is a long break in food consumption after dinner.

Remember to keep a check of your blood sugar levels and if you think these are the trigger for you, consult the doctor immediately to confirm and get it treated.

6.     Dehydration

Dehydration can cause many problems in the body including migraines. This is probably the easiest way you can pose yourself to getting migraine attacks. So drink lots of water and keep yourself well-hydrated to prevent and/or reduce migraine effects.

7.     Alcohol

Intoxication has become a trend and we often forget how harmful alcohol can be to our health. While alcohol can help induce sleep, it keeps you falling into deeper sleeping states that you need for a restorative rest. Moreover, it can also shorten the duration of sleep.

If you consume a lot of alcohol and get migraine attacks often, this is probably the sole trigger for you. Cut down on alcohol consumption and see it that works for you.

8.     Hormones

Over 50% of women who suffer from migraines get the attacks when it’s time for their menstrual cycle.  This is because, at this time, the levels of hormones in female body change.

If you notice you often or always get migraine attacks around this time, consult a doctor.

9.     Allergens & Chemicals

The environment is full of allergens and chemicals that can also be migraine triggers. Observe when you get migraine attacks. See where you are and what you are surrounded by when you get them.

10.Rare Serious Conditions

A migraine is not always a migraine; it could be a symptom of something very serious such as a tumor in the brain or giant cell arteritis.

Regardless of how frequent the migraine attacks are, you must get it checked to ensure it is just migraine and not a symptom for something else. Whether or not it is a serious condition, it certainly is an unpleasant one.

Medicines for Migraine Attacks

There are quite a few medicines available for migraine attacks including Imigran, Maxalt Melt, Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Zomig, and Zolmitriptan and sprays such as the Imigran Nasal Spray which you can use to reduce these headaches. These medicines will not cure the problem from its root, but will give you an instant relief from the bad headache.