Hormonal changes are the most likely common migraine trigger, rated 9 out of 10 by a doctor who specialises in headache and pain management. Weather changes follow closely at 8 out of 10, while chocolate is described as “overblamed” and scores only 2 out of 10.
Doctor ranks triggers on a 10-point scale
Doctor Eli Sader, trained in neurology and interventional pain management with a special focus on headaches and all types of migraines, ranked various migraine triggers out of ten in a recent video. A score of ten means the trigger definitely brings on a migraine, while zero means it will not.
He said weather changes are likely to trigger a migraine, explaining: “There’s a lot of evidence that low barometric pressure can trigger a migraine.” He rated this an 8/10.
High-risk and low-risk triggers
Other high-risk triggers according to Dr Sader include bright lights, stress, sleep changes, skipping meals, and perfumes. Hormonal changes were rated as a 9/10 on the scale.
Some things are not as high risk, however – he rated caffeine and cheese as low risk. Chocolate, in his opinion, is also “overblamed”. He rated it as 2/10 and explained: “We used to think of it as a trigger now we think it part of the prodrome cravings.”
Prodrome phase and warning signs
The prodrome phase is the early onset of an illness. For migraines, it happens as the brainstem and hypothalamus become active and can cause subtle physical and emotional changes before the real pain sets in. It can act like a warning system and can vary from person to person, sometimes beginning hours or even days before the migraine.
Some of the warning signs of a migraine include frequent, uncontrollable yawning; stiff neck and shoulder tension; fatigue or sudden, extreme drowsiness; increased thirst; frequent urination; constipation or diarrhoea; mood swings (ranging from irritability and depression to unprovoked euphoria); difficulty concentrating or “brain fog”; increased sensitivity to light; increased sensitivity to sound or smells; and a change in appetite – craving salty, greasy foods or chocolate.
