Migraine: Living and Managing
Continued from last Monday
5. Changes in the weather: Storms, excessive heat and changes in barometric pressure are common weather-related triggers that can lead to a migraine attack. High humidity and heat can easily lead to dehydration, another common trigger.
How to cope: We can’t control the weather, so if the current conditions are not favorable for your migraine, stay inside or adjust your schedule accordingly. If there’s an errand you need to run, take care of it in the morning before it gets too hot.
6. Diet: There’s a laundry list of foods known to trigger a migraine attack, the most common ones being foods that contain histamine and MSG, chocolate, cheese and other dairy products, artificial sweeteners (e.g. aspartame), caffeine, cured meats, and anything with a strong smell.
How to cope: If you can identify specific food triggers, be sure to avoid them as much as possible. Many people also adopt a migraine diet that eliminates foods and ingredients known to trigger a migraine. You can read more about how to make this lifestyle change in our resource library.
7. Dehydration: About 1/3 of people with migraine say dehydration is a trigger, and for some, even the slightest hint of dehydration can be the fast track to debilitating head pain. Dehydration affects the body on all levels and can cause dizziness, confusion, and can even become a medical emergency.
How to cope: Always carry a water bottle and keep track of your fluid intake (daily recommendation is two liters), and limit your consumption of diuretics. Sometimes an attack can be stopped in its tracks by simply drinking a glass of water.
8. Light: For many migraine patients, natural light is the enemy. This condition is called
Photophobia, and it is actually one of the criteria used to diagnose migraine. Both natural, bright light and fluorescent or flickering bulbs are problematic, making it difficult to spend time outside or be in an office environment.
How to cope: Wearing sunglasses is helpful when you’re outside, and it’s a good idea to carry a pair with you at all times. When faced with artificial light, sit closer to windows and avoid flickering lights or sources of glare. Green light is the only band of light that has been shown to not aggravate migraine –finding bulbs that emit green light or sunglasses that deflect all but green light could be helpful.
9. Smell: Some odours may activate certain nerve receptors in the nasal passages that may trigger a migraine attack or make worse one that already started. Osmophobia (aversion to odors) is a common symptom of migraine.
How to cope: Avoid perfumes, strong food smells, chemicals or gasoline. If you work in an office environment, make your condition known among your coworkers, and don’t be afraid to ask that they refrain from wearing perfume or cologne.
10. Medication Overuse: Ironically, if you have regular migraine headaches and take acute medication prescribed by your doctor more than 10 days out of a month, it can in itself cause more migraine attacks—a phenomenon known as Medication Overuse Headache (MOH).
How to cope: If you have MOH, you must first stop taking the medication and clear it out of your system before you can stop the cycle of pain. You should work with your doctor to learn how to come off certain medications, such as opioids or butalbital containing medications, safely.
Remember, everyone’s experience with migraine and migraine triggers is different. Don’t feel embarrassed when talking to your doctor or headache specialist about your triggers—it will help them give you a proper diagnosis and start the best treatment plan for your symptoms.