Foods that can cause migraines. 10 Common Food Triggers for Migraines: What to Avoid and Why

10.10.197624.10.2021 by alexxlab

How can certain foods trigger migraines. What are the most common food triggers for migraine sufferers. Why does caffeine consumption impact migraine frequency. Are artificial sweeteners linked to increased migraine risk. How do processed meats affect migraine symptoms.

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Understanding the Link Between Food and Migraines

Migraines are complex neurological conditions that can be triggered by various factors, including certain foods. While the relationship between diet and migraines isn’t always straightforward, research suggests that some foods may increase the likelihood of an attack for many sufferers. Identifying and avoiding these potential triggers can be a crucial step in managing migraine symptoms.

Dr. Sara Crystal, a clinical neurologist and Cove Medical Director, explains that while certain foods and additives are more likely to trigger headaches in a higher percentage of migraine sufferers, individual factors such as stress, hormonal changes, and lack of sleep can also play a role. This complexity makes it essential for individuals to track their own triggers and responses.

Caffeine: A Double-Edged Sword for Migraine Sufferers

Caffeine’s relationship with migraines is particularly nuanced. Can caffeine trigger migraines? In some cases, yes. Research indicates that excessive caffeine consumption can indeed trigger migraines. Studies from 2016 and 2019 suggest that reducing coffee intake may help decrease migraine frequency.

However, it’s important to note that moderate caffeine consumption isn’t necessarily problematic for all migraine sufferers. In fact, some people find that a controlled amount of caffeine can provide relief during an attack. The key is moderation and understanding your personal tolerance.

Recommended Caffeine Intake for Migraine Sufferers

Limit coffee consumption to less than two cups per day
Monitor your body’s response to caffeine
Consider gradually reducing intake if you suspect it’s a trigger

Alcohol and Migraines: More Than Just a Hangover

For many migraine sufferers, alcohol is a common trigger. Why does alcohol trigger migraines? The answer lies in its chemical composition. Alcoholic beverages contain substances like tyramine and histamine, which are believed to be problematic for those prone to migraines.

Red wine, in particular, is frequently reported as a migraine trigger due to its high histamine content. However, other types of alcohol can also cause issues for some individuals. It’s crucial to pay attention to how different alcoholic beverages affect you personally.

Alcohol Types and Their Potential Impact on Migraines

Red wine (high histamine content)
Beer (contains both histamine and tyramine)
Spirits (may have fewer triggering compounds but still contain alcohol)
White wine (generally lower in histamine than red wine)

Cheese and Other Dairy Products: The Tyramine Connection

Cheese lovers beware: many types of cheese can be potential migraine triggers. The culprit here is tyramine, an amino acid that forms as proteins break down. Aged cheeses typically contain higher levels of tyramine, making them more likely to trigger migraines in susceptible individuals.

Which cheeses are most likely to trigger migraines? Some of the common varieties to be cautious of include:

Blue cheese
Brie
Cheddar
Swiss
Feta
Mozzarella

It’s not just cheese that can be problematic. Other dairy products like buttermilk, sour cream, and yogurt have also been reported as potential triggers by some migraine sufferers. However, the evidence for these is less conclusive, and individual responses may vary.

The Bittersweet Truth About Chocolate and Migraines

Chocolate is another potential migraine trigger that many sufferers are reluctant to give up. But how strong is the link between chocolate and migraines? One study found that chocolate triggered a migraine in 42% of its subjects when compared to a placebo. This suggests a significant connection, but it’s important to note that not all migraine sufferers are affected by chocolate.

The reason chocolate may trigger migraines is not fully understood, but it could be related to its content of:

Caffeine
Tyramine
Phenylethylamine

These compounds can affect blood flow and brain chemistry, potentially leading to migraine symptoms in sensitive individuals.

Alternatives to Chocolate for Migraine Sufferers

If you find that chocolate is a trigger for you, consider these alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth:

Carob (a chocolate-like substance made from carob pods)
White chocolate (contains no cocoa solids)
Fruit-based desserts
Vanilla or other non-chocolate flavored treats

Artificial Sweeteners: A Hidden Migraine Trigger?

For those watching their calorie intake, artificial sweeteners might seem like a good alternative to sugar. However, these substances may increase the risk of migraine headaches for some individuals. Aspartame, commonly found in diet sodas and sugar-free products, is particularly notorious among migraine sufferers.

Why might artificial sweeteners trigger migraines? While the exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, some theories suggest that these substances can:

Affect neurotransmitter levels in the brain
Cause changes in blood flow
Trigger an inflammatory response in sensitive individuals

If you suspect artificial sweeteners might be triggering your migraines, consider gradually eliminating them from your diet and observing any changes in your migraine frequency or severity.

Processed Meats: The Nitrite and Nitrate Culprits

Cured and processed meats like bacon, sausage, ham, and deli meats often contain nitrites and nitrates. These compounds are used to preserve color and flavor, but they can also be migraine triggers for some people. How do nitrites and nitrates affect migraine sufferers? These compounds can cause blood vessels to dilate, potentially leading to headaches and migraines in sensitive individuals.

A study found that 5% of subjects with a history of migraines were statistically more likely to experience head pain on days they consumed nitrites. While this percentage may seem small, for those affected, the impact can be significant.

Tips for Avoiding Nitrites and Nitrates

Read labels carefully and avoid products listing sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate
Choose fresh, unprocessed meats instead of cured or processed options
Look for “nitrate-free” or “no added nitrates” products, but be aware that these may use natural sources of nitrates like celery juice
Consider plant-based alternatives to processed meats

Other Potential Food Triggers to Consider

While the foods mentioned above are some of the most commonly reported migraine triggers, there are other potential culprits to be aware of. These include:

Citrus Fruits

Some people report that oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes can trigger migraines. While not as common a trigger as some other foods, it’s worth tracking your response to these fruits if you’re prone to migraines.

Yeast-Containing Foods

Sourdough bread and fresh-baked goods like donuts, cakes, and breads contain yeast, which can be a migraine trigger due to its tyramine content.

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)

This flavor enhancer is used in many processed foods and has been reported as a migraine trigger by some sufferers. However, scientific evidence on its role in migraines is mixed.

Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, peanuts, and many other nuts and seeds contain tyramine, which can be problematic for some migraine sufferers.

Other Reported Triggers

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the following foods are sometimes reported as migraine triggers, although scientific evidence is limited:

Avocados
Chicken livers and other organ meats
Dried fruits like dates, figs, and raisins
Garlic
Certain types of beans (lima, fava, navy, pinto)

Developing a Personalized Migraine Diet Plan

Given the individual nature of food triggers, how can you develop an effective migraine diet plan? The key is to systematically track your food intake and migraine occurrences. Here are some steps to help you identify your personal triggers:

Keep a detailed food diary, noting everything you eat and drink
Record all migraine attacks, including their timing, duration, and severity
Look for patterns between your food intake and migraine occurrences
Gradually eliminate suspected trigger foods one at a time
Reintroduce foods carefully, noting any changes in migraine frequency or severity

Remember, it’s essential to maintain a balanced diet while identifying triggers. Consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian to ensure you’re meeting your nutritional needs while managing your migraines.

The Role of Hydration and Regular Meals in Migraine Prevention

While focusing on potential food triggers is important, it’s equally crucial to maintain good overall dietary habits. Dehydration and skipping meals can both contribute to migraine onset. How does hydration affect migraine frequency? Proper hydration helps maintain blood volume and reduces the likelihood of dehydration-induced headaches, which can trigger migraines in susceptible individuals.

Similarly, maintaining regular meal times can help prevent blood sugar fluctuations that may trigger migraines. Here are some tips for maintaining a migraine-friendly eating schedule:

Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day
Eat regular, balanced meals at consistent times
Include protein with each meal to help stabilize blood sugar levels
Consider carrying healthy snacks to avoid going too long without eating

The Importance of a Holistic Approach to Migraine Management

While identifying and avoiding food triggers can be an essential part of migraine management, it’s important to remember that diet is just one piece of the puzzle. A holistic approach to migraine management typically includes:

Stress management techniques
Regular sleep habits
Exercise (in moderation, as intense exercise can be a trigger for some)
Medication (both preventive and acute) as recommended by a healthcare professional
Lifestyle modifications

By combining dietary changes with other management strategies, many migraine sufferers can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of their attacks. Remember, what works for one person may not work for another, so patience and persistence are key in finding the right combination of strategies for you.

Emerging Research on Diet and Migraines

As our understanding of migraines continues to evolve, new research is shedding light on the complex relationship between diet and migraine occurrence. Some areas of current interest include:

The Gut-Brain Connection

Researchers are exploring how the gut microbiome might influence migraine susceptibility. Could probiotics or dietary changes that support gut health help reduce migraine frequency? While more research is needed, early studies suggest this could be a promising avenue for migraine management.

Anti-Inflammatory Diets

Some studies have investigated whether anti-inflammatory diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, could help reduce migraine frequency. These diets typically emphasize whole foods, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables while limiting processed foods and added sugars.

Ketogenic Diets

There’s growing interest in the potential of ketogenic diets for migraine prevention. Some small studies have shown promising results, but larger, long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand the mechanisms at play.

As research in these areas continues, it’s important to stay informed about new developments that could impact migraine management strategies. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or migraine treatment plan.

Trigger Foods: 10 Foods to Avoid If You Get Migraines

You might already know about common migraine triggers like stress, lack of sleep, and even exercise (no, seriously), but did you know that what you’re eating could also be giving you migraines?

That’s right—even if your migraines are typically triggered by visual stimuli like flashing lights, avoiding the foods below could help reduce the frequency or severity of your attacks.

Of course, the relationship between food and migraine isn’t clear-cut, and unfortunately, no single factor can be directly tied to your attacks. That said, there’s scientific evidence that suggests migraines may be triggered by certain foods. Additionally, 27% of those who experience migraines believe that particular foods are personally triggering.

According to Dr. Sara Crystal, clinical neurologist and Cove Medical Director, certain foods and additives are more likely to trigger headaches in a higher percentage of migraineurs, but even among individuals, other factors like stress, hormonal changes, and lack of sleep can increase the likelihood of an attack after consuming a known trigger.

So, without further ado, here’s a list of the most common food triggers for migraine sufferers, in no particular order.

We know that some of you are probably groaning when you see this, but research shows that excessive caffeine consumption can trigger migraines, and both a 2016 study and a 2019 study suggest cutting back on coffee can help reduce migraines.

Now, if you can’t start your day without coffee, note the use of the word “excessive.” We know that the caffeine boost can feel like a lifesaver at times, and if that’s the case, drink it! But try to limit yourself to less than two cups per day.

Nope, it’s not just you. Studies confirm that alcoholic beverages are a common trigger, with certain chemicals in alcohol like tyramine and histamine believed to be the problem. Red wine, a commonly-reported trigger, contains a lot of histamine.

Unfortunately for cheese lovers, this delicacy can also be a trigger for migraine symptoms. Again, the culprit is tyramine. Blue cheese, brie, cheddar, swiss, feta, mozzarella, and most other common cheeses are good to avoid.

We hate to (continue to) be the bearers of bad news, but chocolate can also sabotage your chances of avoiding migraines. One study found that, compared to a placebo, chocolate triggered a migraine in 42% of its subjects.

While eating lots of fresh fruit is a great way to avoid migraines (and stay healthy!), you might want to be careful with citrus fruits. While some people say oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes give them migraines, they’re not as common a trigger as some of the other foods on this list. Try tracking your migraines to see if avoiding these fruits makes a difference for you.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, listen up: Research suggests that artificial sweeteners like aspartame commonly found in Diet Coke and other calorie-free drinks may increase the risk of migraine headaches.

Foods that contain yeast—like sourdough bread and fresh-baked goods like donuts, cakes, and breads—have been known to trigger migraines. The sneaky ingredient is (you guessed it) tyramine, the same culprit found within alcohol and cheese.

MSG is a flavor enhancer used in a variety of processed foods, like frozen or canned foods, soups, snacks, seasoning, and more. A 2016 review of the available science concluded that MSG is no more likely to cause a headache or migraine than placebo, but many migraine sufferers say MSG is a trigger for them.

Cured and processed meats (think: bacon, sausage, ham, and deli meats) often include nitrites and nitrates, known migraine triggers used to preserve their color and flavor. One study found that 5% of subjects with migraine history were statistically more likely to experience head pain on days they consumed nitrites, so make sure you check the ingredients you leave the grocery store with that pack of bacon.

Addicted to almond butter? Prepare for some bad news: almonds, peanuts, and many other nuts and seeds contain tyramine, and you know what that means. Like all triggers, not all migraine sufferers are sensitive to nuts, so a trial and error may be the key to figuring out if you are.

Even though we’d hate to take the fun out of even more of your favorite foods, we should let you know about these other potential trigger foods. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these foods are commonly reported as migraine triggers, but there’s no scientific evidence that they really cause them, so don’t clean out your fridge just yet. Instead, turn to a migraine tracker to see if any of these might be causing you pain.

Avocados
Chicken livers and other organ meats
Dairy products like buttermilk, sour cream, and yogurt
Dried fruits like dates, figs, and raisins
Garlic
Most beans including lima, fava, navy, pinto, garbanzo, lentils, and snow peas
Onions
Pickled foods like olives, sauerkraut, and, of course, pickles
Potato chips
Some fresh fruits like ripe bananas, papaya, red plums, raspberries, kiwi, and pineapple
Smoked or dried fish
Tomato-based products (including pizza!)

So how do you know which of these foods (if any) are actually triggering your migraines? Since food affects all migraine sufferers differently, the best thing you can do is examine your eating habits and identify patterns that could be potential triggers. By slowly eliminating foods one-by-one, you can start to recognize what spurs your migraines. Food allergy testing can also be helpful, though you should still be wary of certain foods even if you aren’t allergic to them.

To keep track of your habits, Dr. Crystal recommends keeping a careful food diary for at least one month to record what you do and don’t eat. If something is a trigger, an attack will likely hit 12 to 24 hours post-consumption. You’ll be able to trace the pain back to the source—or at the very least, narrow it down.

We know reading this might make you feel like you’ll have to start living off of nothing but water if you want to avoid debilitating pain, but it’s important to remember that not all of these foods are triggers for every sufferer (and for many sufferers, hunger can be a bigger trigger than any specific food). Migraines are personal, and the only way to learn your specific triggers is to track your migraines, make one adjustment at a time, and see what helps.

And, of course, not all foods are your enemy. Check out this article for a list of migraine-safe foods. Looking for dinner ideas? Try this roundup of migraine-safe recipes.

Rather not change your whole diet to avoid migraines? Look into trying a preventive treatment, such as a supplement, that can help reduce your migraine frequency.

The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely upon the content provided in this article for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.

Diet and Headache Control | American Migraine Foundation

Merle L. Diamond, MD and Dawn A. Marcus, MD

Perhaps the best migraine prevention diet is one that is as wholesome, fresh and unprocessed as possible—thereby eliminating many of the supposed chemical triggers for migraine. In addition, eat these foods in small portions spread throughout the day averaging five to six calorie controlled portions. This eating behavior assists in preventing headache due to hunger, avoids large amounts of any supposed chemical trigger at any given time, and finally, fires up one’s metabolism—preventing weight gain, which is a likely factor contributing to risk of headache progression.

Patients who suffer from migraine attacks try to determine what they did wrong each time that a headache occurs—that is, they try to identify the triggers that put them at risk of having another episode. For many years, headache specialists have debated the possibility that certain foods cause the so-called “migraine threshold” to drop, which allows a window of opportunity for migraine to start.

Food triggers appear to be important in a minority of migraine sufferers, but other factors may be complicating an understanding of food triggers. For example, so many foods and beverages have caffeine, which has clearly been associated as a trigger for headache in individuals with high caffeine consumption.

One of the most frustrating things for migraine sufferers is the inconsistency in which different suspected, and even proven, triggers precipitate an attack. There are many provokers for migraine, such as hormone changes, stress, and, while some believe, specific foods. Perhaps a better way to consider food specific triggers is the acceptance that when patients are at risk for migraine attacks, many factors may tip the scale in favor of a migraine including a particular food. Here we will specifically discuss the controversies about what is known regarding food specific migraine triggers.

What foods have been considered to trigger migraine in susceptible people?

There are multiple foods that are thought to possibly trigger a migraine attack. Nearly all foods have been generated by patient self report and almost none have any scientifically valid backing from high quality studies.

The most commonly reported food triggers are alcohol (33%) and chocolate (22%). Although the majority of headache sufferers cannot identify specific food triggers, headache patients are often given a broad recommendation to monitor their headaches after eating foods that historically have been thought to contain possible headache-triggering chemicals, such as tyramine (e.g., cheeses), beta-phenylethylamine (e.g., chocolate), and nitrates (e.g., processed meats). In actuality, there have been no studies or only negative trials for headache provocation for cheeses, chocolate, dairy products, soy isoflavones and vegetables.

Processed meats containing high levels of nitrites and nitrates may be highly predictable migraine triggers in some individuals. Yet, only one patient has actually been studied with the result suggesting very pure nitrates, at high dose (pharmaceutical grade), induce attacks while dietary nitrates and nititrites may in susceptible individuals. Some foods can cause the blood vessels to dilate (expand) and so create the early changes seen in migraine attacks. Some foods contain a significant amount of tyramine—an amino acid that can provoke the early blood vessel changes typical of migraine.

While the most heavily studied chemical triggers, the majority of studies on tyramine fail to support this role. In most of these studies, the placebo rates where unusually high. Medina and Diamond used diets low, medium, and high in tyramine with no difference between groups—although there was improvement in all. Foods that are high in tyramine include aged cheeses, nuts, beans, yogurt, bananas, and citrus fruits. Elimination of most of these foods long-term is likely to have a deleterious effect on health and cannot be broadly recommended. Certain alcoholic beverages, especially red wine and beer, are frequently cited migraine triggers. Two well-known Italian researchers recruited 307 volunteers with migraine without aura to complete a questionnaire every time they consumed alcohol. No correlation was found between alcohol consumption and migraine attacks. Stressful events and onset of migraine were positively related.

Food additives have been linked to migraine attacks. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is probably the best known of this group, and has been demonstrated to cause rapid cramps, diarrhea, and a horrible migraine in 10% to 15% of migraineurs. While some may consider it unnecessary, it is reasonable to note that no scientific studies have actually studied MSG in migraineurs. Interestingly, in self-identified MSG sensitive non-migraineurs, MSG related symptoms were only slightly more frequent in those receiving MSG than those on placebo. Some spices as well as garlic and onion have been labeled as possible triggers of migraine attacks, yet no studies support this.

Accused food triggers for migraine in susceptible individuals

Selected food triggers items may include:

Alcohol, specifically red wine.
Aspartame sweetener.
Beans and other tyramine-containing foods.
Caffeine (often found in foods, beverages, and medicines).
Cheeses and yogurt.
Chinese food or other soups and foods containing MSG.
Processed meats (containing sulfites-eg, bacon, sausages, salami, ham).
Vitamins and herbal supplements (some contain caffeine or active ingredients that can make headaches worse).

Is there such a thing as a migraine prevention diet?

Diet may be important for some headache sufferers, but not for others. Almost half of headache sufferers report that fasting will trigger a headache. Some patients try to eliminate from their diet anything listed as a potential trigger, but the list of foods that may trigger migraine can be exhaustive. Therefore, dietary restriction of all migraine triggers for any extended length of time is likely unhealthy.

A rational and useful approach about migraine and diet needs to focus on learning the facts and being smart. Patients should invest some time in learning about which foods are potential triggers for them, and then they can try to limit their consumption, especially during high-risk times. Over time, it is possible to become skillful in identifying migraine triggers and avoiding these selected foods at those times when their risk of migraine is high. For example, at certain times in the menstrual cycle, many women experience more frequent headache attacks.

Paying attention to your diet when trying to identify potential foods that trigger migraine can also be a useful tool in understanding the importance of a healthy diet, and regular meals for maintaining a healthy headache hygiene and improved lifestyle. Assessment of eating habits and identifying food triggers may be facilitated by using a headache diary, which the patient completes on a daily basis. It is much easier to find a headache trigger if you examine, within 24 hours, the events that occurred on the day of the headache. Several research studies have proven that avoiding foods thought to trigger migraine does not improve chronic headaches.

A study by Drs. Diamond and Medina compared headache activity when migraine sufferers followed one of several diets. One diet restricted patients from eating supposed headache trigger foods, and the other diet required patients to eat those same foods. Interestingly, headache activity improved on both diets. This suggests that a particular food is not likely to be a trigger, but rather following a scheduled diet may be therapeutic. In other words, feeling that you have control over your headaches will improve your headaches. It also suggests that no single food is a trigger for all headache sufferers.

Two common food items have been tested in several studies. An aspartame study showed only a modest worsening of headache in subjects who consumed huge amounts of aspartame (the equivalent of 12 cans of diet cola or 32 packets of sweetener daily) for one month.

In another controlled trial of aspartame, only those “very sure” of their aspartame sensitivity reported increased headaches despite enormous doses of aspartame. In an in-hospital study with a very tightly controlled diet, headache was experienced in one of three aspartame consumers while just less than one of two experienced headache in the placebo group.

In a study of chocolate as a trigger, eating even large amounts of chocolate didn’t trigger headaches when patients couldn’t tell if they were eating chocolate—even for individuals who believed chocolate was a headache trigger for them.

If both clinical experience and research studies show that eating certain foods will not trigger headaches, why do patients and doctors believe that it is important to avoid eating such foods? Unfortunately, it is very difficult for both patients and doctors to determine why headaches occur at certain times and not others. In some cases, there may be a number of possible headache trigger factors. Patients then need to sort out which provoker was the important one. For example, you may have a hectic day at work and miss lunch. Late in the afternoon, you feel weak and stressed. So you grab a chocolate bar from the vending machine to eat as you race through the rest of your day. What triggered your headache? Was it the chocolate, the fasting, the stress, or all or none of these?

In addition, chocolate craving often occurs with menstrual periods, another common headache trigger. Finally, chocolate craving may be part of a pre-headache warning or prodrome (the first stage of the attack, before an aura or headache). When you satisfy that craving, you may falsely blame the headache on the chocolate.

How can you tell if a food is a trigger for your migraine?

Eating a certain food should trigger a headache within 12 to at most 24 hours.
Limit the food of concern for four weeks and monitor your headache frequency, severity, and response to treatment using a headache diary.
If there is no change in your headaches, then that food alone may not be the trigger.
Caution—do NOT restrict all possible trigger foods from your diet for an extended period of time. This is not likely to be helpful, and too much concern about avoiding foods may be another stress, as well as decrease your enjoyment of mealtime.
Restrictive diets should not be tried or followed during pregnancy. These diets are not likely to be helpful, and may prevent adequate nutrition for both mother and fetus because of the reduced consumption of calcium-rich and vitamin-rich foods.
Restrictive diets should NOT be used in children and adolescents because of doubtful benefit, and significant social disruption. Prohibiting the child from sharing a chocolate Easter basket with his siblings or the teenager from attending a pizza party can significantly add to the social stigma of having headaches.

Keeping a headache diary and following your lifestyle factors along with diet may help you identify patterns to your headache. Onset of menstrual cycles, work stress, sleep routine changes, and fasting may all be confounding what is thought to be a food trigger for headache.

In a systematic and careful way, you can test these triggers one by one to see if any of them are a trigger for you. Soon you will learn that some of the foods you were concerned about are not triggers for you headaches, and you can resume your normal diet and start enjoying your foods again. OR you can simply eat wholesome, fresh foods as unprocessed as possible in small amounts throughout the day.

–Merle L. Diamond, MD, FACEP, Associate Director, Diamond Headache Clinic; and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School. Chicago, IL

–Dawn A. Marcus, MD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology & Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Updated in May 2008 from Headache, the Newsletter of ACHE, Summer 2000, vol. 11, no. 2.

Foods That Can Trigger a Migraine

There’s no cure for migraines, the debilitating type of pain that’s sometimes accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and sound. But by avoiding some of your triggers, it might be possible to cut back on the frequency of the attacks.

One such trigger is food — and not just what you eat but also when you eat it.

“While diet alone is rarely the cause of [these] headaches, it may well be involved as a trigger for migraine,” says Noah Rosen, MD, the director of Northwell Health’s Headache Center in Great Neck, New York, and an associate professor of neurology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in Hempstead, New York. “There are varying degrees of evidence for specific foods to be triggers, but there may also be a wide range of individual responses.”

What causes your head-splitting pain could be very different than what causes, say, your mother’s migraine. “Even people in the same family will likely share the same genetic predisposition for migraine but can have very different triggers,” explains Thomas Berk, MD, a headache neurologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City.

In general, however, going too long without eating or drinking can provoke head pain, according to Dr. Rosen, which could put some people at risk more than others. This includes “teachers, nurses, construction workers, truck drivers, or other professions where access to bathroom facilities drives under-hydration,” he says.

“The ‘migraine brain’ in general doesn’t like change,” he says, “and avoiding or missing meals may be as important as what you eat.”

Your direct trigger — or class of foods — may be difficult to pinpoint, but here are some usual suspects:

1. Caffeine

Some caffeine can actually help relieve a headache, but it’s a double-edged sword, says Rosen. When you use it every day, you can become dependent on it, and consuming 80 milligrams less than your usual amount can bring on a headache, he says. Since the amount of caffeine varies widely in drinks and foods like chocolate, it’s worth looking at your own daily use, he advises.

2. Aged cheese and meats

The nitrites or nitrates in salami and other aged meats are thought to bring on a migraine. Plus, these foods are also very salty, which can make you dehydrated, Rosen says.

3. Alcohol

It’s not so much the alcohol itself that’s associated with a migraine — it’s the withdrawal from it the next day, according to Rosen. And don’t blame the Pinot Noir just yet. “There is no good evidence demonstrating red wine to be [more of a] trigger than other alcoholic beverages, but there is speculation that the tannins, sulfate preservatives, and other contaminants may play a role for individuals,” he says.

4. Monosodium glutamate, or MSG

“We do know that glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter and can trigger a migraine attack,” Dr. Berk says. Rosen points out that MSG is not only found in Chinese fast food but also in many prepared foods, including barbecue sauce and salad dressings.

Top Triggers of Migraine Headaches

Migraines can come on at any time causing a significant amount of discomfort. From severe throbbing and pain to nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, migraine attacks can last for hours, even days.10%-15% of the U.S. population, mostly women, suffer from repeated migraines. Medications are available, but preventing the onset of a migraine can be difficult. While there are a number of different things that can cause migraine headaches, below are seven of the more common triggers people may experience.

7 Triggers of Migraine Headaches

Hormonal Changes. This trigger is common in women. Fluctuations in estrogen are often experienced before and during a menstrual period, during pregnancy, and menopause. These hormonal changes can trigger migraines. Hormonal medications such as hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives may also contribute to worsening migraines.
Sensory Stimuli. Anything that over-stimulates the senses, particularly sight, sound, and smell, can easily trigger a migraine. Bright lights such as sun glare or lights from a concert-show, loud sounds, and strong scents like perfume or chemicals can trigger migraines for some people.
Food Intolerances. Although this is not discussed very often, 50% of migraine sufferers avoid specific foods. Inflammatory foods such as gluten and dairy may be a root cause of migraines for some patients. Food allergies are typically quick to identify as they cause an immediate reaction. Food intolerances can be a little bit more difficult to catch. Research is providing an increasing amount of evidence that there can be an immune response to foods that may not work through the same mechanical response as standard allergies. In short, the symptoms may differ, and these intolerances may not be identified on standard allergy tests. The onset of symptoms from food intolerances can be delayed between 1-120 hours, making it difficult for individuals to recognize which specific food could be triggering their migraines. One study done linking migraines to lactose intolerance identified 72% of the study group to be lactose malabsorbers, meaning 72% of the individuals were unable to completely absorb lactose due to a lactase deficiency. Of that 72%, over 50% showed a significant increase in headaches when ingesting lactose. The remainder of the group who were not lactose intolerant in any way, surprisingly, also identified an increase in headaches after lactose absorption.
Food Additives. Several additives found in foods are linked to causing migraines. Chemicals used to preserve food, improve taste, or maintain color can be triggers for headaches. These include:
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG) commonly found in fast food or processed food
- Nitrates and nitrites commonly found in processed meats such as cold cuts and bacon
- Aspartame commonly found as a sweetener replacement in beverages
- Yellow dye number 6 commonly found in sodas like Mountain Dew and chips like Doritos
Sleep changes. Getting too much sleep or too little sleep can lead to migraines in some people. 30%-50% of individuals who suffer from migraines also experience disturbed sleep.
Beverages. Certain beverages including alcohol and drinks with caffeine are common triggers of migraines. Alcoholic drinks, particularly wine, contain byproducts known as congeners. They are linked to headaches. Alcohol also signals the immune system to produce more histamine which increases inflammation throughout the body and can lead to headaches. Caffeine-filled drinks such as coffee are linked to migraines. The chances of experiencing a migraine increase when an individual consumer three or more caffeinated beverages per day.
Stress. Everyone experiences stress at home and at work. Sometimes it can be difficult to manage or control, but too much stress can wreak havoc on the body and lead to migraines.

Can Certain Foods Cause Migraines?

Migraines are not mere headaches: They are a serious, debilitating condition that affects 1 in 4 U.S. households. Twelve percent of the population suffers from migraines, making it the third most prevalent illness in the world, according to the Migraine Research Foundation.

What makes a migraine different from a bad headache?

A migraine is a neurological disorder accompanied by symptoms that are so severe, they are incapacitating. Researchers believe that a combination of genetics, disorders of nerve pathways and brain chemicals are main components of a migraine, and these make it different from a generic headache.

Migraine symptoms make it difficult for those affected to work, go to school, or function. These symptoms include:

Severe pain or throbbing on one or both sides of the head
Dizziness
Tingling
Numbness in hands, feet or face
Sensitivity to light, touch, sound and smell
Vomiting
Nausea
Visual problems/disturbances

Attacks typically last anywhere from four to 72 hours.

What are the common causes of migraines?

According to the Migraine Research Foundation, it’s important to realize that different things can trigger migraines, but they don’t cause the migraine. For this reason, what may trigger a migraine in one person won’t necessarily trigger it in another.

Triggers may include:

Stress
Sleep difficulties or changes in sleep patterns
Flickering lights
Strong smells or odors related to smoke/pollution
Motion sickness
Humidity
Bright sunlight
Hormonal changes
Menstruation

Can certain foods trigger migraines?

While scientists are still studying if there are direct correlations between foods and migraines, certain foods seem to stimulate headaches or can combine with other factors to trigger a migraine.

These foods include:

Aged cheeses – According to the Cleveland Clinic, aged cheeses have tyramine, which is formed when protein is broken down as foods age. Cheeses high in tyramine can trigger migraines. This includes cheeses such as brie, cheddar, feta, blue cheeses and Parmesan.
Processed foods – Artificial sweeteners, MSG and nitrates can be contributing factors.
Fresh yeast bread
Alcohol – Red wine is high in tyramine, which can contribute to migraine problems.
Salty foods

The Mayo Clinic also says that the absence of food – such as skipping meals or fasting – can trigger a migraine.

How can I determine the source of my migraines?

The only way to truly determine what is causing your migraine is to speak with your doctor, who may suggest keeping a migraine diary. This will help you look for any patterns and discover what triggers an attack.

The internal medicine physicians at Raleigh Medical Group take a comprehensive view of your overall health, enabling us to create a tailored plan for you. We’ll work closely with you to pinpoint the cause of your migraines and craft an effective solution.

Can Cheese Cause Migraines? – Blog | Advanced Radiology

At Advanced Radiology, we know that migraine triggers can vary from person to person. Stress, fluorescent lighting, certain smells and changes in the weather can all trigger the onset of head pain. But what about cheese?

Can Cheese Cause Migraines?

Yes. Some types of cheese can cause migraines in some people. The cheeses linked to migraines are certain aged or fermented varieties high in tyramine. Tyramine is a protein byproduct and contributes to migraines because it causes narrowing of the blood vessels. When blood vessels narrow, blood pressure increases and causes headaches and migraines.

The most common types of cheese known to cause migraines include cheddar, Swiss, Muenster, blue cheese, English Stilton, Gorgonzola, feta and Brie.

What Other Foods Trigger Migraines?

Cheese is just one food linked to the development of migraines. Other aged and fermented foods such as vinegar, pickled items, sauerkraut, kimchi, wine and beer contain tyramine.

Other migraine-causing foods include those that contain salts known as nitrates or nitrites. Nitrates and nitrates are found in hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meat and other processed meat products like pepperoni and beef jerky. Like tyramine, nitrates and nitrites cause the blood vessels to narrow and the blood pressure to rise.

Foods that contain the additive monosodium glutamate (MSG) also can cause migraines in some people. A large number of processed foods, seasoning mixes and Asian foods contain MSG. Many people who are sensitive to MSG often experience tightening of the chest, facial flushing and abdominal pain in addition to head pain.

Some Beverages Also Linked to Migraines

Certain beverages have also been identified as migraine triggers. Drinks with caffeine like coffee, tea, energy drinks and soft drinks can trigger the start of head pain for others. Chocolate, cocoa and some medications also contain caffeine and contribute to the onset of migraines. Many diet sodas are also migraine-inducers for some individuals because they contain aspartame and other manufactured sweeteners.

Do you suffer from migraines? Advanced Radiology can help. Call us at 855-201-1519 for your consultation.

Migraine Headaches — Here’s How to Identify Food Triggers and Reduce Debilitating Symptoms

November 2012 Issue

Migraine Headaches — Here’s How to Identify Food Triggers and Reduce Debilitating Symptoms
By Karen Appold
Today’s Dietitian
Vol. 14 No. 11 P. 14

Once again, a migraine headache forced Kelly to leave work early. The left side of her head was throbbing, and she was feeling sick to her stomach. She couldn’t wait to get home, pull down the shades, put in earplugs, and crawl into bed.

Later, it occurred to Kelly that she didn’t experience any migraines on a recent trip to the Caribbean. Was it something about her environment or diet when traveling that made a difference? Perhaps she should consult a dietitian to further explore a change in diet, she thought.

It turns out Kelly was on to something. Her Caribbean meals of fresh seafood, salads, vegetables, and fruits were in direct contrast with the heavily processed foods she normally eats while on the run.

Who’s at Risk?

According to several studies, including the American Migraine Study II,1 21 million US women and 7 million US men over the age of 12 report having migraines. They’re most prevalent in people between the ages of 12 and 40, and they begin to decline thereafter in both sexes.1

Ninety percent of sufferers have a family history of migraines, and most people susceptible to migraines will develop one before the age of 40.2 Classic migraine symptoms include nausea, vomiting, vision or hearing disturbances, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

Potential Triggers

There are numerous potential migraine triggers related to food. For instance, many foods precipitate neurovascular and neurochemical effects in susceptible individuals, either through the direct effect of endogenous or artificial chemicals or by causing a release of immune mediators such as inflammatory cytokines. Examples of endogenous chemicals are the amines, including tyramine, octopamine, phenylethylamine, and histamine.

Tyramine, for instance, is a substance found naturally in foods such as aged cheese; aged, canned, cured, or processed meats; beans such as fava and broad; pickles; and canned soups. It’s formed by the breakdown of protein as foods age. “Generally, the longer a high-protein food ages, the greater the tyramine content,” explains Susan Buckley, RD, CLT, nutrition manager at South Denver Cardiology Associates in Littleton, Colorado.

Food additives such as nitrates, found in processed meats, also have been associated with migraines, along with monosodium glutamate, which is found in soy sauce, meat tenderizer, Asian foods, and a variety of packaged foods.

Other substances sometimes considered food-related triggers include tannins and phenols in black tea, bananas, apple skins, red wine, and sulfites, which are prevalent in wines. In addition, caffeine withdrawal can be a culprit.

Determining Food Triggers

Suggesting patients keep a food and symptom diary can help RDs identify common food triggers as well as screen for contributory lifestyle factors, such as dehydration or skipping meals. “Look for patterns since some reactions aren’t always immediate but can occur several days after a food is consumed,” says Susan Linke, MBA, MS, RD, LD, CLT, a dietitian in private practice in Dallas.

Tracking migraine headaches in a food diary also helps patients document migraine frequency and severity. For instance, monthly migraines might be related to a woman’s menstrual cycle instead of the foods she’s eating.

Patients also should track supplements and medications because they often contain excipients that can trigger migraines. A helpful website that lists inactive ingredients in medications is www.rxlist.com.

Obtaining a good health history is essential to identifying potential migraine contributors. Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies can instigate migraines. For example, numerous studies have established the pathogenic role of magnesium deficiency in migraines.3 Moreover, coenzyme Q10 has been found to reduce migraine frequency by as much as 48%,4 and riboflavin has been shown to be useful in migraine prophylaxis.5

After environmental and hormonal triggers have been ruled out, patients should eliminate known food triggers. If a patient continues to experience migraines, Mediator Release Testing (MRT) can identify food sensitivities that may be contributing to migraine symptoms. This testing, along with the Lifestyle Eating and Performance (LEAP) diet protocol, can be used to create an oligoantigenic diet for patients.

Diet often plays an important role in migraine pathophysiology because 60% to 80% of the immune system is in the gut, Linke says. When a susceptible individual eats a reactive food or chemical, the immune system releases mediators such as cytokines, leukotrienes, or prostaglandins, which in turn produce pathophysiologic effects such as clinical and subclinical inflammation, pain receptor activation, neurological and endocrine dysfunction, or edema. These effects are implicated in chronic inflammatory conditions such as migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and rheumatoid arthritis, which is why these conditions are frequently comorbid, Linke explains.

What’s important to note is that certain foods trigger migraines in some people but not in others because each person has a unique immune system and physiology. Triggers also can be dose dependent, and some people may have more than one trigger, Linke says.

Testing for Triggers

Testing to identify food allergies and sensitivities can be useful for pinpointing potential triggers and constructing a patient-specific anti-inflammatory and antimigraine diet. Linke uses MRT and LEAP to accurately identify foods and food chemicals that trigger delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions and allow for the identification of a wide variety of safe foods.

“I use those safe foods to construct a patient-specific elimination diet that includes a generous amount of foods,” she says. “This increases patient compliance and satisfaction. In addition, since most guesswork is eliminated, symptoms improve significantly and quickly.”

MRT requires a simple nonfasting blood test. The patient is tested for 120 foods and 30 chemicals (natural and artificial). RDs can review results with clients and develop a nutrition plan of permissible meals, snacks, and beverages that are conducive to each patient’s lifestyle and schedule follow-up appointments to review progress.

LEAP is a patient-specific elimination diet, or “safe foods” diet, based on MRT results. The patient eats for four weeks only the foods identified as “safe” by his or her blood work. This promotes a reduction in inflammatory mediators, with consequent symptom reduction.

Elimination Diet

Research supports and encourages the use of elimination diets. These diets range from the historic three-food diet (lamb, rice, and pears, for example) to more liberal diets that eliminate major allergens. “Use the best evidence, expert opinion, and clinical judgment when constructing an elimination diet,” Linke says.

A serious flaw of traditional elimination diets is that they rely on the patient to identify adverse reactions. The problem with this method is that many immune mediators produce subclinical inflammation, which don’t create readily apparent symptoms but can collectively contribute to the patient’s poor health. Complications also stem from the fact that symptoms can be delayed for three days.

In addition, food sensitivities are dose dependent, and most patients react to multiple foods, Linke says. Therefore, a patient might eat strawberries for three days and not experience any noticeable symptoms. Consequently, the patient proceeds to add potatoes and a migraine ensues. Was the migraine triggered by the potatoes or by the cumulative effect of three days’ worth of strawberries? Or both? Likewise, did the salicylic acid in the strawberries or the solanine in the potatoes cause the migraine?

Without a good road map, such as one provided by an RD, an elimination diet can become complicated and confusing. That’s why Linke uses the LEAP protocol with her patients. “Results have been impressive,” she says.

— Karen Appold is an editorial consultant based in Royersford, Pennsylvania.

Most Common Migraine Triggers

• Aged cheeses (eg, blue cheese, cheddar, feta, gorgonzola, parmesan, Swiss)

• Alcohol, especially wine

• Canned soups

• Canned, cured, or processed meats

• Certain beans (eg, fava, broad, garbanzo, lima, pinto)

• Chocolate

• Nuts

• Olives

• Onions

• Overripe avocados, tomatoes, and bananas

• Raisins

• Smoked and pickled foods

• Soy sauce

References

1. Lipton RB, Diamond S, Reed M, Diamond ML, Stewart WF. Migraine diagnosis and treatment: results from the American Migraine Study II. Headache. 2001;41(7):638-645.

2. Migraine. Mayo Clinic website. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraineheadache/DS00120/DSECTION=riskfactors. Updated June 4, 2011. Accessed August 21, 2012.

3. Mauskop A, Altura BM. Role of magnesium in the pathogenesis and treatment of migraines. Clin Neurosci. 1998;5(1):24-27.

4. Sándor PS, Di Clemente L, Coppola G, et al. Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 2005;64(4):713-715.

5. Maizels M, Blumenfeld A, Burchette R. A combination of riboflavin, magnesium, and feverfew for migraine prophylaxis: a randomized trial. Headache. 2004;44(9):885-890.

90,000 What causes migraine attacks

People with migraines often notice that certain food and drink, environment, events provoke their attacks. These provocateurs are also called triggers.

Common provocateurs of migraine attacks:

change in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle;

sleep disturbance: both lack of sleep and excess;

weather change;

alcohol consumption;

bright light or flashes of light;

products: red wine, beer, dark chocolate, hard cheeses, citrus fruits, nuts, products containing preservatives, fast food;

Why is this so? At the heart of the development of migraine is hereditary-caused increased excitability of nerve cells (neurons) of the brain.Certain areas of the brain in people with migraine are very sensitive to various external and internal influences. In response to the effect of the trigger, changes occur in them that lead to a migraine attack.

Many people think that knowing the triggers will help prevent migraine attacks. This is true, but there are some nuances – now we will tell you.

1. There are triggers that are more common, but there is NO UNIVERSAL TRIGGER for all people with migraines.

For example, caffeine from coffee and tea causes seizures in many.Having heard about it from acquaintances, you can refuse it. But for you personally, caffeine can be quite harmless! Either it can cause an attack only with abuse, or, conversely, if it is abruptly abandoned. By the way, caffeine even saves someone from migraines. And so it is included in some combination pain relievers.

2. Even a typical trigger does not always work.

For example, you know that red wine gives you a migraine attack. However, if you try red wine another time, you may experience only a mild headache.Why it happens? Because factors other than the main trigger, red wine, can also affect the headache. For example:

Your migraine is caused by a combination of a main trigger with another.

For example, red wine + chocolate dessert or red wine + lack of sleep on that day

Phase of the menstrual cycle: red wine “works” for your migraine only during your period.

3. There are no anti-migraine diets.

There are adherents and opponents of “anti-migraine” diets. But there is no scientific evidence to support or disprove their effectiveness. It is important to remember one thing: triggers are individual and can only be dealt with in practice. And giving up all products that can potentially cause migraines is pointless and only frustrating 🙂

4. Identify your triggers using a headache diary.

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90,000 Migraine-causing products listed by neurologist

News | 26 09 2021, 23:56 | SeverPost

Photo: santeh777.ru

The list of migraine-causing foods includes alcohol, chocolate, coffee and citrus fruits. This was reported by the head of the Consultative and Diagnostic Center, a neurologist at the City Clinical Hospital No. 29 named after N.E. Bauman Moscow Department of Health Tatiana Vaughn.

“Migraine is a genetic disease, it is inherited. Women get sick more often. Migraines have provocateurs, such as hormonal ones. During pregnancy, the middle of menstruation, before menstruation, is a hormone-related disorder.There are foods that trigger migraine attacks – alcohol, chocolate, coffee, citrus fruits, ”she said.

In addition, lack of sleep, weather and hunger can provoke migraine attacks.

Tatiana Vaughn clarified that for any prolonged headache it is necessary to seek advice from a neurologist, according to the radio station “Moscow Says”.

Let us remind you that volunteers fed 456 people with lunch in Murmansk and Kolya.

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Argumenty i Fakty newspaper – This mysterious migraine. How to treat headaches for pregnant and lactating women

Women are 3-4 times more likely than men to suffer from migraines. How to deal with this disease during pregnancy and lactation, told the head of the Center for Diagnostics and Treatment of Headaches, Professor of the Department of Neurology at St.acad. I.P. Pavlova, member of the Presidium of the Russian Society for the Study of Pain, Doctor of Medicine Alexander Amelin.

Migraine is still considered a mysterious disease. Nobody knows the exact reasons for its occurrence. There are many theories that can neither be confirmed nor disproved. Doctors are still making a diagnosis based on a survey.

The disease can occur at any time up to 50 years of age. Most often, seizures appear in childhood or adolescence. But there are people whose first signs begin at 30, 40 and even 50 years old.

“The main signs are moderate to very severe attacks of headache, which develop either with or without precursors. 10% of patients have symptoms of aura, most often visual disturbances, followed by a headache, ”says Alexander Amelin.

Due to hormonal changes, migraine can improve its course during pregnancy, or it can worsen. Sometimes migraines appear during pregnancy. It is impossible to predict this.

“Migraine has no effect on fetal development.But the uncontrolled use of painkillers during pregnancy can adversely affect the mother herself, and sometimes the child. Therefore, it is better to deal with migraines, if they are frequent and severe, before the onset of an interesting situation, ”he said.

According to him, pregnant women can only take paracetamol and ibuprofen from the second trimester to relieve pain. The rest of the drugs have no recommendations for use in pregnant women.

“But this does not mean that they are harmful to pregnant women.They just haven’t been researched. Therefore, no one takes responsibility to recommend them. At the same time, no one will punish a pregnant woman if she, in a severe migraine attack, which is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and loss of fluid, takes, for example, one of the triptans that has not been tested in pregnant women. That is, sometimes the benefits of using the drug are higher than the potential risks, ”said Alexander Amelin.

Antispasmodics and vasodilators do not help migraines.They can even worsen the course of the disease, because during an attack it is not a vasospasm that occurs, but their excessive expansion.

“Migraine can be defeated by order in the way of life. Go to bed and get up at the same time. Prolonged sleep is also unfavorable for migraines, as well as insufficient. Eat by the hour, do not skip meals. Stay in the fresh air more. Try not to eat foods that can cause allergies: chocolate, citrus fruits, nuts, ”he said.

During lactation, the restrictions are the same as during pregnancy, because all drugs used by a nursing woman pass through the milk to the baby.

What is migraine: symptoms and treatment

Everyone has experienced a headache at least once in their life. It can be different, but it always arises unexpectedly and causes discomfort. However, a headache can be a sign of a serious illness and therefore requires special attention.One of the most common pathologies is migraine.

This is a neurological disease characterized by a very severe paroxysmal headache that occurs periodically from several times a month to 1-2 times a year. Pain syndrome is often accompanied by nausea, increased sensitivity to sounds, light. A migraine attack cannot be prevented, but it can be stopped with the right medication. This requires the consultation of a neurologist.

“Medical Center on Botanicheskaya” offers to undergo an examination for the diagnosis of migraine.The appointment is carried out at a convenient time for the patient.

Causes of migraine

Pathology develops in the brain, but the mechanism is not fully understood. The functional tissues of the regions responsible for the perception and conduct of pain change. More often, the cause of migraine is a genetic predisposition. The increased excitability of neurons causes the brain to react with pain to certain stimuli. If any of the parents is diagnosed with a similar diagnosis, then with a high degree of probability the child will also suffer from headaches.

According to medical statistics, migraine symptoms are observed in every seventh person in the world. Women are affected more often than men. Girls begin to experience headaches during adolescence, but it is not uncommon for young children to have a history of the disease.

There are also theories that the headache is caused by pathological narrowing and subsequent dilation of the vessels of certain parts of the brain or irritation of the trigeminal nerve. Several studies prove the importance of neurotransmitter balance.Most likely, each of these mechanisms affects the development of the disease.

People with migraine may notice that the attack is caused by certain factors: external environment, experience, food, smells, etc. Provoking events are triggers.

More often attacks cause:

hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle;
lack of sleep, stress;
weather change;
alcohol abuse;
flashes of bright light;
feeling of hunger;
certain products, etc.d.

There is no universal trigger, the manifestations of migraine are individual. For example, in one patient a cup of tea can cause a severe headache, while the other drinks quite strong drinks quite calmly. Or another situation: red wine provoked an attack. The next time, after drinking a whole glass, the patient does not feel anything at all. When studying history, it turns out that migraines are triggered by a combination of triggers, such as red wine and grapes.

With regard to food, doctors note that there are no diets that can reduce the frequency of attacks.The approach to treatment is individual. To better understand the causes of migraines, you can keep a headache diary and note each attack, as well as provoking factors.

With a high degree of probability, it can be argued that the disease is not associated with hypertension, intracranial pressure, trauma, tumors, mental strain. There is a correlation between stroke and migraine, but it is not known whether the headache is a consequence or cause of hemorrhage.

Migraine symptoms

Obvious signs of the disease can be noticed only before the onset of the attack and immediately during it.The patient feels good between episodes.

Symptoms are divided into 4 phases:

Harbingers of migraine (prodrome). They are observed in almost 50% of cases. The patient becomes irritable, feels tired, depressed a few hours before the onset of the headache. In some cases, he notes an increase in appetite, emotional upsurge. Some patients say that they simply “feel” the approach of a migraine attack and cannot accurately describe how they feel.
Aura.It develops in 30% of cases and lasts about half an hour. The visual aura is more often manifested when the patient sees flashes of light, bright lines, blind spots. Less commonly, a tingling sensation in the fingertips or on the tongue is noted. Visual symptoms develop at the same time as sensory symptoms. The patient has difficulty finding words, speech becomes inhibited.
Headache phase. The most difficult period, which lasts from several hours to several days. The patient suffers from severe pain in one half or in the whole head, nausea.In case of vomiting, relief may come. The pain often has a pulsating or bursting character, localized in the temporal or frontal lobe. The person becomes hypersensitive to light and sound, so he prefers to endure the attack in a quiet, darkened room.
Resolution phase. The headache goes away. The patient feels tired, irritable, scattered attention.

Forms of migraine

There are several types of disease:

Without aura.Common migraine, one of the most common types of migraine. Many patients do not go to the doctor, as they mistake the disease for the usual overvoltage headache (HDN) against the background of stress or fatigue.
With an aura. Classic, hemiplegic migraine, basilar aura, aura without migraine. The attack is preceded by a complex of symptoms that may be accompanied by gustatory, auditory, tactile, olfactory disturbances, distortion of visual perspective, Alice’s syndrome (incorrect assessment of the size of an object and the distance to it).
Migraine status. The attacks are prolonged, debilitating. After rest, the patient does not feel any improvement.
Complicated migraine. Migraine cerebral infarction, migraine-associated seizures. Severe form of the disease with epileptic seizures, vomiting, loss of consciousness.
Other migraines. This group includes rare retinal, ophthalmoplegic and other forms of the disease.

Diagnostics

In most cases, the diagnosis of migraine is straightforward.The doctor asks the patient about the nature of the pathology, the characteristics of the onset and course of seizures.

The International Classification of Headache from 2018 proposes to diagnose migraine in patients with the following clinical picture:

history of at least 5 attacks of severe headache lasting up to several hours;
the attack is accompanied by nausea and / or vomiting, and / or increased sensitivity to light, sounds;
the nature of the pathology can be described by at least two of the listed signs: pulsating pain, aggravated by physical exertion, mainly one-sided, moderate or severe intensity.

If the patient answers in the affirmative to all of the points, most likely he has a migraine. If 1 or 2 criteria match, an additional examination is necessary.

Migraine treatment

Symptomatic therapy is used: drugs are selected that can relieve headache. OTC drugs based on paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen can help in the treatment of migraines. For severe nausea, rectal suppositories are used.

If conventional medications do not help, the patient should consult a neurologist for the appointment of anti-migraine drugs (triptans).This group of substances does not relieve pain, but affects pathological processes in nerve cells and stops them. Medicines are taken strictly dosed. It can be used in conjunction with analgesics and antiemetic drugs as prescribed by a doctor.

Ergot medication relieves many patients. The plant extract contains alkaloids that tone the blood vessels of the brain and inhibit the synthesis of serotonin, a hormone that causes pain. This is a narrowly targeted group of drugs designed specifically for the prevention and relief of migraine attacks.They are taken in courses, have many contraindications and side effects.

Among the modern non-drug methods, the following should be noted:

acupressure – acupressure. The impact on biologically active points reduces pain;
acupuncture. Fine, sharp needles are more effective than massage;
hydrotherapy. Taking therapeutic baths with hydrogen sulfide, mud improves the general condition of the patient;
electro-acupuncture.Acupuncture is combined with the transmission of a low current;
electrophoresis with herbal decoctions. Has a calming effect;
transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain. Indicated in severe cases.

Course treatment helps to control seizures, reduce dosage and frequency of medication.

There are no methods of complete cure for migraine today.

Prevention

It is impossible to prevent the disease – this is a feature of the brain.There is a so-called preventive treatment. The patient is selected a drug that must be taken for a long time. It can be an anticonvulsant, antidepressant, beta-blocker, depending on the condition of the person. The attacks become less frequent. Prevention of migraine with medication can significantly improve the quality of life.

It is also recommended to define triggers and avoid them if possible. To improve the well-being of patients with migraines, regular exercise and proper nutrition help.Maintaining general health is a good prevention of complications. With age, the frequency and intensity of attacks diminish.

Diagnostics and treatment of migraine in Moscow

In our clinic you will receive expert advice and assistance in the treatment of migraines. We approach each patient individually. Call to make an appointment at a convenient time for you.

90,000 Names of foods that can cause headaches

15 August 2015, 23:15

Eating habits as a cause of migraine

In addition to the goods themselves, some of our eating habits are also capable of provoking migraines. Namely – irregular meals and incorrect drinking regime, when we drink very little water during the day. Pain in the head can also appear when eating expired food, in which a substance harmful to the body appears – tyramine.

Headache is a consequence of the consumption of cool food, especially in this case, if you are overheated in the sun or in the heat, or have received a huge muscle load.Usually, such pain manifests itself in the forehead area, after a minute it achieves its own maximum and disappears after a couple of minutes. People suffering from migraine-like headaches note a pronounced connection between headaches and the consumption of such a dessert as ice cream or ice cold drink.

To understand what kind of food leads to migraine in your case, you need to follow the reaction of your own body. Specifically, when pain occurs, analyze what food you ate shortly before.Thus, after several observations, it will be possible to come to a conclusion about what exactly leads to a dilemma in your case.

Foods causing migraines

Food, drink, and even dietary supplements can cause migraines.

Cheese as a cause of migraine

Perhaps the most common food prerequisite for headaches is the consumption of cheese. And this is due to the fact that mature cheeses contain a substance such as tyramine, which appears in them in the process of protein breakdown, due to the aging of the product.In other words, the longer it is stored, no matter what kind of protein food (including cheese), the higher the tyramine content in it.

Headache caused by the ingestion of tyramine is associated with the ability of this substance to significantly increase blood pressure. Naturally, the amount of tyramine in cheese depends on many reasons: on the method of its production, the course of fermentation and the microbes used in all this, the age of the product itself. Moreover, there are varieties of cheese that mainly contribute to the onset of pain in the head and are distinguished by an excess of tyramine.These are blue cheeses, Cheddar, Brie, Swiss, Feta, Gorgonzola, Mozzarella, French milk cheese Munster, Parmesan, and processed cheeses.

The products with the highest tyramine content also include smoked meat, reddish wine, some nuts, canned food, onions, avocados, and homemade products (pickles).

Alcohol as a cause of migraine

It is fundamental to realize that not only alcohol abuse can cause a migraine, but even then for another day.Already in the process of alcohol consumption, blood flow in the vessels of the brain is activated. For example, enzymes of reddish wine not only tone up the cerebral circulation, but also unnecessarily excite the nerve endings, becoming the cause of head pain.

There are also scientists’ beliefs that migraines are caused by additives added by manufacturers to alcohol. Also “under suspicion” are the products of the metabolism of alcoholic beverages. In addition to reddish wine, champagne, beer and whiskey are considered alcoholic drinks almost always provoking the onset of pain in the head.

Food additives as a cause of migraine

For a long time, everyone knows that food additives, namely, preservatives, are substances harmful to human health. Also, scientists have come to the conclusion that specifically they may be the root cause of head pain. The first symptoms of malaise after consuming food with preservatives may appear 20 minutes after eating. These include a feeling of heaviness in the chest, squeezing of the head, with painful feelings in the temples and forehead, burning in the shoulder region, dizziness, uncomfortable feelings in the tummy and redness of the facial skin.

In order to maintain your health and avoid headaches, you need to be aware that certain foods contain, in particular, a lot of food additives. These are meat delicacies (in particular, pepperoni sausage and other types of salami) and, in general, processed meat, our usual sausages, hams, ready-made hot dogs, potato chips, croutons, etc. It is also important to know that monosodium glutamate, a popular flavor enhancer for meat products, is found in a huge number of products, including soy sauce.It is good to know that nutritional supplements are included in heart medications from time to time.

Foods for head pain

Observations of people suffering from headaches have shown that there are a number of products that provoke migraines, with their constant use or eating them in excessive quantities. Such a product, for example, is peanuts, also peanut butter produced from them. Excessive consumption of pizza, quick soups, fermented milk products (sour cream and yoghurts), dried fruits such as raisins, dried dates and figs can also cause migraines.Curiously, even certain fruits, such as citrus fruits, pineapples, reddish plums, raspberries, kiwi, papaya and bananas, can even cause migraines. It is curious that the banana peel contains the same tyramine, so you should painstakingly cleanse the banana pulp from the snow-white veins. By-products (liver, lungs, heart, etc.), fish (dried, smoked), fresh baked goods, chocolate and other products (also medicines) containing caffeine, sugar substitutes can also provoke headaches.

Despite the fact that there are so many products that can cause migraines, there are products that can free you from it. And this means that you can avoid the occurrence of migraines, not only by excluding the food products listed above from your own menu, but also by introducing, for example, fish and vegetables into your diet.

Products for migraine

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish (especially salmon, sardines) will help to cope with head pain caused by inflammatory processes in the body.Also, there are quite a lot of these acids in flax seeds and greens.

If your headache is the result of neglecting the correct drinking regimen or the body’s response to a violent walk the other day, then a watermelon, which is 90% water, will help to cope with the problem, and the freshest tomatoes and cucumbers will also help to pacify the migraine caused by dehydration.