5 Migraine Triggers You May Be Able to Control

If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know it’s so much more than “just a headache.”

A migraine can stop your entire day in its tracks. It can make it hard to work, take care of your family, enjoy time with friends, or even get out of bed. And if you’ve experienced them more than once, you’ve probably found yourself asking, “Why does this keep happening?”

Migraines don’t always have a single cause. But many people discover they have certain triggers that make a migraine more likely. Learning what those triggers are can help you take back a little control.

Here are five of the most common ones.

1. Not Drinking Enough Water

It sounds simple, but dehydration is one of the biggest migraine triggers. Sometimes all it takes is getting busy, spending time outside in the heat, or forgetting to refill your water bottle.

If migraines are something you deal with, staying hydrated throughout the day is one small habit that can make a big difference.

2. Changes in Your Sleep

Have you ever noticed you get a migraine after a late night or after sleeping in on the weekend?

Your brain likes routine. Going to bed and waking up around the same time each day can help reduce the chance of triggering a migraine.

3. Stress

Stress has a way of showing up physically, and migraines are one of the ways your body may respond.

While none of us can completely eliminate stress, finding healthy ways to manage it can help. A short walk, a few minutes of deep breathing, stretching, or simply taking time to slow down can all be helpful.

4. Skipping Meals

Life gets busy, and sometimes eating ends up at the bottom of the list.

But going too long without food can cause your blood sugar to drop, which is a common migraine trigger. Eating regular, balanced meals and mixing in some healthy snacks may help prevent one from starting.

5. Certain Foods or Drinks

Everyone’s triggers are different.

If you’re not sure what’s triggering your migraines, try keeping a simple journal. Write down when a migraine starts, what you ate, how you slept, and how you were feeling that day. Patters often begin to appear over time.

You Don’t Have to “Just Live With It”

One of the biggest misconceptions about migraines is that they’re simply something you have to put up with which is not true.

If your migraines are happening more often, lasting longer, or keeping you from living your life the way you want to, it’s worth talking to someone. There are more treatment options available today than many people realize, and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

At Decatur County Hospital, our neurology team works with patients to understand what’s behind their headaches and create a treatment plan that’s right for them. Whether that means identifying triggers, adjusting lifestyle habits, prescribing medications, or exploring other treatment options, our goal is simply to help you have more good days and fewer days interrupted by migraine pain.

To learn more or schedule an appointment to see a neurologist, call us at 641-446-2285.