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(718) 998-9899© 2025 Neuro Injury Specialists
We accept most insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare, checks, cash, credit cards, and Care Credit Financing.
(718) 998-9899© 2025 Neuro Injury Specialists
Table of contents
A migraine trigger is any external or internal factor that causes or worsens a migraine attack in people who are at risk. These triggers differ widely between people and can involve numerous aspects of your lifestyle, environment, diet and physiological state. Triggers don’t always directly cause a migraine, but they significantly increase the risk of an episode.
Common migraine triggers include:
Once you’ve identified your migraine triggers, you’ll be well on your way to successfully controlling your migraines and avoiding future episodes. Neuro Injury Specialist is a practice in NYC that has one of the best migraine specialists. Because of his ability to provide correct diagnosis and successful treatment, a qualified doctor like Dr. Mark Cohen is your best option for treating migraines.
His practice offers other treatments as well, such as:
Some food contains tyramine and phenylethylamine that stimulate the release of serotonin, which can contribute to the onset of migraines. Certain processed foods, including the additives and preservatives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), have been identified as probable migraine triggers. MSG is widely present in fast foods, processed meats and canned soups. It can overexcite nerve cells and cause headaches in sensitive people.
Other factors that make food a trigger for migraine include:
Identifying patterns and maintaining constant mealtimes stabilize blood sugar levels, which also helps you avoid migraines. Your migraine triggers doctor develops a customized food plan based on your triggers and nutritional requirements.
Stress is a well-known migraine trigger. When you’re stressed, your body releases chemicals and hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can trigger physiological changes that lead to the development of migraines. Stress can cause muscle tension and constriction of blood vessels in the brain, causing a chain reaction of events that might end in a migraine.
Chronic stress depresses the immune system, causing the body to become more inflammatory. This increased inflammatory response has the potential to impact the neurological circuits involved in migraines, thereby increasing the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.
Stress leads to a spiraling effect of unhealthy coping techniques, such as:
Relaxation exercises, mindfulness practices, regular physical activity and appropriate sleep can help minimize the impact of stress on the body and reduce the chance of migraine occurrences.
The prevalence and intensity of migraines can be greatly influenced by environmental factors. Excessive exposure to intense or flashing lights, such as fluorescent lighting or computer screens, can overload the visual cortex and result in migraine symptoms. Loud noises and strong odors can cause sensory pathways to over-activate, resulting in neurological alterations that trigger migraines in vulnerable individuals.
Abrupt changes in weather patterns, notably changes in temperature, humidity or barometric pressure, might have an impact on cerebral blood flow and provoke headaches.
Some strategies your migraine doctor suggests to address these triggers effectively include:
Alcohol causes vasodilation, followed by constriction of blood vessels in the brain. Another probable trigger is dehydration, which is a typical side effect of alcohol consumption. Certain alcoholic beverages containing tyramine and histamines can also cause migraines. Furthermore, drinking upsets the equilibrium of neurotransmitters and contributes to migraine onset in sensitive individuals.
Some effective strategies to cope with alcohol migraine triggers include:
Understanding and identifying individual migraine triggers leads to successful migraine treatment. Lower the frequency and intensity of your migraine attacks by recognizing and avoiding these triggers. Keeping a detailed migraine diary and working closely with your migraine specialist also helps in the process of identifying and treating these triggers, thus improving the effectiveness of your migraine treatment and quality of life overall.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from migraine headaches and having problems recognizing what’s making your migraine worse, contact Dr. Cohen at Neuro Injury Specialists to receive the best treatment for your migraine.
