Migraines are one of the most common complaints in medicine, and affect more than 30 million people in the Unites States. Determining and avoiding migraine triggers (factors that can start migraine attacks) are important in the treatment of migraines. Examples of triggers include stress, lack of sleep, skipping meals, certain foods such as aged cheese, red wine, weather changes, and menstruation. It is difficult to identify each person’s migraine triggers since there is no specific test for this, and there can be many combinations of triggers that lead to migraines. Certain triggers may only cause migraines in some patients.

 

Currently, migraine patients record their headaches and triggers in a paper or electronic diary which is reviewed with their doctor. This is not always accurate since patients may overlook things that could have been triggers, or may think something was a trigger when it had no relation to the migraine. We are conducting a research project that will keep track of migraine patients’ headaches as well as stress levels, hours of sleep, and all foods that were eaten each day. Once the diary is completed, we will be able to determine each patient’s specific triggers. The patient will be asked to avoid these triggers to see if the headaches occur less often. The results of this study will help us understand the role of triggers in migraines, and also help patients identify their own triggers. By avoiding their specific triggers for migraines, they will have migraines less often, take less medication, and have a better quality of life. This should provide better treatment for migraine patients.