5 Common Migraine Triggers

About 12% of Americans suffer from migraine headaches. And if you’re one of them, you know that the word “suffer” is often an understatement. Migraines frequently cause severe, pulsing head pain and other symptoms like nausea, mood swings, light sensitivity, and fatigue (just to name a few). It can be almost impossible to continue with your day when a migraine comes along. Instead, when a migraine comes along, you will often find yourself unable to complete even the most menial task, whether that’s getting work done or cooking yourself some food. The profound pain of a severe migraine can be debilitating for every aspect of your life.

But we’ve got good news: You don’t have to let migraines interrupt your life anymore! There are many ways to prevent migraines or reduce your worst symptoms, and IV treatments for migraines offer a solution for many people, not only alleviating their symptoms but allowing them to prevent migraines before they happen.

What Are the Main Triggers of Migraines?

How can you tell what causes a migraine in the first place? Let’s take a look at the most common migraine triggers and how they contribute to the onset of those day-ruining migraines we dread:

Stress

Stress is the most common cause of migraine headaches. This is likely because stress interferes with your bodily health, mainly by disrupting your sleep. Unfortunately, this can cause a vicious cycle: Stress gives you a migraine, which prevents you from sleeping, which makes you more stressed, making your migraines more frequent!

Hormones

Women have a greater risk of migraines than men, which is partly due to the prevalence of “menstrual migraines.” Some women experience migraine headaches during their periods — and only during that time. This is because of abrupt changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during this time. In these cases, some women can avoid these migraines with the right birth control methods or lifestyle changes.

Caffeine or Alcohol

Lifestyle habits also contribute to migraines for many people. For some, eating foods like chocolate or aged cheese can cause a migraine. For others, skipping meals or over-exercise can bring it on. But for many people, caffeine and alcohol are major triggers for their pain.

Of course, it’s important to note that these triggers are often unique to the individual. One person may say that coffee causes their migraines, while another insists that it reduces their symptoms. Someone may say that red wine gives them a migraine, but all other liquor is fine, while another claims they can’t touch a drop of alcohol. Your triggers may be different from the triggers of others. If you think certain foods or beverages might be the culprit, consider keeping a food log to help identify associations between your diet and migraines. With a bit of work, you’ll be able to identify the types of foods and drinks that are most likely to be one of your triggers of migraines.

Light or Smell

Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is a common symptom of migraine headaches. About 80% of people who get migraines also experience this symptom, which can make looking at flickering or bright lights incredibly painful. While photophobia usually occurs after the migraine has already started, bright light can also overwhelm the senses and start a migraine.

Similarly, some people who experience migraines can be easily overwhelmed by strong smells. This is because certain nerve receptors in your nose can trigger a migraine or make an existing migraine even worse. Some odors known to trigger migraines include strong perfumes, cigarette smoke, motor vehicle exhaust, and some cleaning products.

Dehydration

Dehydration can negatively impact your health in many ways. For some, it can even trigger a migraine. Studies show that about 35% of migraine sufferers consider a lack of fluids a contributing factor, even if they’re only slightly dehydrated. 

For that matter, dehydration is a major cause of a number of symptoms, causing people to feel dizzy, lightheaded, and fatigued while also contributing to severe headaches and persistent migraines. 

Once you know what triggers affect your migraines, you can take steps to manage these triggers and avoid the pulsing pain, but how can you treat your migraine symptoms? We recommend IV therapy for migraine headaches. In fact, IV therapy is one of the most effective ways to combat the ill effects of the most common migraine triggers. Before you know it, you’ll be rehydrated and feeling good again, ready to tackle whatever the day brings.

How IV Therapy Can Help with Headaches and Migraine Relief

Mobile IV Nurses offers infusion therapy for migraines through several of our IV treatments. Our IVs fill your cells with vital minerals, electrolytes, and vitamins that can enhance your health and reduce migraine symptoms — or even prevent them from happening in the first place. 

The key is in the IV: When you get IV therapy for migraines, the infusion sends those essential nutrients directly into your bloodstream, where your body can absorb and process them. This leads to greater bioavailability than oral medication or supplements, as well as near-instant relief. 

Mobile IV Nurses can target your specific triggers for more effective relief when you make an appointment with us. Feeling stressed? A Myers’ Cocktail with magnesium can help soothe your anxiety. Want your migraines to feel less painful? Antioxidants like vitamin C and glutathione can help reduce swelling and pain. And, of course, every IV treatment provides 1,000 cc of saline, so you can say goodbye to dehydration. We even offer Toradol, a powerful NSAID pain reliever that is proven to combat migraines and help you overcome your pain symptoms as an add in. 

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Tips on How to Prevent Headaches and Migraines

An IV for migraines can be a great way to manage your symptoms and get back to your day — but if you ask us, it’s even better not to get migraines in the first place! While there’s no surefire way to stop migraines for good, there are a few things you can do to prevent them, such as:

Recognize your triggers. When a migraine strikes, the only thing on our minds is how to make it go away. But once the pain has subsided (perhaps after an IV for migraines), take a moment to think about what might have caused it. What were you eating when the migraine started? What were you feeling? Did you drink enough water that day? Once you can spot a pattern, you’ll know what your personal triggers are (and how to avoid them).

Get enough sleep every night. Most of us underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep. But research shows that inadequate sleep can make our brains secrete more proteins that excite the nervous system, making migraines more likely to occur. A regular sleep schedule that gives you plenty of rest can help you avoid needless headaches.

Take care of your health. Staying healthy means a lot of things, like exercising, eating nutritious foods, and avoiding stress. These are important for everyone, but they’re particularly important if you want to prevent migraines. Your body needs to have enough vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to keep running at peak performance. This is why IV therapy isn’t just for migraines; it’s for your overall health and well-being. 

From migraine triggers to hangovers and colds, IV therapy can help you get healthy again. Whether you’re just feeling the first effects of a severe headache coming on or are deep in the throes of pain, we have a solution for you. Our IV solutions can rehydrate your body, restore essential vitamins and minerals, and even deliver pain medication. If nothing else is working, why not give us a try? 

If you want to learn more about IV therapy and its benefits, contact Mobile IV Nurses today. We’re happy to tell you all about us and help you book online, so you can try an infusion for yourself! While you’ve got us on the line, feel free to ask us any questions you might have about the IV therapy process, how our IV packages can help treat migraines or any concerns that might pop up.