Debilitating and throbbing migraines are usually accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and intolerance to light, sound, and any strong smell. Although so far, no causes of migraines have been found, there are many known triggers of migraines that you should know. People that suffer from migraines have a pattern in their symptoms. To help you curb your oncoming migraine, here is a list of top triggers for migraines.

Stress
70% of migraines are related directly to stress, making it one of the top triggers for migraines. Both physical and psychological stress from our daily activities and sometimes taxing social or professional events can trigger a migraine. A study revealed that 50-70% of times stress is directly related to intense and throbbing migraines.

Irregular sleep schedule
There’s an inseparable relationship between sleep and migraine. Our body repairs itself while we sleep to keep us healthy and happy, and getting some rest is most essential for people afflicted with migraines. Both insufficient and excess sleep can cause migraine and is the real cause of the constant tension felt in the neck and shoulders.

Hunger
When you skip your breakfast and have a late lunch, you won’t just hear your stomach growling but also sense a headache coming. Our body consumes food as fuel to consistently provide energy and when we skip meals, our body releases hormones to signal the brain that we’re hungry. This causes increased blood pressure, tightening blood vessels that in turn makes hunger one of the top triggers migraines.

Dehydration
Dehydration can cause the brain to temporarily contract, causing sharp pain that turns into a migraine. Fluid loss affects the body in many ways including dizziness, shrunken eyes, low concentration, and in rare cases, a medical emergency.

Caffeine withdrawal
Your body gets accustomed to caffeine when consumed every day, working as a stimulant. While caffeine consumption narrows the blood vessels, withdrawal of caffeine opens them, causing increased blood flow that your brain takes time to adapt. The sudden change in blood flow causes a migraine; however, the length and severity could differ from person to person.

Hormones
Hormones play a key role in the onset and severity of migraines, especially among females. Fluctuation in their estrogen and progesterone levels can cause migraines, especially during menstruation. Using oral contraceptives has also been observed to aggravate the symptoms.

Odor
Many odors are responsible for activating the nerve receptors in the nasal passage and trigger an acute migraine attack. Studies report that people suffering from migraines experience heightened sensitivity to odors, making them intolerant to strong smells. For some people, specific odors are consistent top triggers for migraines.

Light and Sound
Migraine is often associated with intolerance to bright flickering lights and loud sounds. This migraine gets severe when accompanied by a lack of sleep, hunger, or a spike in sugar intake.