Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: triggers for tension headaches and migraines are not the same

Good question and the answer is NO! Actually, some of the triggers for migraines are the same as tension, and actually tension headaches can trigger a migraine. Here is a list of common triggers and you'll see what I mean about not being the same:

Tension headaches are called tension headaches for a reason, they are caused by tension. Some very common triggers are: stress, anxiety, fatigue, hunger, anger, poor posture, or overexertion. Notice it mentions hunger can be a trigger, but not any food you eat.

Common migraine triggers are: alcohol, MSG, aspartame, chocolate, caffeine, dairy products, fatty foods, lack of sleep or too much sleep (one of my triggers), irregular sleep patterns (one of mine), physical exertion, fatigue, sudden or intense exertion, irregular meal patterns, stress, anxiety, depression, glare or bright light, flashing or flickering lights (one of my triggers), fluorescent lighting, weather changes (one of mine), strong odors (bad or good), repetitive visual patterns (stripes, zigzags, etc.-one of mine), air pollution, secondhand smoke, chemical fumes, nitroglycerine, histamine, reserpine (hypertension drug), hydralazine (drug that lowers blood pressure), diuretics, anti-asthma medications

As you can see, one of the big differences (besides the type of pain) is that tension headaches tend to be specific in what triggers them: tension! Migraines can be pretty random and they are different for different people. I've suffered through tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches since I was a little girl. I know food causes migraines for most people, and Belinda is right, Chocolate is a trigger for MOST people, but not everyone. The only problem I have is with caffeine and I'm trying to stop drinking the sodas b/c of the IBS (I never knew it had anything to do with IBS until last week!) and if I try to stop drinking caffeine all together, then I get migraines, so I have to stop gradually. That is my only food trigger for migraines, but almost all the foods listed as triggers DO trigger my IBS. Everything else comes from visual stuff, sleep changes (too much, too little, change in the pattern of when I sleep, etc.), and changes in the weather.

--------------------
Erin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IBS-D, GERD...
I got it comin' outta 1 end or the other!

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator