Precipitating factors of migraine attacks in patients with migraine without aura

To study the distribution of triggers of migraine in a selected population, 100 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for migraine without aura as proposed by the International Headache Society were evaluated by means of a personal interview. Stress was the most cited trigger, triggering migraine in 76%. Afterwards, in descending order of frequency, were cited sensorial stimuli (75%), sleep deprivation (49%), hunger (48%), environmental factors (47%), food (46%), menses (39%), fatigue (35%), alcohol (28%), sleep excess (27%), caffeine (22%), physical exertion (20%), head trauma (20%), trips (4%), sexual activity (3%), medications (2%), neck movements (2%), smoking (1%) and the use of a low pillow (1%). It is concluded that certain factors seem to play an important role in the triggering of migraine.