A suspected migraine trigger is a factor you notice before an attack. People often record the eight categories below, but there is no universal ranking that applies to everyone. A diary can reveal a question worth discussing with a clinician; it cannot establish a cause.
What counts as a trigger?
Not every attack has a single identifiable cause. Several factors may happen together, and some apparent triggers can be early migraine symptoms. Record the timing as best you can and include days without attacks where practical.
Eight factors people may record
1. Sleep changes
Note unusually short or long nights and changes to your usual schedule.
2. Stress (and the let-down after)
Record periods of stress and changes afterwards, without assuming stress caused an attack.
3. Weather & pressure shifts
Some people suspect a weather association. Record the change and compare it with days without an attack.
4. Screens & light
Note exposure and whether sensitivity to light had already begun.
5. Skipped meals
Record a missed meal if it stands out from your normal routine.
6. Dehydration
Note unusually low fluid intake; a single entry cannot tell you whether it mattered.
7. Certain foods & drinks
Record something unusual without cutting foods out based on a few coinciding attacks. Food cravings can be an early migraine symptom.
8. Hormonal changes
If relevant, note cycle timing so you can discuss a repeated pattern with your clinician.
Look for patterns, then ask what else could explain them.
How to read your diary
Start with a low-effort log and a few factors that matter to you. Migrelle can rank tags recorded with attacks, but it does not compare those tags with symptom-free days or identify causes. Read our guide to patterns and causation before treating any association as an answer.
When to see a doctor
If headaches are new, changing, unusually severe or affecting daily life, seek medical advice. Bring dates, duration, symptoms and medication days; your clinician can interpret them in context.
