Patients report a variety of things that they believe trigger their migraines and are often advised to avoid their known triggers. Migraine triggers vary from person to person, but typically a migraine patient only gets triggered by 1 or 2 of the items from this list. The most common migraine triggers are: Certain Foods Highly processed foods Aged or salty foods, such as salami or cheese Fasting or skipping meals Avoid skipping meals or fasting to curb migraines Drinks Alcoholic beverages Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and sodas Sweeteners and preservatives Aspartame can trigger a migraine Monosodium glutamate (MSG) can affect some people Sensory stimulation Bright lights (flashlights, bright sunlight) Loud noises (music, people, traffic) Strong smells, such as perfume, paint, and cigarette smoke Stress Stress due to difficult work environments Stress due to home life challenges Extreme physical exertion, such as intense exercising, can trigger an episode Changes in sleep Changes in sleep patterns Not getting enough sleep Getting too much sleep Hormonal changes (Women) Pre-menstrual hormonal changes Menopausal hormone-induced migraines Pregnancy hormone-induced migraines Hormone medications Birth control medications can increase migraines Hormone replacement therapy post-menopause Other medications Certain medications, such as nitroglycerin or other vasodilators Weather changes Changes in weather and barometric pressure