The exact cause of migraine is unknown; however, in patients suffering with migraine, we often see some common triggers such as stress. Other triggers include irregular eating and sleeping habits as well as changes in the weather. In about 30-40% of individuals with migraine, there may also be a food trigger; however, this is not a very common trigger that we have seen amongst our patients.
When to see a neurologist?
If the migraine headaches are infrequent and easily controlled using over-the-counter simple analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, it is not often required to consult with a physician. However, if the headaches do not fully respond to over-the-counter medications and are increasing in intensity, severity, and/or frequency, in that case, an evaluation by a physician is recommended to exclude other ominous causes and to optimize management of the migraines.
As neurologists, we often see patients who have been managing their migraines sub-optimally for many years and they end up in our office with severe intractable migraines simply because they have not been treating them as they should.
