One of the most important step in the treatment and management of migraine is to determine your migraine trigger – what causes you to have a migraine. This is something you need to determine. The best way to do is to keep a detailed diary. Write down what you have done, what you have taken, onset of migraine, etc.

Initially, eliminate all foods that may cause migraine from your diet. Now you can introduce them one at a time and determine whether they cause migraines.

The process may be complicated, as very often it may be a combination of factors, not just one, that may be causing your migraine. For example, many women find that certain stimulants such as alcohol which have no effect on them regularly can trigger an attack if they're consumed just before a menstrual period or at the time of ovulation. If you are a menstruating woman who suffers from migraines, be sure to make note of your menstrual cycle on your headache diary. Check to see if headaches occur just before you begin to menstruate or when you ovulate, and note any triggers during those times. If you are a postmenopausal women on estrogen therapy, you may find that a change in your hormone treatment will help your headaches.

Sample Diary

Keep a diary of habits and symptoms for at least one month. Be sure to note the following in your diary:

The date and time each headache started

The date and time each headache ended

How long was the attack?

Any other factors that seem to trigger the headache?

What did you eat minutes, hours, or a day before the headache?

Did you work late that day?

Did you oversleep?

Did anything remarkable or unusual occur before your attack?

The location and nature of the pain:

Other physical symptoms:

If you are a woman

When was your last menstrual cycle

Do you take birth control pills

If you are on hormone replacement therapy