Migraine Headaches

Dear Lisa

My teenage daughter suffers from migraine headaches. About once per month she develops a migraine. They seem to come out of no where. I feel so bad for her and wish I knew what was causing them. My friend told me that certain foods may cause migraines. What foods should she stay away from? Besides food, what other things may be the cause of her migraines?

"Terrible Headdaches in N.J.”

Dear “Terrible Headaches”,

An important goal in the treatment of Migraine Headaches is the identification of Migraine triggers. Once a migraine trigger is identified, steps can be taken to avoid that particular trigger in order to decrease the frequency of episodes. The foods that are known to be common triggers for migraines include; food with MSG (such as Chinese food), food with Nitrates (such as lunch meats or hotdogs), foods containing tyramine (cheeses and chocolate), citrus fruits, fried foods, foods or drinks containing aspartamine (an artificial sweetener), bananas and alcoholic beverages (sometimes found in desserts or sauces). Other conditions such as lack of sleep, skipping meals, getting your menstrual period, anxiety, depression, anger or fear may also trigger migraines.

Since everyone is different it is important to keep a headache diary in order to identify your daughter’s triggers. In the diary include information in regards to her mental state, stress level, sleep pattern, food intake and time of the month. In time you may be able to determine a pattern and ultimately identify her triggers. The good news is that “30% of migraines are treated successfully with changes in diet.” (1).

(1) Stephenson, M. About 4% to 10% of children have migraine headaches, researcher says. Infectious Diseases in Children. 2006, May: 31.

Lisa Kelly R.N., P.N.P., C.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner


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