Common Stressors
Light, smells, screens and the environment
Fragrances, bright and flickering light, and other sensory factors.
3 min read · 6 research sources · Based on the Mastering Migraine courses by Dr. Adam Harcourt
Because migraine is a disorder of sensory processing, the sensory environment matters 1.
Light
Bright, flickering or fluorescent light, glare and screens are common complaints. Light sensitivity is tied to pathways connecting the eye to pain-processing neurons in the thalamus 2.
Tips: reduce glare, use warmer lighting, take screen breaks, and consider tinted lenses if your clinician recommends them.
Fragrances
In a national US survey, 10% of people reported migraine headaches from exposure to fragranced products such as air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products and perfumes 3.
Tips: swap to fragrance-free products at home, and ask about fragrance-free policies at work. This is one of the easiest drips to remove from the bucket.
Sound and busy environments
Noisy, crowded or visually busy places (like stores, restaurants and stadiums) can be overwhelming, especially for people with dizziness or motion sensitivity 4.
Smoking
Smoking is associated with more headache 5 and adds to stroke risk in people with migraine with aura 6.
This article is educational and does not replace a personal evaluation. Talk with your clinician before making changes to medications, supplements or diet.
Research cited on this page
- Goadsby PJ, Holland PR, Martins-Oliveira M, et al. Pathophysiology of Migraine: A Disorder of Sensory Processing. Physiol Rev. 2017;97(2):553-622. PubMed 28179394 · DOI
- Noseda R, Kainz V, Borsook D, et al. Neurochemical pathways that converge on thalamic trigeminovascular neurons: potential substrate for modulation of migraine by sleep, food intake, stress and anxiety. PLoS One. 2014;9(8):e103929. PubMed 25090640 · DOI
- Steinemann A. Health and societal effects from exposure to fragranced consumer products. Prev Med Rep. 2017;5:45-47. PubMed 27896043 · DOI
- Bednarczuk NF, Bonsu A, Ortega MC, et al. Abnormal visuo-vestibular interactions in vestibular migraine: a cross sectional study. Brain. 2019;142(3):606-616. PubMed 30759189 · DOI
- Hagen K, Åsberg AN, Stovner L, et al. Lifestyle factors and risk of migraine and tension-type headache. Follow-up data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Surveys 1995-1997 and 2006-2008. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(13):1919-1926. PubMed 29517305 · DOI
- Sacco S, Merki-Feld GS, Ægidius KL, et al. Effect of exogenous estrogens and progestogens on the course of migraine during reproductive age: a consensus statement by the European Headache Federation (EHF) and the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESCRH). J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):76. PubMed 30171365 · DOI
Mastering Migraine is an educational resource and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Always talk with your own doctor before changing medications, starting supplements, or beginning a new treatment.
