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Modifiable Risk Factors for Migraine: What You Can Change

Posted on May 15 2025, By: Cerebral Torque

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Modifiable Risk Factors for Migraine

Risk Factor Association with Migraine Evidence References
Lifestyle Factors
Alcohol intake frequency Increased risk OR: 1.25 (1.12-1.40) Yang et al. (2025)1
Lifetime smoking index Increased risk OR: 1.24 (1.08-1.42) Yang et al. (2025)1
Physical inactivity Increased risk Associated with higher migraine frequency Lippi et al. (2018)2, Amin et al. (2018)3
High caffeine intake Increased risk Associated with higher migraine frequency and withdrawal headaches Aramruang et al. (2024)4
Medication overuse/adaptation Increased risk Contributing factor to chronic migraine Lipton et al. (2023)5
Sleep Patterns
Insomnia Increased risk OR: 1.20 (1.17-1.24) Yang et al. (2025)1
Long sleep duration Increased risk OR: 1.26 (1.07-1.50) Yang et al. (2025)1
Sleep disturbances Increased risk Associated with migraine progression Lipton et al. (2023)5
Dietary Factors
Higher carbohydrate intake Increased risk Specifically for MA Yang et al. (2025)1
Higher sugar intake Increased risk Specifically for MA Yang et al. (2025)1
Irregular meal timing Increased risk Skipping meals associated with higher migraine frequency Gazerani (2020)6
Medical Conditions
Hypertension Increased risk OR: 1.76 (1.47-2.11) Yang et al. (2025)1
Obesity Increased risk Associated with increased frequency Bigal & Lipton (2006)7
Depression/anxiety Increased risk Comorbidity that can worsen outcomes Lipton et al. (2023)5
Reproductive Factors (Mother's Migraine Risk)
Later age at first birth Decreased risk for mother Protective for mother's MA risk Yang et al. (2025)1
Early age at first birth Increased risk for mother Increases mother's MO risk Yang et al. (2025)1
Nutrient Deficiencies
Magnesium deficiency Increased risk Well-studied, associated with migraine pathophysiology Teigen & Boes (2015)8
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) deficiency Increased risk Strong evidence for preventive effect when supplemented Thompson & Saluja (2017)9
Other nutrient deficiencies Increased risk Various deficiencies can disrupt neurological function Gross et al. (2019)10
Environmental Factors
Air pollution  Increased risk Associated with increased migraine disease burden Li et al. (2025)11
Stress Increased risk Major contributor to migraine progression Sandoe (2024)12
Comorbid Diseases
Untreated chronic diseases Increased risk Any disease disrupting homeostasis can contribute to migraine progression Burch et al. (2019)13
Diabetes Increased risk Blood glucose fluctuations can contribute to migraine progression Aamodt et al. (2007)14
Cardiovascular disorders Increased risk Including CHF, may worsen migraine through vascular mechanisms Kurth et al. (2016)15

MA = Migraine with Aura, MO = Migraine without Aura

References

  1. Yang J, Duan Y, Wu Q, Ma Y, Tan S, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Liu X. Insights into modifiable risk factors of migraine: a Mendelian randomization analysis. Neurol Res. 2025 May 14:1-20.
  2. Lippi G, Mattiuzzi C, Sanchis-Gomar F. Physical exercise and migraine: for or against? Ann Transl Med. 2018 May;6(10):181.
  3. Amin FM, Aristeidou S, Baraldi C, Czapinska-Ciepiela EK, Ariadni DD, Di Lenola D, Fenech C, Kampouris K, Karagiorgis G, Braschinsky M, Linde M; European Headache Federation School of Advanced Studies (EHF-SAS). The association between migraine and physical exercise. J Headache Pain. 2018 Sep 10;19(1):83.
  4. Aramruang T, Malhotra A, Numthavaj P, Looareesuwan P, Anothaisintawee T, Dejthevaporn C, Sirirutbunkajorn N, Attia J, Thakkinstian A. Prediction models for identifying medication overuse or medication overuse headache in migraine patients: a systematic review. J Headache Pain. 2024 Oct 4;25(1):165. 
  5. Lipton RB, Buse DC, Nahas SJ, Tietjen GE, Martin VT, Löf E, Brevig T, Cady R, Diener HC. Risk factors for migraine disease progression: a narrative review for a patient-centered approach. J Neurol. 2023 Dec;270(12):5692-5710.
  6. Gazerani P. Migraine and Diet. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 3;12(6):1658. 
  7. Bigal ME, Lipton RB. Modifiable risk factors for migraine progression. Headache. 2006 Oct;46(9):1334-43.
  8. Teigen L, Boes CJ. An evidence-based review of oral magnesium supplementation in the preventive treatment of migraine. Cephalalgia. 2015 Sep;35(10):912-22.
  9. Thompson DF, Saluja HS. Prophylaxis of migraine headaches with riboflavin: A systematic review. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2017 Aug;42(4):394-403.
  10. Gross EC, Lisicki M, Fischer D, Sándor PS, Schoenen J. The metabolic face of migraine - from pathophysiology to treatment. Nat Rev Neurol. 2019 Nov;15(11):627-643.
  11. Li S, Liu Q, Ma M, Fang J, He L. Association between weather conditions and migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurol. 2025 Apr 17;272(5):346.
  12. Sandoe, C. (2024). The Migraine Path: Risk Factors for Progression of Migraine Disease. American Migraine Foundation.
  13. Burch RC, Buse DC, Lipton RB. Migraine: Epidemiology, Burden, and Comorbidity. Neurol Clin. 2019 Nov;37(4):631-649.
  14. Aamodt AH, Stovner LJ, Midthjell K, Hagen K, Zwart JA. Headache prevalence related to diabetes mellitus. The Head-HUNT study. Eur J Neurol. 2007 Jul;14(7):738-44.
  15. Kurth T, Winter AC, Eliassen AH, et al. Migraine and risk of cardiovascular disease in women: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2016;353:i2610.

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