Migraine is a neurological condition that affects everyone differently. Some people notice that changes in their normal routine lead to migraine attacks, but others don’t. Here’s what the science says about the relationship between appetite and migraine.

Can You Get Migraine From Not Eating?

Skipping or delaying meals is known to trigger migraine attacks. While this isn’t true for everyone, several studies have supported this connection. Between 39 percent and 66 percent of people with migraine have episodes when fasting, particularly during long fasts.

Long gaps between meals, fasting, or inconsistent eating patterns are commonly linked to migraine. Although some people can go hours without eating and never develop a migraine attack, others are more sensitive to even small changes in their eating routines. These differences may be because of genetics and other factors.

Individuals with no history of migraine may get hunger headaches, which are headaches from fasting or low-calorie states that can be similar to migraine.

Migraine varies from person to person. Lifestyle and food triggers are no exception. In some cases, migraine attacks happen unexpectedly, with no warning signs or triggers.

Sleep, stress, hormones, hydration, screen time, and weather changes are also common migraine triggers. Most often, a combination of factors — not just one —are to blame.

For instance, maybe you didn’t eat because you were stressed out or sick. You might have missed a meal because you were busy working. Skipping a meal could also mean you didn’t drink as much, and you’re dehydrated.

Paying closer attention to your migraine attacks and your environment can be helpful, but it doesn’t always lead to easy solutions.

Low Blood Sugar and Migraine

Irregular meals and fasting can raise stress hormones that affect the brain. Skipping breakfast in particular is implicated in triggering attacks. Long breaks between meals can also cause blood sugar to drop, leading to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Research shows that hypoglycemia can trigger headaches and migraine episodes. If you’re already in the middle of a migraine attack, hypoglycemia can make it worse. There’s also evidence that preventing or fixing low blood sugar levels improves migraine in some cases.

“The weirdest thing happened this afternoon — was out shopping, and suddenly my blood sugar dropped, which happens sometimes when I go hours without eating,” one MyMigraineTeam member said. “I ate a peanut butter chocolate bar to help get my blood sugar up, but then I got super dizzy and got the chills with a monster headache — no fever, according to the thermometer, and it’s 80 degrees out. I went to lie down and woke up two hours later with a full migraine.”

Another member responded, “This happened to me as well. I started feeling really sick after I woke up from a nap and did a few things. It felt like a blood sugar attack. I ate dinner, and sure enough, the nausea is there, and a headache is coming on. Starting to wonder if it’s related.”

Is Loss of Appetite a Cause or a Symptom?

Some people lose their appetite before or during a migraine attack. Early warning symptoms, called the prodrome phase, usually happen two to 48 hours before a full-blown migraine attack. During this phase, people often experience changes in mood, digestion, behavior, and appetite.

Several brain chemicals regulate appetite. The prodrome phase may involve various shifts in hormones and neurotransmitters that influence eating habits.

As a result, it can be tricky to tell the difference between a migraine trigger and a response to premigraine symptoms. For instance, if your prodrome phase causes chocolate cravings, you might think eating chocolate is a migraine trigger when it’s really not. About 38 percent of people with migraine report having a food craving (often salty, sweet, or fatty) the day before a migraine — these may be part of the migraine prodrome, not the cause.

The same is true for skipping meals. If you’re nauseous before a migraine attack or you’re just not hungry, it can seem like not eating is a cause rather than an effect of migraine.

How Can You Reduce the Risk?

Consistent daily routines can be especially beneficial for people with migraine. In general, it’s best to:

• Consume the same amount of caffeine around the same time each day.
• Go to sleep and wake up on a regular schedule.
• Exercise for a similar amount of time and at around the same intensity daily.
• Make a habit of drinking water often.
• Stick to regular mealtimes and have snacks throughout the day.
• Avoid certain foods such as artificial sweeteners, MSG, alcohol, aged cheeses, and processed meats.

That said, everyone faces disruptions once in a while. Perhaps you’re traveling or have an early-morning appointment. Maybe you’re making lifestyle changes to lose weight, or you’re fasting for religious reasons.

Consider how these changes can affect your brain so you can figure out how to prevent migraine attacks before they begin. Migraine management may involve packing extra snacks for the road, meeting with a dietitian to plan balanced meals, or talking to your healthcare providers and spiritual leaders about whether fasting is safe for you.

Join the Conversation

On MyMigraineTeam, people share their experiences with migraine, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

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