"Skipped meals" is one of the common migraine triggers in MigraineMe's list. It might seem odd that simply not eating could bring on a headache, but it is one of the most reliable triggers people report. This article explains the idea, and how to log it.
What happens when you skip a meal
When you go a long time without food, your blood sugar drops. For a migraine-prone brain, that drop alone can be enough to set off an attack. The same goes for being a bit dehydrated, which often happens together with skipping a meal.
This is why migraines sometimes arrive late in the morning after a missed breakfast, or in the late afternoon after a working lunch that did not happen.
What counts as "skipping a meal"
There is no strict rule, but a useful guide is:
- More than about 4 to 5 hours between meals during the day.
- Going overnight plus into the late morning without eating.
- Replacing a meal with only coffee or a sugary drink.
Some people are more sensitive than others. If you notice a pattern after long gaps, that is the signal.
Logging it in MigraineMe
Skipped meals is one of the manual triggers in the Diet category. You can log it at the time, or add it to a migraine after the fact.
To log it as a trigger
- Open MigraineMe.
- Tap the Log tab at the bottom of the screen.
- In the Quick Log section, tap the orange Trigger card.
- Tap the Select trigger... box and pick Skipped meals from the list.
- The time defaults to now. Adjust if it was earlier.
- Tap Log Trigger.
To add it to a migraine you are logging
- In the migraine wizard, on the Triggers step, find Skipped meals in your list.
- Tap it so it is selected.
- Continue through the wizard as normal.
How MigraineMe can help
MigraineMe does not spot missed meals on its own, so logging Skipped meals yourself is what counts. Once you have logged it a few times, the Insights tab can show whether it tends to come before your migraines. When it is logged today, it can also appear in your Top contributors card on the home screen.
In short
Going too long without food can drop your blood sugar and trigger a migraine for some people. The Skipped meals trigger lets you mark it. Over time, Insights can help you see whether long gaps are part of your pattern.
This is general information only.
