Steps are a simple way for your phone or watch to know how active your day has been. For people with migraine, both ends of the scale can matter. This article explains how MigraineMe uses your step count.
Both directions count
The app has two triggers based on steps:
- Steps low: fires when you have walked unusually little. Default threshold is 3,000 steps.
- Steps high: fires when you have walked unusually much. Default threshold is 25,000 steps.
Some people find that very inactive days bring on a migraine (sitting at a desk, a quiet weekend, a long flight). Others find that pushing too hard does it (a long hike, a busy day out, intense exercise). The app watches both.
Why too few steps can be a factor
A very low-activity day often comes with:
- More screen time.
- Less time outdoors.
- Sometimes irregular meals or hydration.
- Less restful sleep that night.
Any of those can play a part in a migraine.
Why too many steps can be a factor
A very high-activity day often comes with:
- Dehydration.
- Missed or delayed meals.
- Heat or cold exposure.
- Sleep changes the night before or after.
- Physical strain.
Again, any of those can chain into a migraine.
How to adjust the thresholds
The defaults will not suit everyone. If you regularly walk 12,000 steps and 3,000 feels unusually low for you, you might lower the Steps low threshold to 5,000 or 6,000.
- Tap the gear icon in the top-left.
- Tap Manage Items, then Triggers.
- Find Steps low or Steps high in the list (the search box helps).
- Tap the threshold and type a new number.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Save & Recalculate.
Where to see your steps
- Open MigraineMe.
- Tap the Monitor tab.
- Tap the Physical Health card.
- Steps appear in the detail view with today's count and a 14-day chart. You can also pin Steps so it shows on the card itself.
Where the number comes from
MigraineMe reads steps from your phone or your watch: through Apple Health on iPhone or Health Connect on Android, or straight from Garmin, Oura or Polar if you connected one of those directly.
In short
The app watches both unusually low and unusually high step days as possible triggers, with adjustable thresholds. You can change the numbers any time from Manage Triggers.
This is general information only.
