title: A critical view on the role of migraine triggers in the genesis of migraine pain.
abstract: A number of distinct endogenous and exogenous factors have been implicated in migraine precipitation but the exact nature of the triggering process itself and its relationship to the genesis of the headache remains largely speculative. In this article, we examine the potential sites and downstream cascades through which migraine triggers might exert their action to promote the activation of the migraine pain pathway. We further look at the laterality of the headache as a potential indicator for the site of migraine pain initiation and examine the question of triggering factor specificity in relation to the current understanding of migraine pathophysiology.
authors: Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Levy
authors: Andrew M
authors: AM
authors: Strassman
authors: Rami
authors: R
authors: Burstein
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*