Cigarettes Migraine Trigger & Prevention Tips

Written and verified by Holly Hazen

Cigarettes Migraine Trigger Alert!

Do cigarettes or secondhand smoke trigger a migraine attack? They sure trigger mine - every. single. time.

If you're like me, you can smell smoke from a block away - and once it's in your hair and clothes, it lingers for days. Even worse, it’s a migraine waiting to happen.

For those of us who suffer from migraine, avoiding smoke exposure isn’t just about preference - it’s about survival. But why is smoking (and secondhand smoke) such a powerful migraine trigger? Let’s look at the science and, most importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.

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How Cigarettes Trigger Migraines (The Science Behind It)

Smoking isn’t just a bad habit - it’s a scientifically proven migraine trigger.

1. Nicotine and Blood Vessel Constriction

Nicotine, the addictive chemical in cigarettes, shrinks your blood vessels (vasoconstriction). This can:

• Reduce oxygen flow to the brain, triggering headaches and migraines.

• Cause blood pressure fluctuations, another well-known migraine trigger.

2. Carbon Monoxide = Oxygen Deprivation

Cigarettes release carbon monoxide (CO), which blocks oxygen from reaching your brain. Low oxygen levels (hypoxia) increase the risk of migraines and make existing headaches worse.

3. The Nicotine Withdrawal Cycle

• Smokers go through mini nicotine withdrawals all day long - each time levels drop; it can trigger a headache.

• Quitting suddenly can cause withdrawal headaches, which may feel like a migraine attack.

4. Secondhand Smoke: A Hidden Trigger

Even if you don’t smoke, exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger an attack due to its toxic chemicals and strong odors.

Studies show that children exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of developing migraines later in life.

The Connection Between Toxic Overload and Migraines

Cigarette smoke isn’t the only problem. Other environmental toxins - perfumes, cleaning chemicals, fresh paint - can add up to create a migraine-perfect storm.

This is called "Total Toxic Load" - the more toxins your body has to process, the more likely you are to cross the threshold that triggers a migraine.

Other migraine-triggering toxins include:

• Perfumes & incense

• Paint fumes & cleaning chemicals

• Plastic off-gassing from new furniture

• Mold exposure

If you’re sensitive to cigarette smoke, you might also be sensitive to other airborne toxins - making it even harder to avoid migraine attacks.

9 Smart Ways to Reduce Toxic Overload & Migraine Triggers

When a migraine strikes, every second counts. These are my go-to strategies for dealing with toxic exposure:

1. Act Fast—Don't Ignore Your Symptoms

If you start feeling a migraine coming on after smoke exposure, act immediately. Don't second guess it—your body is giving you a warning.

2. Contain the Toxin (If Indoors)

Close doors to the infected room in order to contain the toxin. Do not open doors to air the room as the smell will spread throughout the house. Do open windows in that room and in the house.

• Close doors to prevent the smell from spreading.

• Open windows to let in fresh air.

3. Use Candles to Absorb Airborne Toxins

Light tea light candles in each room, 5-6 candles per room. Burn them until you are no longer reacting. This could mean a few hours, all day or a week or more. Trust me it’s worth the effort. Don’t just light two and then give up.

Persevere and light 6 per room, and keep them lit. Except when you are sleeping and can’t watch them that is.

• Light 5-6 tea light candles in affected rooms.

• Let them burn for several hours to help neutralize odors and chemicals.

4. Remove Toxic Items from Your Space

If new plastic items that are releasing petrochemicals and other nasties into your air space, if possible, remove the (smelly, moldy, or dusty) item from your house.

• If new furniture, plastic items, or carpets are off-gassing fumes, move them outside if possible.

• If someone is smoking nearby, walk away quickly before the chemicals settle in your system.

5. Leave the Area If You Can

If the trigger is strong enough to cause an attack, remove yourself from the environment as soon as possible.

6. Get Help If the Exposure Was Severe

Get someone to remove the item from your house if your reaction to it is strong enough to trigger a migraine attack.

• If you can’t move an item (like a new mattress or furniture), ask a friend to do it for you.

• If you live with a smoker, try setting up a smoke-free zone in your home. Better yet, get them to go outside.

7. Use Natural Air Purifiers

Light tea lights, and spray water soluble Eucalyptus oil mixed ½ and ½ with water in the rooms, every ½ hour at least for as long as it takes.

• Mix eucalyptus oil & water (50/50) and spray it every 30 minutes to help absorb toxins.

• Invest in a high-quality air purifier to remove smoke and chemical pollutants.

8. Let New Items “Off-Gas” Before Bringing Them Indoors

It can take 2-4 weeks to degas new items. And for things like new kitchens - they can take up to 4 years to fully release chemicals!

• Plastic, carpets, and furniture can take weeks to release toxins - put them in direct sunlight for a few days to speed up the process. Or...

• Place them in a well-ventilated area, garage, or outdoors for at least a few days before use.

• Use activated charcoal bags or baking soda in the room to help absorb lingering fumes faster.

• Use tea lights as mentioned above.

If an item is triggering your migraine attacks, don’t keep it in your space.

9. Use Plants That Purify the Air

This is not my favorite option, but certain indoor plants can remove toxins from the air, improving air quality and reducing migraine triggers.

Best plants for air purification:

• Snake plant (filters formaldehyde & benzene)
• Areca palm (boosts oxygen levels)
• Peace lily (absorbs airborne chemicals)

Keeping these in rooms prone to smoke or chemical exposure can help minimize toxin buildup.

Migraine Sufferers Who Smoke: What You Can Do

If you smoke and get migraines, quitting will likely reduce your attacks over time. But if quitting isn’t an option yet, here’s how to minimize migraine triggers while smoking:

1. Migraine Medications & Smoking

Some migraine medications interact negatively with smoking. If you smoke, you should discuss with your doctor:

2. Best Smoking Cessation Methods for Migraine Sufferers

Quitting smoking reduces migraine frequency over time. The best cessation methods include:

1. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) – Patches, gums, lozenges that slowly reduce nicotine dependence.
   
   
2. Prescription Medications – Varenicline (Chantix) & Bupropion (Zyban) may help smokers quit without worsening migraines.
   
   
3. Behavioral Therapy – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help break nicotine addiction without medication side effects.
   
   
4. Gradual Reduction vs. Cold Turkey – Gradually reducing smoking lowers withdrawal headaches compared to quitting suddenly.
   
   

Practical Strategies for Migraine Sufferers Who Smoke

1. Do Not Smoke First Thing in the Morning

Nicotine withdrawal can trigger rebound headaches. Try delaying your first cigarette to reduce migraine risk.

2. Switch to Low-Nicotine or Nicotine-Free Alternatives

Nicotine patches and gums release nicotine more slowly, avoiding sharp migraine-inducing spikes.

Vaping still contains nicotine but might be less of a trigger than traditional cigarettes.

3. Stay Hydrated & Increase Oxygen Intake

Smoking dehydrates your body, which can make migraines worse. Drink plenty of water and take deep breaths to counteract oxygen loss.

4. Track Smoking & Migraine Patterns

Use a migraine diary to see if reducing cigarettes helps lessen your attacks.

FAQs: Cigarettes and Migraines

Just click on the little arrow for the answer.

Final Thoughts: Protect Yourself from This Toxic Trigger

Cigarettes are one of the most overlooked migraine triggers. The combination of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and over 7,000 chemicals can create the perfect conditions for migraine attacks, oxygen deprivation, and neurological imbalances.

• If you’re a smoker with migraines - start by reducing nicotine intake and tracking your symptoms.

• If you’re exposed to secondhand smoke - take immediate action to remove yourself from the environment.

• If you have multiple chemical sensitivities - be mindful of your total toxic load - not just cigarettes, but also perfumes, paints, and plastics.
  
  

The good news? If smoking (or secondhand smoke) is one of your migraine triggers, avoiding it could drastically reduce your attacks.

Next Steps: More Cigarettes Migraine Trigger Help

• Migraine Savvy Bookstore

• Migraine Savvy Free Workshop

• Migraine Savvy Courses

Cigarettes Migraine Trigger Related Articles 

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_{Cigarettes Migraine Trigger Book Resource: Sampson, R. M.D. and Hughes, P. B.S.N. (1997) Breaking Out of Environmental Illness. Bear & Company, Inc.: Santa Fe, NM.}

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