Migraine attacks appear triggered by complex interactions between physiological influences, life stresses, and a genetic predisposition. People, with asthma or chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD), are predisposed to migraine. Hyperventilation, also associated with asthma and COAD, may contribute towards migraine. The blood flow to the brain is linearly related to arterial carbon dioxide levels. Hyperventilation, by lowering arterial carbon dioxide levels, lowers brain oxygen supply making the brain more irritable. As well as increasing nerve hyperexcitability, a reduced brain oxygen supply leads to the reduced production of brain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. Low brain serotonin levels have been implicated in migraine, depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety also have strong associations with both hyperventilation and migraine. Migraine attacks are often linked with the menstrual cycle. The breathing rate increases and arterial pCO2 subsequently lowers during the second part of the menstrual cycle.

Relaxation therapy, thermal biofeedback combined with relaxation therapy, EMG feedback and cognitive behavioral therapy are all able to prevent migraine yet few migraine patients are instructed in these techniques. These behavioral treatments may also work by reducing stress levels, slowing the breathing rate, elevating arterial pCO2, improving brain blood supply and cellular metabolism.