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Objectives: To investigate the factors influencing progression and chronification of episodic migraine, we conducted a 12-month face to face follow-up study of episodic migraine patients. Methods: One hundred eighty patients with episodic migraine were enrolled. 120 parameters were analyzed including demographic factors, social and life-style features, comorbid medical illnesses and headache characteristics. After the first evaluation, all patients was scheduled to a structured face to face interview at 3-months interval for one-year. Results: Thirty-two (17,7%) patients developed chronic daily headache. Four out of 32 (2,2%) had definite chronic migraine. Low education level, obesity, greater tea consumption (≥4 cups/daily), predominantly hot and spicy diet, high headache frequency, long duration of headache and presence of allodynia at baseline, and more days with symptomatic drug intake were significant risk factors for progression and chronification of migraine. Cox regression analysis revealed triptan and NSAID intake, hot and spicy eating habit and allodynia as risk factors for chronification. Conclusion: Higher amount of tea consumption, hot and spicy diet appeared to be new risk factors for chronification of migraine. Weight gain is one of the most important risk factors. Patients should be warned about the risk factors to prevent chronification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]