Most of us know what a headache feels like. We usually will pop some Tylenol to reduce the symptoms and go about our day. A migraine is different, and if you’ve had one, you know what we mean. It can be downright debilitating and cause you to miss work or fun activities, but why do we get them? Can weather trigger migraines?
Headaches vs Migraines
If you ask anyone what normally brings on a headache, they will most likely tell you stress. In addition, many will include lack of sleep, not enough caffeine, hunger, and fatigue. These are all typical reasons people believe their headache developed. In fact, the muscles in our head and neck tighten causing the headache. So one might acknowledge, we are back to stress.
Migraine triggers are a bit different. Here, nerve endings in the brain create the pain from an imbalance in brain chemistry. 39 million Americans live with occasional migraines.
The triggers can be extremely different.
Symptoms of A Migraine
A migraine is a different kind of pain, and it is usually worse on one side of the head. You can be nauseous, experience vision changes, have difficulty concentrating, experience dizziness, and have neck pain.
Some people know a migraine is coming on days before it strikes.
Typical And Atypical Causes of Migraines
Weather does seem to be a trigger to many people with migraines. Everyone has different causes and each person can react differently.
Some typical triggers and things which exacerbate the migraine include:
- Sensitivity to light, smells, and sounds
- Extreme heat or cold
- High humidity
- Dry air
- Windy and stormy weather
- A change in the barometric pressure (air pressure in the atmosphere)
- Bright sunlight
In addition, some migraines come from intense odors, smoke, and altitude changes. Flying is a common trigger for many.
Sometimes it can be as simple as what you eat or drink. Preservatives like MSG and nitrate can initiate a migraine for some people.
The Answer
Unfortunately studies on this topic have mixed results.
If you find the weather affects you, it is difficult to avoid an impending migraine. Therefore it is especially important to practice good self care on the days you know the weather will be especially volatile. Make sure you stay hydrated, get adequate sleep, eat well, get regular exercise and avoid any known triggers.
If you do not know your specific triggers, try to keep a diary to figure out what influences your own migraines. Write down your symptoms–were you nauseous, did you have any other sensitivities, and did you have warning signals? Then bring this information to Puget Sound Neurology for review.
Contact Puget Sound Neurology at (253) 284-4488 to schedule an evaluation if you have chronic or episodic migraines which limit your productivity.