There are times when you experience severe headaches out of nowhere. It is even more frustrating when you don’t know the cause. It becomes difficult for you to make plans when you don’t know when the next headache will strike. However, if you notice that your headaches occur when the weather changes, start paying interest.
A migraine trigger is a temporary factor that increases the probability that a person with migraine will have an attack. You can have numerous migraine triggers, and in some, weather change may not necessarily be the cause.
Does change in weather cause headaches?
Yes, the change in weather can induce migraines, mainly due to the change in barometric pressure. Barometric pressure is the pressure in the atmosphere that applies to your body from the air. Since air fills the sinuses, therefore a change in that pressure may cause migraines.
Even though experts consider food as the primary trigger, weather as a trigger often goes unnoticed. Recent studies show that weather changes can trigger headaches in some people. It is difficult to point out precisely the type of weather pattern that activates migraine attacks. That is because different people complain about the weather causing their headache under other weather conditions.
In a survey by the National Headache Foundation, some of the weather triggers are:
- Change in temperature
- High humidity
- Strong winds
- Stormy weather
- Arid weather condition
Many experts suggest that single triggers, like a mild weather change, may not be responsible for causing a headache. However, there is an exception if the weather change is very severe. Hence, headaches usually start when two or more triggers combine, as a change in weather and a glass of wine. Weather change can also be just a trigger if the person is already vulnerable to migraines. The reasons can be due to lack of sleep or stress. Hence, it becomes hard to point out precisely the effects of weather change on headaches.
How do you know if you are weather-sensitive?
Few studies show that most people with migraines think that weather change triggers their headaches. But after a thorough investigation, they observed that they were wrong about it. However, in some people, weather change started the migraines, i.e., they were weather sensitive. And they also observed that the particular weather pattern which affected each of them varied from person to person.
Which type of weather changes affects most headaches?
1. Temperature and humidity:
2. Barometric pressure:
3. Sunshine hours:
4. Strong winds:
Some people with migraines were suffering at a time during the fall of the barometric pressure. Others experienced more migraines the following day when there was blowing wind, mostly when the wind was extreme. Therefore, though both groups were sensitive to the Chinook, there were two different reactions that the weather system caused.
What are the common symptoms of weather-related headaches?
- Vomiting and nausea
- Higher sensitivity to light
- Lack of sensation in the face and neck
- Aching in one or both the temples
- Dizziness
You may be experiencing weather-related headaches if you happen to have these symptoms when the weather changes.
What are the steps you can take to prevent weather-related headaches?
There are specific headache triggers like red wine, which you can avoid. However, it is a big challenge to avoid weather. You can try moving to a different location with a preferable weather type. But this move is always uncertain as another weather condition may be the reason for another headache too.
The safest methods to handle migraines that are outcomes of the weather conditions are to avoid or manage other stimuli. The management of triggers that are in your control is one way of preventing the attacks.
Some of the steps you can take are:
1. Maintaining proper sleep routine and having adequate sleep:
Getting at least 7-8 hours of daily sleep will keep you healthy and reduce stress on your mental health. It is also known to help get rid of occurring headaches.
2. No skipping of meals.
3. Keeping yourself hydrated:
4. Avoiding possible food triggers:
Some people may have the same food triggers, while others may have different food triggers. Hence, with experience and knowledge of your respective food trigger, it is best to avoid them. Some common headache triggering foods are red wine, coffee, cheeses, chocolates, citrus fruits, dry fruits, etc.
5. Managing proper schedule to avoid stress:
6. Monitoring weather changes:
7. Medications:
8. Maintaining a headache diary:
When should you see a doctor, and how to diagnose it?
If the attacks become frequent, it is best to consult your doctor and ask for daily preventive medication. If you feel that the weather changes are triggering your headaches, let your doctor know about it.
There is no particular test to detect weather-related headaches. Hence, it is essential to provide your doctor with enough information about your headache. The information may be about how long your headaches last, what time they occur, your diet, etc.
As previously stated, it will be beneficial for you to maintain a headache diary. That is to make it easier for even the doctor to analyze your condition. If it is your first time visiting a doctor, you may have to go through various kinds of tests. The tests help to rule out probabilities of other sicknesses.