Does the weather really affect my headaches and migraines?

“I can feel it in my bones” – but can you really? 
 
Does the weather really affect my headaches and migraines?
 
Anecdotally, it has been said for many years that the weather can play a role in the perception of pain. People often state that they can predict a change in the weather by noticing pain in an area they may have injured years earlier or any arthritic joints they may have. More specifically, migraine and headache sufferers often report certain weather conditions causing a headache/migraine as well as increasing the intensity of their symptoms associated with their migraine/headache.
 
But how true is this?
 
Well, it turns out there is some truth to it.
 
According to the American Migraine Foundation, more than a third of people with migraines claim that weather patterns trigger their headaches, at least some of the time. Weather-related triggers also may worsen a headache caused by other triggers.
 
The most likely cause of this reported claim is a change in Atmospheric or Barometric pressure. Barometric pressure refers to the pressure in the air or the amount of force that is being applied to your body from the air. Researchers believe that changes in Barometric pressure cause a pressure difference between the sinus cavities, the structures and chambers of the inner ear, and the outside world.  Depending on how quickly they occur and their intensity, these pressure changes can cause persistent pain, especially in small, confined, air-filled systems, such as the sinus and ear chambers.

An increase in external pressure may also cause blood vessels to dilate and abnormal blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of a headache or a migraine. Due to migraine/headache sufferers having a known increased sensitivity within certain brain structures, small atmospheric changes would be easily detected.

This is why many migraine suffers feel that they can predict changes in weather especially when a storm is brewing.  Before a storm begins, the barometric pressure drops and can trigger the start of a migraine in many people with migraine.  They may get head pain, or other symptoms such as increased pressure inside the head.  Many people are sceptical that people can predict the weather, but migraine sufferers are especially sensitive to a lot of environmental factors, including changes in weather.


Additional to this, for some people, weather changes may cause imbalances in our brain chemicals, including serotonin, which has been directly linked to the severity of pain perceived by migraines and headache sufferers.
 
Other weather-related triggers reported by migraine sufferers tend to be:

• Bright sunlight
• Extreme heat or cold
• Sun glare
• High humidity
• Dry air
• Windy or stormy weather

 
If you feel any of these factors may be impacting your headaches or migraines, contact one of our experts on (03) 9486 7543 today for advice on how to manage them.

Written by Dr Jade (osteopath) - Located in our Highett Clinic.