Are migraines caused by weather changes?

Although the exact cause of migraines is not known, experts suggest that genes, changes in the brain or levels of brain chemicals may be involved. Also, common triggers for migraines can be food, hormone changes, stress, and even the weather.

1. The link between migraines and weather changes

Migraine or headache Migraine is a sudden throbbing pain on one side of the head that can last from a few hours to a few days. Migraine disease affects the ability to work and daily activities of the sufferer if not treated promptly. Everyone is likely to get migraines, but it's common between the ages of 10 and 45, with women at a higher risk.
According to a 2015 analysis in Taiwan, up to half of people living with migraines report changes in weather triggering their pain. Storms, temperature differences, and changes in barometric pressure can all contribute to triggering these headaches. This is because extreme weather events have affected levels of serotonin and other brain chemicals.
Research on the link between migraines and changes in weather has been fraught with difficulty. Everyone responds differently to climate change, so researchers can't clearly conclude how and why climate change causes headaches.

Thời tiết thay đổi — Đau đầu do thời tiết gây ra nhiều khó chịu, phiền toái

Not everyone reacts to weather changes in the same way. While high temperatures cause headaches in some people, others get migraines when it gets cold. Some people are more sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. In some cases, a combination of different factors triggers a migraine. For example, you may have a headache on a rainy, humid day, but at the same time you are stressed or hungry.

2. Temperature and humidity

The link between temperature, humidity, and migraines is not always consistent. In general, high heat and humidity are more likely to trigger migraines. However, sudden changes in temperature or humidity - rapidly rising or falling, can also be a factor.
A 2017 study found that the number of people presenting with migraines increases on warm, humid days; on the contrary, decrease on cold and dry days. Another study found an increased number of patients hospitalized for migraines on hot, dry days. The reason for increased headaches in hot weather could be dehydration, which is one of the most widely recognized causes of migraine by doctors.
How the body reacts to heat and humidity can depend on each person's individual sensitivity. According to one study, people who are sensitive to temperature have more headaches in the winter, while others have more headaches in the summer.

nhiệt độ — Nhiệt độ thay đổi là nguyên nhân gây nên những cơn đau nửa đầu

3. Sunshine

Sometimes sunlight can also trigger a migraine. In other words, sunlight is considered a common headache trigger.
Researchers say sunlight can pass through the retina and optic nerve, then activate sensitive neurons in the brain. According to another theory, ultraviolet radiation from the sun releases chemicals in the skin that dilate blood vessels, thereby triggering migraines.
It has been suggested that the heat and glare of the sun will help determine if a change in weather causes headaches. In one small study, most people got more migraines when exposed to summer (stronger) sun than to winter (weaker) sun.

4. Change in atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure is a measurement of the pressure in the air. An increase in atmospheric pressure means that the air pressure is increasing, and vice versa. As atmospheric pressure increases, blood vessels narrow; When the pressure drops, the blood vessels widen. This is the mechanism by which barometric pressure affects headaches.
A small Japanese study found that even a small decrease in barometric pressure increased migraine attacks. This is because a decrease in barometric pressure causes the blood vessels in the brain to widen, which triggers the release of serotonin.
When serotonin levels increase, the visual aura occurs. When serotonin levels drop again, blood vessels swell and trigger a migraine.

Đau nửa đầu có thể do sự thay đổi áp suất khí quyển

5. How to prevent migraines

While you can't control the weather, you can control your migraines when the temperature or humidity changes. It's important to find the right trigger for the pain. Therefore, you should:
Keep a diary of your migraines, along with the events that occurred during the attack. Over time, you'll learn the weather patterns that tend to give you headaches. Then, try to limit your time outdoors on days where the weather conditions are likely to give you headaches. If you must be out in the sun, protect your eyes with a pair of sunglasses with UV protection. See your doctor and take migraine medication at the first signs, avoid enduring the pain. Make healthy lifestyle choices by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and managing stress. These factors can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

In short, some migraine sufferers are more sensitive to changes in the weather. Weather-related triggers include sunshine, extreme heat or cold, high humidity or dry air, wind or storms, and changes in barometric pressure. It could be due to weather changes that throw off the balance of chemicals in the brain (like serotonin). Weather factors also often aggravate headache symptoms by affecting a person's mood and general health.
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References: mayoclinic.org, healthline.com