Storms, rain, wind, but also sun and strong heat can lead to the onset of various physical and emotional disorders. In fact, changes in weather can cause, among other manifestations, also migraine from barometric pressure or mild headache . This is because people are influenced by changes in barometric pressure, light, temperature and humidity.
Why does weather change cause headaches?
The worsening of pain in conjunction with climate changes mainly affects the weaker areas of the body such as the cervical tract or the back , but also those already affected by fractures , old surgeries, hernias or other disorders. The same consequences for subjects who suffer from chronic painful inflammatory diseases such as arthritis , migraines , fibromyalgia , ankylosing spondylitis or neuropathy.
Changes in barometric (or air) pressure often occur during a thunderstorm when cold and warm air mix. These changes in the force (or weight ) of the air can interfere with the fluid balance in the sinuses and cause headaches. As can sudden changes in temperature, from warm to cold , or vice versa. In particular, a drop in barometric pressure is a known trigger for migraines. Barometric pressure headaches are also related to the vascular theory of migraines. This theory suggests that blood vessels in the brain dilate—which can happen during fluctuations in barometric pressure—and then constrict, which causes headaches, even severe ones.
During a thunderstorm, with the presence of lightning, the occurrence of headaches and migraines increases. The reason is in the short-duration, low-intensity electromagnetic pulses that can trigger headache symptoms . Heat and sunlight can also contribute to the onset of headaches, not just cold or bad weather. In fact, migraines are more frequent on sunny days in cases of photosensitive subjects.
In women, hormones can also cause headaches .
Headache is also one of the most common symptoms of sinusitis .
One of the causes of headaches is also Havana syndrome .
Furthermore, headaches are not all the same and depending on where they occur they have different causes.
Headaches can also occur on a plane. Here’s what else happens to your body during a long flight.
Triggering factors
Many people have reported a higher incidence of headaches when it rains, when it is cloudy or, more generally, when there is a significant change in the weather. Headaches occur more frequently in cases of higher than normal atmospheric pressure, reduced wind speed and daily variations in sunlight .
It should be considered, however, that particular weather and environmental conditions – such as, for example, prolonged exposure to the sun and high temperatures , can still facilitate the onset of headache attacks. The reasons, in this case, are to be attributed to muscular tension in the forehead, eye strain , photosensitivity , dehydration , therefore heat, light, and loss of liquids.
Meteoropathy: Cause of Migraines
Meteoropathy (or meteoropathic syndrome ) is defined as that set of emotional and physical disorders closely related to changes in the weather, seasons or climate. As the weather conditions change, the body must adapt and undergoes ” stress “. Those who are more vulnerable are unable to properly metabolise this alteration and feel unwell. Those who suffer from pathologies such as hypertension , rheumatism , depression , headache etc. are more vulnerable.
The main symptoms of meteoropathy are: headache, mood swings (depression, irritability, nervousness etc.), drops in blood pressure, tiredness , drowsiness , difficulty concentrating , palpitations , joint pain and stomach ache .
How to Prevent Migraine Attacks
Although you cannot control or counteract changes in weather and climate conditions, you can take some steps to avoid headaches. The first thing to do is to keep a diary , in which you write down your headache attacks to track how many days in total you have had the problem. This will help you identify triggers (including changes in the weather) and thus avoid going out or exposing yourself to such changes. It is always useful to talk to your doctor about what you have found, and the correlation between headaches and weather . It is also essential to avoid all those foods that trigger migraines, especially when thunderstorms or rain are forecast. These are, for example: alcohol , seeds, peanuts , leavened products, preservatives .
A healthy lifestyle can help alleviate barometric pressure headaches. For example, proper nutrition and regular exercise help build a strong immune system , which can help prevent the onset of the disorder. Similarly, getting the right amount of sleep and enjoying restful sleep can help. If bright sunlight is one of the triggers for migraines, sports sunglasses can be helpful outdoors. This can also be helpful indoors , if the neon lights, for example, are on because the weather is bad outside.
