Am I just me or a storm is coming? If you are one of the 39 million people living with migraines, it is very likely that an intense headache will start when the weather changes.
You are not alone. Studies reveal that between 30 and 50% of people with migraines identify some rate of climate change as triggers, which makes it the most common cause of migraine.
However, it is also one of the most disconcerting to be part of some people who are more sensitive to climate
As a neurologist and head specialist that he exercises in Colorado, a place with frequent climatic changes, my patients often tell me that the weather is one of the main triggers of their migraines. This can interrupt work, school and social plans, and generate a feeling of helplessness.
Doctors still do not fully understand why some brains are more sensitive to environmental changes.
What we do know is that people with migraines have especially sensitive nervous systems and that certain environmental changes, such as changes in atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and air quality, can activate pathways in the brain that cause pain.
Main ways in which the weather can trigger migraines
Meteorological triggers can vary from one person to another, but there are some common guilty of migraine:
Changes in barometric pressure, or changes in atmospheric pressure, are among the most cited triggers, because when a stormy system approaches, atmospheric pressure decreases. Some scientists believe that this change can affect the pressure inside the head or the way in which the blood vessels of the brain dilate and contract.
A theory argues that changes in barometric pressure can cause a small imbalance in the pressure between the interior of the skull and the outer environment. This could directly stimulate nerves to head pain, triggering inflammation and the beginning of a migraine.
Others indicate inflammation, the way in which the brain processes sensory information and changes in serotonin levels, which play a key role in migraine activation.
Extreme temperatures, with very hot or very cold days, or sudden temperature changes, can alter the internal balance of the body. High humidity or sudden changes in moisture levels can have a similar effect.
Air pollutants, such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide, can cause inflammation in the nerves involved in migraines.
Intense sunlight can also be especially annoying, probably due to greater light sensitivity and a hyperactive visual processing system in the brain.
Strong rays and winds may also be related to migraine attacks in certain people.
In summary, climatic changes can act as stressful factors in a brain that is already scheduled to be more sensitive. The triggers and exact responses vary from one person to another, but research suggests that the interaction between climate and our biology plays an important role in a subgroup of patients with migraines.
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Measures you can take to reduce pain
You cannot change the weather, but it can be proactive. Here are some tips for your routine against migraine to be climate resistant:
Record your migraines and consult the prognosis: use a newspaper or an application for migraines to record when attacks and climatic conditions occur. Patterns may arise, such as attacks one day before rain or during temperature changes, which will allow you to adjust your medication schedule or plan.
Develop healthy food, sleep and exercise habits: dehydration, lack of sleep and skip meals can aggravate the effects of climatic factors, so keeping your body in balance helps reduce vulnerability. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can also help.
Create an environment conducive to migraine: in the days with intense sun or high humidity, stay at home. The sunglasses, the masks or even glasses with blue light filter can be useful. Some people discover that certain ear plugs can reduce pressure changes in the middle ear.
Try meditation, full care techniques or bioretro -food, which teach people to moderate their physiological responses, such as muscle and breathing. These strategies can help your nervous system become less reactive over time, which can be especially useful when dealing with uncontrollable triggers such as climate.
Consider a previous treatment: if you know that a storm could trigger your migraines, you can have rescue medications at hand or even self -medicate preventively during meteorological phenomena.
Consider a preventive treatment: if the weather causes frequent migraines, consult your health professional on preventive treatments (medications, supplements or neuromodulation devices) that can be used regularly to reduce the incidence of migraines.
The general panorama
It is important to remember that, although the weather can be a trigger, it is rarely the only one. The migraine is usually the result of a perfect combination of factors: genetic susceptibility, hormones, stress, sleep, food and, yes, climate.
Therefore, identifying your personal triggers and preparing a plan, if necessary, with the support of a medical professional, can make a big difference in migraine management.
Climate -related migraine can be one of the most frustrating triggers, since it seems to be completely out of your control. However, with knowledge, monitoring and appropriate treatment strategies, you can recover the feeling of control.
*Danielle Wilhour is an attached professor of neurology at the Anschutz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado.
This text was originally published in The Conversation
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