How many times have your or someone you know complained that a change in weather caused a headache? Changes in temperature, humidity, air quality, and sunlight can all affect many people. This article will discuss the common belief that weather changes can cause headaches. It will also explain how to prevent and treat them. It is not clear what the relationship between headaches, weather, and weather is.
Research
Research on the topic has yielded mixed results from medical authorities. Headache triggers include high and low temperatures, humidity, barometric pressures, rain, sunshine, wind, spherics, electromagnetic impulses, pollution, and even the amount of caffeinated beverages that are consumed due to hot/cold weather. While doctors may agree that weather changes can affect headache frequency, each patient’s situation is different. Research has not shown that every weather event affects everyone equally.
Headaches are common
Headaches are a common occurrence. In fact, there is a 90% chance that you will experience one in your lifetime. Migraine headaches are the most common type of headache. Headache usually starts in the morning. It can last from 4 to 72 hours. The pain is usually felt on one side of your face, but it can also affect both sides. Normal activity can make the pain worse and eventually worsen. Visual symptoms like flickering lights and spots, or wavy lines are signs of a headache. These symptoms usually resolve in less than an hour.
Hormonal Factor
These include monthly cycles, pregnancy and hormone replacement therapy. Foods-caffeine and chocolate, alcohol, aged dairy products (yogurt, sour cream), nitrates [cured meat], fruits (avocado), bananas, citrus, figs or raisins), vegetables, beans, olives and onions, pickles and snow peas), and sulfites. Medication-barbiturates, benzodiazepines (xanax, ativan, klonopin) opioids, ergotamine and caffeine compounds.
These medications can both cause headaches or treat them. It is helpful to keep a headache diary if you have determined that weather changes are the cause of your headaches. Keep the diary for at most a month. The diary should be brought to your next appointment with the doctor. Your doctor will discuss the results with you and offer treatment options.
Options
There are many options available depending on the severity, frequency, and pre-existing conditions of migraine headaches. There are three options for over-the-counter pain relief: acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen. These are good for mild headaches. They work better if taken immediately. They can also be used prophylactically, but this could lead to overuse.