How to Prevent Migraines with Weather Changes

Preventing migraine triggers like caffeine, MSG, and glaring light are easy enough to monitor. Avoiding weather-induced attacks is more challenging. Intense light or approaching storms can excite a headache, but it's usually a rapid change in temperature, humidity or barometric pressure that triggers migraines. According to Dr. Stephen Silberstein, M.D., Professor of Neurology at Thomas Jefferson University, although migraine headaches are caused by physical changes in the brain, roughly 85 percent of sufferers report that diet or environmental changes trigger that familiar pain. If you feel weather is a significant cause of your attacks, there are a few ways to confront these migraines so you can comfortably and confidently start your day.

Things You'll Need

• Journal
• UV-ray sunglasses
• Digital barometer (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Start a headache journal. Record the time, date and weather each day. Mark specific weather conditions or events that might trigger your attacks. Especially note the daily barometric pressure. Blood vessels in your head expand or contract to compensate for pressure. Change in blood vessel size is one of the leading causes of migraine headaches.

• 2

  Invest in a digital barometer. Investigate a few different barometer types. The barometer shows a pressure change history chart, for every 2 to 48 hours. Feel symptoms when the pressure suddenly drops? Monitor it at a glance. Quality digital barometers aren't cheap but tend to give accurate, helpful readings.

• 3

  Try a humidifier or ionizer. Add moisture to the air to increase oxygen. These machines help clear up many weather-related headaches. However, if you're in a humid climate avoid adding more moisture to the air. A relaxing walk outdoors can help.

• 4

  Drink water. When we enter a colder or warmer season, what we drink changes too. Gulping soda or iced tea is fine in moderation, but both contain caffeine. Sipping coffee or tea should also be done in moderation. Water is the most healthy and effective choice.

• 5

  Check a weather website. Many online weather sources now have an "aches and pains" forecast. Experts base these forecasts on dropping barometric pressure, increased humidity, and rapid changes in temperature. Just enter your zip code or city.

• 6

  Take magnesium. Magnesium helps relax blood vessels. Studies have reported a higher rate of magnesium deficiencies in patients with migraines. Some patients report relief from supplements. Consult your physician first before trying any medicine or supplement.

• 7

  Wear quality sunglasses. Bright sunlight in the summer or reflected light on the ski-slopes can agitate a headache. Invest in optical-grade lenses. Be sure they're coated for UVA and UVB rays. Without a coating, the dark tint will actually make your exposure to the UV rays worse by allowing pupils to dilate and allowing more UV rays to enter the eye. Polarized lenses are especially effective, as they reduce scattered light which causes glare.