CLEVELAND — Are you feeling physically affected by the wild weather swings we’ve had this week? More headaches than usual perhaps?
Well, chances are, you’re right.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, while you can get a migraine from other triggers, barometric pressure can also aggravate your symptoms.
In addition to typical migraine symptoms like nausea, vomiting and light and sound sensitivity, those who have a migraine triggered by barometric pressure may experience the following:
• Facial discomfort or pain around their sinuses.
• Post-nasal drip.
• Teary eyes.
“Those who get migraines with aura will have visual and sensory changes,” says Dr. Estemalik. “All these symptoms you wouldn’t typically see in people who just have sinus-related issues or allergy symptoms.”
So why do barometric changes cause headaches?
Research shows that changes in weather patterns are tied to changes in barometric pressure and temperature, and in turn, this can be associated with the onset of mild to severe headaches.
“For some people, it’s a fall in barometric pressure, for others, it could be a quick rise in temperature,” says Dr. Estemalik. “Either way, when these pressure changes occur, most commonly during a storm, a headache can be triggered.”
For what we consider to be the effect of weather on migraines, we’re most likely talking about how weather can contribute to the headache part of a migraine episode.
During a storm, cold and warm air mix to create variations in barometric (or air) pressure. This also is how wind, rain and thunderstorms are created. Barometric pressure is also known as the atmospheric pressure being applied against a given area — and in this case, that “area” is you.
Because your nasal and sinus cavities are air channels, any change in that pressure, especially a fall in barometric pressure, affects those areas. This forces fluid into tissues and can cause a disruption in fluid balance.
Some researchers also think the barometric change may affect the pressure on your brain and how the way your brain blocks or doesn’t block pain.
So, it’s true. You CAN sometimes blame that headache of yours ON THE WEATHER!