The Migraine Freedom Blog by Debbie Waidl

Weather Related Migraines: Fact or Fiction?

Imagine it’s a beautiful day outside when an unexpected shift in barometric pressure begins. The warm and cold air mingle, a storm is brewing, and if you are among many suffering from migraines, you probably can sense the pressure in your head building up already. You don’t require a weather channel or a window to know what's up; your own head is your reliable meteorologist! In this blog post, we’re diving into whether or not these weather-related migraines are a myth or a fact!

Are Weather-Related Migraines Myth or Fact?

The debate on if weather-related migraines are myth or fact heats up in the scientific world. Also, while quite a few research studies argue that weather does not trigger migraines, a large number of sufferers beg to differ.

Conversely, other studies show that even a small decrease or increase in atmospheric pressure can lead to migraine pain, and these findings compel many to nod in agreement.

Understanding Weather’s Impact

The Cleveland Clinic says that because the sinuses and nasal cavities are air-filled areas, any fluctuation in pressure, especially a fall in atmospheric pressure, can affect these areas, leading to a fluid imbalance and consequently… pain.

Barometric shifts can also influence pressure on the brain, causing increased blood flow and the ability of the brain to block such a pain signal.

A survey conducted by the National Headache Foundation revealed that as many as 3 out of 4 people claim weather as a trigger for their headache pain.

I used to be among those 75% of respondents who felt that weather shifts aggravated their migraines. But now, I've reached a point where weather shifts do not impact my pain at all. Wondering how I managed this transformation? More on that will follow.

Identifying Weather Triggers

'Weather-related migraines' is a reality, according to the International Headache Society.

They can be triggered by:

Temperature shifts.
Dry conditions.
Storms.
Barometric and pressure changes.
Bright sunlight.
Changes in humidity.

Does this mean you will encounter a migraine every time the weather changes?

Should you uproot your life, relocate, and seek a different climate?

I've met numerous women who've done this - sold their homes, hunted for new jobs, and enrolled their kids into new schools, only to realize that their migraines persisted amidst all the changes they embraced.

The good news? You may not control the weather, but you can certainly control their impact on your migraines.

There’s no need for any drastic relocations.

Managing Weather-Related Migraines

If you think weather is a trigger for your migraines, you may want to track your migraines for a few months.

Remember, the tracking has to be comprehensive — covering sleep, stress, food, water, toxins, exercise patterns, and more. Only this can help you understand if weather has a causal or correlational relationship with your migraines.

Correlation is when two events occur together without one causing the other, whereas causation is when one event triggers the other.

Now, if you prefer the simpler route (just like me!) to manage your weather-related migraines, narrow your focus on 'The Migraine Threshold.'

Understanding the Migraine Threshold
The concept of the Migraine Threshold helps you understand how many triggers your body can tolerate before surrendering to a migraine.

Living under your Migraine Threshold and learning to raise it can be instrumental not just in dealing with weather changes, but also in achieving migraine freedom.

For instance, on a day when I had my period, didn't sleep well, skipped exercise, and had fast food for lunch, a thunderstorm might very likely trigger a migraine.

On the flip side, a well-rested day where I did yoga and had a healthy meal will hardly cause an inconvenient migraine, despite the storm.

This practice of understanding and raising your Migraine Threshold takes time and persistence, but remember, this is the key to your migraine freedom.

So, make healthier choices today.

After all, each small choice adds significant strides toward a pain-free life.

If you're eager to gain some immediate advice, don't miss out on this week's podcast episode dedicated to this subject, where we also share a helpful resource available for download.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debbie Waidl is the Owner of In The Balance Health Coaching LLC, and Founder of The Freedom From Migraines Method™ & The Migraine Freedom Protocol™
She supports busy moms living with Migraines.

Debbie will uncover what is holding them back from migraine freedom so they can live their life pain and symptom free, work productively, spend the time they want with family and friends, and stop missing out on the things they enjoy.

A message from Debbie:
"I was once right where you are now. 100% believing there was NO WAY to end migraines and my only option was to learn how to live with them or find that magic pill that maybe would work for a while. If anyone told me back then that I could end my pain once and for all, I would have called BS and popped another pill!

Skeptical times 10 was my middle name for sure because when you try it all and everyone tells you they can help you and they don’t. You stop believing… you lose HOPE!

I now realize I was approaching my migraines all backward.

I was trying to cover up symptoms versus trying to end my pain."

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