New U.S. Studies shows that a hot day can increase the hazard of a migraine the following day, leading to the notion that weather may trigger migraines.
The potential risk increases 7.5% for each 5 Celsius (9 Fahrenheit) increase in temperature.
Unlike other headaches, migraines are chronic, more usual in women (maybe because of hormonal influence) and often run in the family.
Diet can influence the number of migraines you suffer with, caffeine and alcohol withdrawal are also well-known for their tie to headaches.
Current estimates have almost 18% of women and 6% of men in the US admitting to dealing with these withering headaches.
The options to help cope with the nausea and pain have improved tremendously, and this along with lifestyle adaptations and other self-help methods can really make a difference in the frequency and severity of headaches for many.
In addition to a higher temperature, this research discovered a connection between migraine headaches and lower barometer readings. Therefore, monitoring air pressure or a coming storm could also be a good precaution.
The connection however isn't as strong as the one to temperature, but it is there and could provide an early warning that some pain might be on its way.
Mountain climbers or hikers might note that exposure to the different air pressure at higher altitudes can also increase the possibility of a headache.
Amazingly the work identified no link between air pollution and headaches.
The study, released in the March 10, 2009 issue of the journal Neurology, involved over 7,000 subjects whose headache had them going to the emergency department of a well-known U.S. infirmary, Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, between May 2000 and December 2007.
Three quarters (75%) of the subjects were adult females. Of the total number of subjects 2,250 were diagnosed to have a migraine; 4,803 with stress or undiagnosed headaches.
The study team also employed meteorological and pollution monitors to monitor environmental influences like temperature, air pollution index and barometric pressure a week before and a week after the patients visit.
"Fairly consistently, it was warmer on the days that individuals came in than on control days before and afterwards," explains Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, lead author on the study and a doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
It's not understood why (or how) temperature may be tied in to migraines.
Hot days means we leave air conditioning on. The heat makes doing any physical activity out door hot and sweaty.
Getting severely dehydrated is more likely on hot days. Headaches are a complex process that may be affected by many things, some of which are not yet understood.
Dr. Mukamal comments, "These findings help tell us that the environment around us does affect our health and, in terms of headaches, may be impacting many, many people on a daily basis."
So, the research confirms what lots of people who deal with migraines on an all to regular basis, that weather can spark a headache.
Knowing this, it certainly will do you no harm to follow temperature and barometer readings and use this data to ward off a potential attack.
This does not mean taking medication but taking precautions like having your sunglasses ready, keep eyestrain to a minimum and avoid other triggers that might bring on a damaging headachethat makes you want to hide in a dark corner of the room.
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