Weather Headaches

Weather headaches, as the name implies, are headaches that are associated with the weather. Changes in weather conditions (linked to variations in air pressure) affect weather sensitive people. Another name for air pressure is barometric pressure and this can be measured using a barometer. Weather headaches can also be termed Barometric Pressure Headaches.

The articles found on WeatherHeadaches.com will cover the symptoms, causes and treatment for weather headaches, and recommend equipment that a person suffering from weather headaches should own.

Although a person who suffers from this type of headache does not need to be a weather expert, it is advantageous for them to understand basic weather principles and know why weather conditions and headaches are associated. Forewarned is forearmed, and in this case, it is an important step in taking control of their condition. Through observing the weather, they will be able to predict the probability of their headaches occurring and thereby take preventative action to reduce headache frequency and/or severity.

Finally, although progress has been made regarding understanding the causes of weather headaches and the best way to treat them, it is a condition that is still not fully understood. Therefore, we aim to keep you updated with the latest news and advances concerning the topic of weather headaches. Remember to bookmark us and come back soon.

Symptoms of Weather Headaches

Diagnosing whether a person is weather sensitive may take time because the frequency, severity and symptoms of weather headaches vary considerably between individuals. For this reason, headaches such as these may simply be discounted or ‘passed off’ for any number of reasons e.g. late night, too much wine.

This situation can continue for many years before the person starts slowly to put ‘the pieces of the jigsaw’ together. They will begin to realize that there is an uncanny coincidence between certain weather conditions and the risk of them developing headache symptoms; even then, most people will never really work out the exact link. Why? Because that will require them keeping a headache diary over a period of time. This will record when their headaches occur, their severity and certain variables such as air pressure.

What symptoms can one expect if they suffer from weather headaches?

People can develop pain around the lower back part of the head, the forehead area and/or region at sides of the nose, whilst others develop a general headache that can have a vise-like nature. The headache is most common on both sides of the head.

However, some people develop more intense and reoccurring headaches that are called migraines. For these people, changing weather conditions can act as a migraine trigger. They may also have their migraines triggered by other things such as certain foods or drinks, irregular amounts of sleep or hormonal changes. When a person suffers from migraine headaches a variety of possible symptoms can occur, for example:

Severe pain typically on one side of head and/or in the temples, head or eyes that can last many days.
Possible aura, flashes or other visual disturbances.
Sensitivity to sound, bright lights or strong aromas during the attack.
Nausea with possible vomiting.
Problems speaking and altered perception.
Numbness or tingling sensations.

Therefore, if a person gets headaches or migraines they should consider the possibility that they may be experiencing weather related headaches. However, it should be noted that although the overwhelming majority of headache and migraines sufferers do not have any serious or life threatening underlying medical condition, an individual who develops persistent or unusual symptoms should seek medical advice.

Having looked into the symptoms of weather headaches, the next article in the WeatherHeadaches.com series will look at the cause of weather headaches.

Cause of Weather Headaches

Following on from the previous article entitled symptoms of weather headaches, we now turn our attention to the cause of weather headaches.

Throughout history, people have known that the weather plays a significant role in the world around them including their health. However, the reason why it should cause some people to experience headaches is not fully understood at present. Various suggestion have been forwarded such as:

Ionization.
Pressure variations in various tubes, sacs, cavities and blood vessels in the head region.
Pressure related chemical changes in the body.

One of the more popular suggestions for the cause of weather headaches involves the association between varying air pressure and changing oxygen levels in the head. When oxygen levels fluctuate, the blood vessels respond by either dilating or constricting and this, in conjunction with various chemical being released, leads to headaches and migraines.

However, recent studies using MRI and other techniques indicate that the situation is more complex in nature, and that numerous changes can occur in the brain leading to headache or migraine formation. Even though the precise cause and mechanism may still remain elusive, fortunately, effective treatment of weather headache symptoms is still possible.

WeatherHeadaches.com will aim to keep you informed when new studies and research shed further light on the underlying cause of weather headaches. The next article in this series will consider weather headaches and the weather because through understanding how they interact, a person will be able to control and treat their headaches more effectively.