- Many people who get migraines experience worsening symptoms during extreme weather changes, hot or humid summer weather, or changes in barometric pressure.
- Several studies attempting to find a scientific correlation between weather and migraines have yielded conflicting results. However, many headache specialists recognize that weather can be a potential migraine trigger.
- Managing the triggers you can control, tracking the weather, avoiding outdoor activity during peak temperature hours, and keeping rescue medications on hand can help you manage migraine symptoms during the summer.
If you are living with migraines, you have probably noticed that certain triggers bring on your headaches. Common triggers include certain foods or beverages, or medications, bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, stress, or sleep changes. The warm, humid days of summer may also make some people more likely to develop a migraine or contribute to worsening migraine symptoms.
In fact, patients with both episodic and chronic migraine consistently report worsening symptoms with extreme weather changes, hot or humid weather, or changes in barometric pressure. However, researchers have been unable to find sufficient scientific evidence that identifies a clear correlation between migraine and weather. Despite this, many headache specialists recognize weather factors mentioned as potential migraine triggers.
Research challenges
Several studies attempting to find a scientific correlation between weather and migraines have yielded conflicting results. These contradictory results could be caused by several challenges that may affect researchers’ abilities to establish this correlation.
For example, many people with migraines have several triggers that could potentially affect them at the same time, so it’s difficult for researchers to single out the weather as the cause of someone’s migraine symptoms. Also, the definition and description of weather changes can be different for each person, and some people may be more sensitive to weather-related changes than others.
Minimizing weather-related migraine symptoms
If you notice that your migraine symptoms get worse in the summer, you’re not alone — and there are a few things you can do that may help you feel better.
The first step in minimizing the impact of weather on your migraine symptoms is understanding that high temperatures or high humidity can be a trigger.
