| I had heard all the common migraine triggers, and | | | | A team of neurologists studied these records and |
| tried avoiding them, with no effect. Then I heard | | | | matched the dates in the logs with weather |
| about a surprising one I had never thought of | | | | records for the area that showed when the |
| before. Yet it seemed to tie in with my migraine | | | | Chinook had been blowing. |
| diary. Now, here I was, sitting facing the doctor, | | | | 32 of the 75 patients suffered migraines |
| wondering what his reaction would be. | | | | immediately preceding or during Chinooks. This is a |
| The doctor looked at me with something | | | | very high percentage for a condition most |
| resembling interest for the first time. | | | | physicians until then had brushed aside as being 'all |
| Imagine my surprise, and relief, when he said | | | | in the patient's head'. Doctors finally started taking |
| "Yes, I heard that at a medical conference | | | | patients seriously. |
| recently. "Changes in barometric pressure, eh? We | | | | Most migraines that respond to medication can |
| might be able to do something about that." | | | | actually be averted if the dosage is taken at the |
| Well, he was the only doctor I'd ever met who | | | | first warning signal that a migraine is about to |
| said that, I thought. Things suddenly looked | | | | occur. There is hope that sufferers from weather |
| brighter. No, he hadn't said for sure that he could | | | | related migraines can stave of an attack simply |
| fix me, but hey, he didn't look at me like I was | | | | by monitoring the weather reports and taking |
| crazy, either... | | | | medication when the conditions are preparing to |
| ~(Anonymous Migraine Patient) | | | | undergo drastic change. |
| Many migraine sufferers have attempted for | | | | So far several other studies have been done that |
| years to tell doctors that they don't seem to | | | | seem to confirm the Canadian university's results. |
| have any of the triggers on the migraine list; | | | | Several other medical establishments, the Mayo |
| rather, their vicious headaches seemed linked to | | | | Clinic among them, ran their own study and said |
| weather patterns. This usually leads to skepticism, | | | | the results were inconclusive.(*3) |
| if not outright disbelief and dismissal of migraine | | | | Many migraine sufferers are now having their |
| claims. | | | | symptoms acknowledged and treated, however, |
| The frequently asked question is "OK, what kind | | | | and can take steps to prevent or lessen the |
| of weather supposedly triggers these migraines | | | | effects of weather triggered migraines. Medication |
| of yours?" | | | | is one possibility, with propranolol being the most |
| Problem with that question is, they don't like the | | | | popular preventive medication for weather related |
| answer: "Well, different kinds, really..." | | | | migraines. Other avenues include relaxation |
| It's not the weather, precisely, you see. It's the | | | | techniques, massage, aromatherapy or even |
| change in the weather. When it's hot, but the wind | | | | acupuncture or acupressure therapy. |
| picks up and the sky turns a funny color. When | | | | Logging a diary of migraine attacks is a useful |
| it's cold and clear and still as can be, but the | | | | way to check if they can be linked to weather |
| weekend forecast calls for snow. When it's so | | | | changes. Chart as much as you can as often as |
| humid you can hardly breathe, and the thunder | | | | you can; if your headaches turn out to not be |
| keeps rumbling but the rain just won't start. | | | | triggered by weather changes, you might uncover |
| Some people get headaches when it's too hot or | | | | another reason from data you collect, if you |
| too cold, if it's storming, if the sun is bright, if the | | | | include diet, sleeping patterns and stress levels as |
| wind blows too hard. Most, however, get | | | | well. |
| migraines when the weather shifts from one | | | | Educate yourself by looking up various case |
| extreme to the other, whether the change be in | | | | studies and researching the different medications |
| temperature, humidity levels or barometric | | | | and techniques available to prevent and treat |
| pressure. | | | | migraines. You know your own body better than |
| A 2000 study at the University of Calgary in | | | | anyone else; try to make it as healthy as possible |
| Alberta, Canada tracked 75 migraine patients for | | | | and figure out ways to cut down on stress in |
| two years.(*1) A specific weather pattern known | | | | your life. Any migraine, whether the trigger be |
| as the Chinook is particular to the region; warm | | | | weather, food or hormone related, can be |
| westerly winds flowing into the area from late fall | | | | exacerbated by stress. |
| to early spring can cause extreme changes in | | | | If you determine that your headaches are indeed |
| temperature and barometric pressure. There is a | | | | set off by weather patterns, take your logbook |
| recorded instance of a temperature shift greater | | | | in with you to your doctor's appointment. This will |
| than 100 degrees F in a single day, and winds of | | | | help you make your case if your doctor is a |
| over 100 miles per hour have also been | | | | skeptic. Together you and your physician should |
| documented.(*2) | | | | be able to come up with a plan to reduce your |
| The migraine patients, aged 16 to 65, were asked | | | | chances of getting migraines and minimize the |
| to keep a detailed log of the dates that they | | | | severity of any headaches you do suffer. |
| suffered migraines, the time the headaches | | | | Hopefully, just being validated in your suspicions |
| started and ended, and the severity of the pain. | | | | about your migraines being linked to weather will |
| The trial subjects did not know that the effect of | | | | be a comfort; knowing your enemy is half the |
| changes in barometric pressure was being studied. | | | | battle won! |