Change in weather and headaches are related

Experts point out how varying weather patterns can affect one’s health and what one can do to avoid it

Does weather play a role in triggering headaches or migraine attacks Probably yes. Experts believe that headache is a protective mechanism wherein the body sends signals that it is undergoing stress due to adverse environmental conditions.

Environmental factors such as changes in temperature, humidity, altitude and change in barometric pressures trigger headache. Weather changes cause biological changes in the body's chemical balance and trigger headaches.

When there is a sudden rise in temperature by about five degrees, people are usually unprepared and exposed to bright light and extreme heat, which causes excessive sweating and dehydration. Similarly, sudden drop in temperature and change in barometric pressure also triggers headaches.

Changes in temperature not only trigger headaches but also increase the severity of headaches.

Immediate Medical intervention in severe cases Patients usually seek hospital care when the headache worsens or if the sudden onset is intense. Along with the headache, some of the associated symptoms are fever, neck stiffness, loss of consciousness, weakness, change in vision, vomiting and dizziness.

Persistent headaches are found to cause fatigue, sleep problems and increase in blood pressure. Dr Pramati Reddy, consultant physician at Apollo Hospitals, explains, “Headaches cause physical changes and the mind suffers from anxiety, restlessness, irritability, lack of focus, sadness and depression. When there are sudden changes in the environment, there is very little prevention mechanism available in the human body. Hence, patients with regular complaints of headaches due to environment are advised to slow down their activities.”

Experts state that many people suffer from issues such as not being able to perform well at work, inability to study or concentrate and to carry out normal works. But they have little option as pushing the body and mind can backfire with the illness worsening.

Relax and try to meditate The exact reason behind headaches or migraine attacks has always been a matter of major dispute.

So far, it is concluded that stress-related headaches are more common during summer and prolonged rainy season. Summer increases the core body temperature, thereby leading to migraine. Occasionally, bright sunlight getting reflected from the retina stimulates sympathetic response, which leads to migraine. Dr Jaydeep Ray Chaudhuri, senior neuro physician at Yashoda Hospitals, explains, “Hot blood, bright sunlight, monotonous weather and dehydration during summer are important reasons for migraine." Migraine sufferers have a genetic defect in them which, along with environmental factors, leads to increased chemical and neural actively in small brain, trigeminal nerve complex, which, in turn, leads to headache. So environmental changes outside free body like weather, sound, noise, work pressure etc and internal factors like mental stress, worries, fever, diarrhea can also lead to headache.” Despite the severe environmental changes, a person can modify his or her headache by trying relaxation, yoga, meditation and behaviour modification.

Specific weather triggers include Changes in humidity Changes in temperature Storms Extremely dry conditions Dusty environment

Other triggers found to cause headaches Intense odors Bright or flickering lights Smoke Altitude changes High winds

Each individual has unique triggers for headaches... Change in humidity: It causes increased sweating and loss of sodium and potassium in the body. Change in temperature: Rise in temperature causes the hot blood to flow faster leading to dehydration, poor sleep in summer and irritation.

Change in temperature: Sudden dip in the temperature or extreme cold weather can trigger migraine. Cyclones and tsunamis cause headaches due to the stress. Dusty environment causes irritation and allergy which in turn causes headache.