It is amazing how the weather can affect our health. Changes in the weather can bring on an allergy attack, cause allergies to flare up, or may even affect your blood pressure. If you suffer from migraines, did you know that changes in the weather may even trigger an attack?
Unfortunately, it’s true. Researchers have discovered that weather changes can be a trigger for some migraine sufferers.
Symptoms of Weather-Related Migraines
People suffering from migraines brought on by weather changes tend to experience migraines that involve nausea and vomiting, numbness in the neck and/or face, pain in the temples, and sensitivity to light. These symptoms will generally be accompanied by your usual migraine symptoms.
You can usually learn if the weather is a trigger for your migraines if you keep a migraine diary. Keep track of the weather, along with how you feel—particularly on days you start to feel a migraine attack coming on. After a while, you may notice a pattern in that you tend to get migraines after certain types of weather.
How Does Weather Affect Migraines
The real culprit behind weather and migraines lies in barometric pressure. This is the measurement of air pressure in the atmosphere. There is also air inside your sinus cavities. When barometric pressure drops, it can affect the air pressure in your head. The imbalance can trigger a migraine in some people.
How to Prepare for and Prevent Weather Migraines
When weather patterns begin to change and you believe it may trigger a migraine, you can make a proactive effort to prevent the migraine, or at least to lessen the severity.
When migraine-triggering weather occurs, make sure you’re staying hydrated and getting a good night’s sleep. Make efforts to manage stress, such as practicing yoga, meditation, or going for a massage. Dehydration, sleep deprivation, and stress can make migraines more severe.
Wear sunglasses to help prevent light sensitivity from causing pain. If you normally take pain relief medication for your migraines, take a dose when you feel the headache is going to start. These actions may help head it off at the pass.
Finally, regular visits to the chiropractor can help reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of migraines in general.
How We Treat Migraines
The upper cervical spine begins at the base of the skull and is where the brain stem connects to the spinal cord. This is the most vulnerable part of the spine and can easily become misaligned due to injury, accidents, or poor posture. When that happens, the tissue around the area may become inflamed and swollen. This can disrupt nerve signals traveling to and from the brain, which doctors believe may play a role in migraine headaches.
Dr. Alex Bello of Los Angeles Upper Cervical helps treat patients with migraines by realigning the upper cervical spine. This helps reduce inflammation and swelling. When your spine is properly aligned, you may note you have fewer aches, pains, and less overall tension. This too can help migraine sufferers. Most importantly, when the spine is properly aligned, it makes way for the body’s natural healing processes to commence to restore wellness.
Dr. Bello is a specialist in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, an upper cervical specialty. Blair practitioners use advanced 3D diagnostic imaging tools for superior assessments. Once the doctor has analyzed your spine he can make adjustments with more precision and a lighter touch.
If you’re suffering from migraines, don’t let this debilitating condition get in your way of doing the things you want to do in life. Contact Dr. Bello for a consultation. The doctor’s areas of coverage include Brentwood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, West Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas.