Does Barometric Pressure Cause Headaches?
By Scott Cimini on August 26, 2012, 11:27am
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My wife gets migraine headaches about twice a month and I’ve been keeping track of what the weather conditions are like when these migraines occur. One thing I’ve noticed is that every time she gets a migraine, the barometer is reading pretty high. Right now the barometric pressure is 30.32 in. and we’ve had fair weather for quite a while now. The last time she had a migraine it was also nice outside with a high barometric pressure. I did some research and found out some interesting facts.
There was a study done in 1981 that concluded that the human body expands and contracts blood vessels to compensate for the air pressure and that is what causes the discomfort. If you are prone to migraine headaches you will be more sensitive to these weather conditions when the air pressure is higher.
There is an actual product out there called The Migraine Barometer which is basically just a very accurate marine quality barometer. It will keep you prepared for any migraine causing weather that’s coming.
So how can you prepare for this to prevent headaches?
Purchase a barometer or stay tuned to your local news channel and know what the weather is going to be like. Luckily, Meteorologists know several days in advance when there will be a rise in pressure.
How can you treat the headache?
Many websites I’ve researched suggested getting an ionizer or humidifier to help. You can also try to dilate the blood vessels and improve circulation by drinking a glass of water with one teaspoon of cayenne pepper in it. Be sure to drink it slowly. (not fun)
Ginger also helps with migraines so cook with it, eat crystalized forms of it, or make some ginger tea. If you make the tea, add some honey because honey contains some helpful ingredients as well.
Click here for another WXedge.com article on the same topic
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