Many people report that when the weather changes, they experience more headaches. And the phenomenon is not unknown to migraine sufferers either. But how are headaches and weather related? And what about the so-called weather sensitivity?
Doctors distinguish different types of headaches. The two most common are tension headaches and migraines. Cluster headaches are less common, but very annoying. While tension headaches are mild to moderate and feel like a clamp on your head, people with migraines report moderate to severe recurrent unilateral headache attacks.
Cluster headaches are considered the most intense headaches. He appears attack-like and one-sided. The pain center is located behind the eye. As much as headache types differ, many sufferers have one thing in common: they report more symptoms when weather conditions change.
Changes in air temperature, humidity, and air pressure are believed to be causative factors that trigger tension headache symptoms, as well as in view of migraine attacks. “Scientific studies on this subject do not provide a clear picture.
However, what has been demonstrated and can be observed time and time again in daily practice is the influence of weather changes on the occurrence of headaches – both tension headaches and migraines,” says Dr Charly Gaul, a specialist in neurology and special pain. therapy at the Frankfurt am Main Headache Center and General Secretary and Press Spokesperson of the German Migraine and Headache Association (DMKG).
“The greater the fluctuations in temperature and air pressure, the more likely it is that an attack will occur. This could explain why headaches can build up as you move from winter to spring, and then again between fall and winter.
But extreme heat, which often occurs in the summer, also causes problems for the head. Intense sunlight can cause heat stroke or heat stroke. Heat stroke irritates the meninges due to the heat. Headache develops, accompanied by dizziness and nausea.
Heat stroke is much more dangerous. The body overheats. In addition to severe headache, dry and hot skin and high fever, dizziness, cramps, confusion and even loss of consciousness can occur.
“Excessive heat is perceived as a physical stressor. This can promote headaches, as can other stressors. In the case of heat stroke, medically known as solar radiation, those affected should get out of the sun, cool their head and neck, and drink plenty of fluids. Heatstroke, on the other hand, is an emergency that can even cause brain swelling. If there is any suspicion, the emergency doctor must be called immediately,” explains the headache expert.
Associate Professor Dr. Charly Gaul is Secretary General and Press Officer of the German Migraine and Headache Association. V. (DMKG). The certified DMKG expert in the field of headaches and facial pain and a specialist in neurology and special pain therapy works at the Headache Center in Frankfurt am Main.
In addition to extreme heat, the cold is often a strain on the head. The cold stimuli can irritate the head and face in many ways. For example, the common cold is often a risk factor for patients with trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder of the trigeminal nerve. This is responsible for the sensory perception of the face, the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose and the cornea. Affected people can feel the most intense pain even with a light touch to the face, a breath of air or cold.
“Patients with trigeminal neuralgia experience winter as very uncomfortable because cold winds can trigger bouts of this exciting facial pain,” says Gaul. «Another example of a cold headache is the ‘brain freeze’ or ‘ice cream headache’. The rapid cooling of the palate and back of the throat when eating ice cream can cause short, unpleasant headaches. The risk of scooping ice is greater than licking ice, where the cooling is lower.”
Cluster headaches are considered the most severe form of headache. It occurs attack-like on one side of the head. Those affected feel the maximum pain behind the eye. The nose often flares out.
The attacks occur up to eight times a day and also at night, often shortly after falling asleep and in the early hours of the morning. A pain attack can last from a few minutes to several hours. These patients are often not unfamiliar with the weather and a change in the weather can be experienced as a trigger.
“Until now we have not had the pathophysiological knowledge to explain such phenomena. Nevertheless, sensitivity to the weather can also be observed again and again with cluster headaches. Cluster headaches are generally much less common in the summer than in the fall and spring. It’s not known why this is so,” says Gaul.
Used sources:
source: watson
I’m Maxine Reitz, a journalist and news writer at 24 Instant News. I specialize in health-related topics and have written hundreds of articles on the subject. My work has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Healthline. As an experienced professional in the industry, I have consistently demonstrated an ability to develop compelling stories that engage readers.
