Neurologists Reveal Why Millions of Americans Suffered from Mysterious Migraines This Week

If you suffered from unexplained headaches this week, you weren’t alone.

Storms along the East Coast may have triggered migraines in millions of Americans, even those who don’t normally suffer from them, doctors say.

They told DailyMail.com that the “actual mechanism is unknown” but that it could be due to changes in atmospheric pressure associated with heavy rainfall and humidity.

When this pressure decreases, more air flows into the sinuses, leading to headaches and sinus pain. And extreme weather such as thunderstorms and intense winds trigger electrical signals in the brain that cause pain.

Atmospheric pressure, also called barometric pressure, is the mass of air that changes depending on the weather. For example, air pressure is usually high in good weather and low before or during storms.

Dr. Noah Rosen, a neurologist specializing in headaches and migraines at Northwell Health in New York, told DailyMail.com, “There are many aspects to weather, many of which can play a role in migraines. Barometric pressure is certainly one of them.”

The human sinuses are filled with air. When the air pressure drops due to an approaching storm, a pressure difference occurs between the outside air and the air in your sinuses. This leads to pain.

Researchers at Yale University Last year they also discovered that when the temperature changes significantly, the neurons in the brain that process pain are stimulated.

Cloudy, windy and rainy weather results in low air pressure, while dry and cool temperatures increase air pressure. And longer periods of bad weather can increase the risk of triggering migraines.

Dr. Emad Estemalik, a headache and facial pain specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, said: ‘For some people it means a drop in air pressure, for others it can mean a rapid increase in temperature.’

‘In any case, when these pressure changes occur, which usually happens during a storm, headaches can occur.’

Dr. Rosen added: ‘Air mass, wind speed and the presence of thunderstorms – with associated lightning strikes – also appear to be related.’

A Study 2023 found that in 15,000 Japanese adults with migraines, the following factors were associated: low barometric pressure, changes in barometric pressure, high humidity, and rainfall, all of which led to an increase in the number of headaches.

Additional research A study by a Japanese research institute found that 75 percent of people suffered from headaches after a typhoon hit their area.

People on the East Coast are at greater risk for these types of headaches and migraines due to the higher risk of hurricanes.

Research of Sarasota NeurologyFor example, found that patients in Florida, where hurricanes are common, experience more headaches and migraine attacks during hurricane season than at any other time of the year.

“It’s not clear whether any one geographic area is at greater risk, but areas that are more vulnerable to extreme weather changes may be at greater risk,” Dr. Rosen said.

“With changing weather patterns and a likely increase in extreme weather patterns in certain areas, that’s certainly going to bring other stressors. We’re already seeing large parts of America experiencing extreme heat, as well as monsoons and hurricanes.”

People in Washington, including those in the Capitol Complex, are under tornado warnings as storms move through DC. This could be due to residual effects from Hurricane Debby, which hit Florida last week.

The chart above highlights additional health risks from hurricanes, according to experts. They include mental health issues from the damage, asthma from pollen being carried along, encounters with dangerous wildlife that is displaced, and water contamination that poses a serious health risk.

Patients with barometric headaches may experience pain on one or both sides of the head, pressure around the sinuses, difficulty concentrating, frequent yawning, and nausea.

Google Trends data also showed an increase in weather-related headaches, with terms like “headache,” “migraine,” and “migraine weather” all seeing spikes on Thursday and Friday as the East Coast saw heavy rain.

For people who regularly suffer from headaches and migraines, Dr. Estemalik advises avoiding other triggers during gloomy weather to prevent symptoms from worsening.

“While you can’t control the weather, you can take steps to minimize the risk of a headache or migraine attack, its severity, and its treatment by following some best practices,” he said.

These are different for everyone, but the most common triggers are caffeine, stress, and processed foods.

Keeping a diary of each headache attack and its symptoms can also help you determine whether bad weather is a trigger.

Trust your instincts. Many of my patients seem to be as accurate as the weatherman,” Dr. Rosen said.

‘Stay cool in hot weather and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid sudden changes from hot to cold. Stay dry and be prepared to treat yourself if it looks like a bad day with headaches.’