Heat, What a Pain

Weather and climate can really affect how we feel.

For example, many suffer from the "winter blues" every year. Many arthritis patients say they can feel the weather "in their bones."

Well now, some doctors say you can also feel the weather in your head.

In an article published by USA Today, 18% of women and 6% of men report having mirgraines. Migraine triggers can include alcohol and caffeine. But more recent studies say migraines can also be triggered by changes in the weather pattern.

Physicians report that sudden changes in barometric pressure and higher temperatures and humidity tend to bring about more migraines. Why? Well, changes in pressure in the air affects oxygen levels, which can affect the blood vessels in the brain. And experts say contracting and expanding blood vessels in the brain is what triggers most headaches.

Some of the warning signs of an oncoming migraine can include flashes of light or blind spots in your vision and a tingling sensation in your limbs. Migraines can last for several hours and several days and symptoms include nausea, sensitivity to light and sound.

I have a history of terrible migraines. It actually runs in my family. There was one time when I was doing the morning show in Michigan. Ten minutes before air time, I felt a migraine coming on. It hit fast. Within 20 minutes, I passed out. Yep...I passed out on the air. I then had to go to the hospital where I was given several shots.

I began keeping a journal, and I often got migraines on beautiful days...high pressure, clear skies. But I also got them as storms rolled into the area.

While the weather is responsible for triggering many migraines, according to research at the New England Center for Headache, many people do NOT know what type of weather change was responsible.

So what can you do? Talk to your doctor. Maybe keep a journal like I did. Check forecasts and try to stay prepared. This way if you know the weather is about to change, you can tackle the headache before it begins.