Spring and Migraine
By: Brooklyn A. Bradley, BS; Medically edited by Dr. Deena Kuruvilla, MD
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March 20th was the official first day of spring, and many of us are looking forward to the warmer weather and longer days. But for those who are living with migraine, the season can bring its own set of challenges. From changing weather patterns to various allergens circulating in the air, spring can bring on migraine attacks or even make existing ones worse. In today’s blog post, we will be diving deeper into some ways to manage migraine while still making the most of the spring season!
Spring is a time of transition, and this season often brings allergens, weather changes, and increased sunlight. Pollen and other allergens peak during spring and can cause sinus pressure, which is a common symptom of migraine and can worsen the disease. Pollen is an obvious culprit, but it can be hard to manage one’s exposure to this especially as it circulates through the air. Other allergens like dust and mold can also make migraine symptoms worse. The fluctuating temperatures and barometric pressure shifts can contribute to migraine onset and how long the attack sticks around [2, 3]. Longer days mean more exposure to sunlight, especially as we increase time spent outside. This can exacerbate light sensitivity in people who experience this as an associated symptom of migraine.
While you can’t control the weather or pollen counts, there are some other ways you can minimize the impact of these springtime changes. Keeping track of what increases your migraine attacks is a good place to start as we enter the spring season. Although it may seem intuitive to use allergy medications, studies have shown that treating migraine disease is more impactful. These treatments may include natural approaches with nutraceuticals, preventive medications, as needed medications, procedures and noninvasive devices.
You can be proactive by consulting with your healthcare clinician and constructing a game plan for treatment in advance!
References:
- Photo by Brigitte Tohm: https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-photography-of-white-and-red-tulip-flowers-350349/
- Maini K, Schuster NM (2019) Headache and Barometric Pressure: a Narrative Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep 23:87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-019-0826-5
- Denney DE, Lee J, Joshi S (2024) Whether Weather Matters with Migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep 28:181–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-024-01216-8