When you hear about barometric pressure, you automatically picture a weather lady (or man) talking on TV. You rarely hear people associate it with headaches or migraine episodes. But did you know that many individuals have barometric pressure headaches or migraines? It's also one of the leading complaints of patients seeking to correct an atlas subluxation. But what is barometric pressure headache? How does it affect people, and what can affected individuals do to cope?
The American Migraine Foundation shares that more than a third of people who experience migraine headaches report weather or barometric pressure changes as their key trigger. Several studies support this claim and explain that air pressure changes can cause various effects on migraineurs, such as
The cerebellum is a section of the brain associated with migraine headaches and pain. A study explains that the cerebellum is involved in four types of migraines: migraine with and without aura, basilar migraines, and familial hemiplegic migraines.
Air pressure changes can result in sinus congestion, leading to worse headaches and migraines. This happens because the fluctuating barometric pressure forces the sinus (air pockets in your face) to swell and compress nearby tissues such as the nerves that contribute to the onset of headaches.
When the oxygen levels dip because of low air pressure, the brain instructs your circulatory system to compensate. This leads to vasodilation and a sudden surge of blood flow to the brain. Unfortunately, this leads a person highly susceptible to migraine episodes.
Similar to other types of migraines, barometric pressure migraines cause headaches. It also sets off additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensory sensitivity, excessive yawning, depression, and visual disturbances. Some patients also experience diarrhea, vertigo, tinnitus, and dizziness.
If you notice these symptoms right after the changes in the air pressure around you, you likely have barometric pressure migraine. It would help to keep track of your episodes using a migraine diary. This will help you manage your plans, especially when you expect weather changes in your area.
Additionally, we suggest exploring proven remedies and techniques for migraine headaches. These can help you reduce the impact of your episodes.
While migraines can be unpleasant, doctors, Upper Cervical chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals believe the symptoms are manageable. In some cases, patients can potentially prevent an episode from worsening by taking medications blocking the transmission of pain signals.
Others rely on natural means to manage and cope during their attacks. Here are examples of things you can try to incorporate into your migraine care regimen:
A well-balanced diet can support good health and help combat chronic problems such as barometric pressure migraines.
Drastic changes to your diet can affect your blood sugar levels and, consequently, your brain and nervous system.
Studies explain that tyramine can trigger headaches, so you might find it helpful to lessen your consumption of deli meats, cold cuts, and aged cheese.
Managing your stressors can help avoid unnecessary stimulation of the body's fight or flight response. Hence, it can potentially help you avoid migraine attacks.
Not drinking enough water can lead to nasty headaches and other migraine symptoms. So, we strongly suggest bringing a water bottle anywhere you go.
Restorative sleep helps protect the body from chronic problems like migraine attacks. It's also crucial in keeping your brain's chemical levels well-balanced.
Massage sessions with a professional therapist can help release tension, especially in the neck region. This helps you relax the muscles and ensure proper blood flow to your head.
Bright lights, intense scents, and loud sounds spell trouble for migraineurs. Hence, you might find avoiding these things at all costs helpful.
Postural imbalances can aggravate migraine headaches – even those that stem from barometric pressure fluctuations. This is why many patients seek an Upper Cervical doctor. Upper Cervical Chiropractic works by removing pressure on the brainstem tissue – a common problem that arises from atlas subluxation.
Migraine attacks can severely impact your life, especially if the episodes happen due to factors you can't control. Thankfully, Upper Cervical Chiropractic allows you to lessen your probability of experiencing severe migraines. It works by fixing atlas subluxation and restoring your spine's structural integrity. Notably, even the slightest changes in the alignment of your atlas bone can impact various physiological processes such as:
Additionally, a displaced atlas bone can affect the neck muscles. Extensive flexion of these muscles can increase the risks of intense migraine headaches because they tug on the head and affect nearby nerves.
Fortunately, Upper Cervical Care can help you resolve your postural problem and begin seeing improvements in your migraine episodes. It can also help you reduce pressure on your spinal column so your brain can start transmitting signals needed to heal your body.
Locate a nearby upper cervical practice to schedule your assessment and start receiving gentle neck bone adjustments.
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
