Fall is one of the best seasons of the year, thanks to Oktoberfest, Turkey Trots, Thanksgiving feast dinners, Fall carnivals, pump carving contests, and Halloween. Of course, there’s also that relaxing and heartwarming smell of pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin pies everywhere you go. Indeed, it’s great to be out and about, visiting families and friends—that’s if you don’t struggle with migraine and neck pain. 

If you’re among the thousands of people who have migraines and an achy neck during fall, you might be wondering about the root cause of your flareups. Is it something that you can resolve with the help of your GP or upper cervical doctor? Learn everything you need to know in our blog post. 

Can the Autumn Season Trigger Migraine and Neck Pain?

Weather or seasonal changes are among the primary triggers of pain and headaches. That’s why it’s not surprising why many people go to clinics or upper cervical care practices for migraine and neck pain relief during this time of the year. But why do these two happen anyway? 

Studies show that it has something to do with temperature and barometric pressure fluctuations. As it turns out, even the slightest change in these two environmental factors can affect the body in the following ways:

• A sudden drop in air pressure can cause the muscles to expand, making you vulnerable to worse headaches and migraine attacks. The swelling can also worsen neck pain. 
• Extreme heat can cause dehydration, which in effect triggers worse migraine episodes. On the one hand, cold temperature can alter the air pressure inside your sinuses, causing you to experience ear pain and intense headaches.
• The cold weather during fall can lead to muscle stiffness. This mostly happens because the blood vessels constrict during a cold day. 

Some patients also have worse migraines because of seasonal allergies. If you’re sensitive to ragweed pollen, you might have increased inflammation, especially in the sinuses. Consequently, the inflammation can trigger worse headaches. As much as possible, you should talk to your physician about your options in managing your ragweed allergies.  

Coping with Fall Migraine Headaches and Neck Pain

Migraine and neck pain shouldn’t get in the way of your plans for fall. If you frequently struggle with these two debilitating symptoms several times a month, we recommend talking to a health professional. They can provide you with prescription drugs or therapy options to manage your symptoms. Alternatively, you can try the following self-care remedies:

Plan your fall activities 

Several areas in the country are hotspots for seasonal allergies. Some examples of these include Bridgeport, CT, Springfield, MA, and Pittsburgh, PA. Therefore, we recommend scheduling your activities to limit maximum exposure outdoors if you live anywhere in these areas or plan to visit during fall. Additionally, you can try following our tips below to limit your exposure to fall allergens:

• Monitor the news for pollen grain updates
• Shower right away after going out of the house 
• Use nasal rinsing solution to wash away pollen
• Use wraparound glasses during fall so you don't touch or rub your eyes.
• Close the windows and doors to stop pollen and dust from flying inside the house.

Avoid your neck pain and migraine triggers

Migraine episodes and neck pain can worsen if you expose yourself to triggers. This is why we highly recommend avoiding the following: 

• Sleep deprivation 
• Worrying or stressing out too much
• Not drinking enough fluids 
• Skipping your meals 
• Taking migraine triggering medications like birth control pills 
• Eating food products that contain salt or preservatives 
• Drinking coffee or alcohol 
• Physical overexertion, especially during fun runs
• Using the wrong kind of pillow when you sleep
• Practicing poor posture when you walk, sit or sleep

We recommend taking note of additional triggers, especially if yours are unique to other migraineurs. You should also monitor the frequency of your attacks and the accompanying symptoms. It will help you manage your conditions better. 

Use natural remedies to cope

Besides making necessary adjustments to your fall routine, we also recommend using natural remedies and self-care tactics. Doing so can help you curb your symptoms and enjoy some of the festivities in your community. Here are some popular relief options for migraine and neck pain:

• Apply a cold compress on your neck to lessen spasms and relax your nerves
• Try drinking calming teas to improve sleep and soothe painful muscles
• Get a relaxing massage at a local spa to free the tension in your neck
• Dim the lights or stay in a quiet place when you have an episode
• Check out natural and holistic approaches to healing such as upper cervical care

Try upper cervical care for headaches and neck pain

Thousands of people struggling with migraine and neck pain go to an upper cervical chiropractic practice for help. That’s because it’s a promising approach that aims to correct neck misalignment and restore the body’s vitality. 

You likely have a crooked neck because of a previous injury or poor posture. Consequently, this abnormality in your cervical spine’s curvature may be the reason why neck spasms and migraine episodes don’t get better. 

We strongly advise scheduling your appointment for a quick check-up. This way, you can alleviate your symptoms and avoid missing out on enjoyable activities during fall season.  

You can reach out to a local upper cervical chiropractic doctor to learn more about how the Upper Cervical procedure can help you eliminate your symptoms once and for all.

to schedule a consultation today.