Some people experience more frequent or severe migraine attacks when humidity levels are high. Like other episodes, humidity-triggered migraine attacks can impact your daily life. This guide explores the science behind humidity and migraine and provides helpful tips for managing and preventing migraine pain.
- Can heat and humidity cause migraine?
- Tips for managing and preventing migraine in humid weather
- Try CEFALY for migraine
Can heat and humidity cause migraine?
Yes, heat and humidity can cause migraine. Although it may seem surprising and odd that humidity can trigger migraine, a closer look shows how the two are connected.
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air — the more water vapor, the higher the humidity. Humidity can affect barometric pressure, which essentially describes how “heavy” the air is. High humidity usually leads to a lower barometric pressure, while low humidity is often associated with higher barometric pressure.
Drops in barometric pressure may trigger migraine headaches. One possible reason is that changes in barometric pressure can influence ionization levels in the atmosphere. More positive ions in the air can increase serotonin in the body, which may trigger a migraine attack. Barometric pressure changes can also affect pressure within the sinuses, and sinus issues can trigger migraine.
Humidity also affects our ability to sweat and cool down. High levels of water vapor saturate the air, making it more difficult for your sweat to evaporate. This makes it more difficult for you to regulate your body temperature and may leave you feeling overheated. In an attempt to cool down, your body may sweat even more. The added loss of fluids can lead to dehydration, which severely impacts your electrolytes and restricts your blood flow. Hydration is a common trigger for migraine.
Tips for managing and preventing migraine in humid weather
Managing and preventing migraine attacks in humid conditions is possible. Since migraine can manifest in different ways, trying various tips and strategies is key to finding what works best for you.
1. Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water and electrolyte-rich beverages can make a world of difference. Hydrating is key for replacing the fluids you lose through sweat. When you are dehydrated, your brain can shrink slightly. This can result in nerve pressure that may trigger migraine episodes. Hydrating helps the brain return to normal and alleviates the pain associated with that pressure. Drinking water and electrolyte drinks in the heat and humidity can also help regulate your temperature.
2. Control your indoor environment
You may not have control over the weather, but you can exert some control over your indoor environment. One of the best ways to tackle humidity in your home is by using a dehumidifier to regulate humidity levels. Dehumidifiers can also help you maintain a mold-free environment, and if you have one with a filter, it can also reduce allergens in your air. A healthier overall environment can be an effective part of managing migraine episodes.
3. Time outdoor activities well
You may be able to prevent a humidity migraine by timing your outdoor activities. Before heading out, check your weather forecast and plan your activities around the hours with lower expected humidity. Planning around the forecast is also advantageous if heat is another migraine trigger for you. If you already feel a migraine coming on, reducing or eliminating strenuous activities as much as you can is advisable.
4. Take protective measures
Protecting yourself from the heat as you normally would can also benefit your migraine management and prevention plan. Routine practices, like wearing sunglasses and a hat, help protect you from harsh sunlight and heat — both of which are potential migraine triggers. Sunglasses are especially important if your migraine episodes are triggered or exacerbated by light. If the weather is particularly harsh, you may also consider using cooling towels or sprays to combat the heat, humidity and associated conditions.
Protective measures like these can help you live a more fulfilled and manageable lifestyle. You can equip yourself for sudden changes in the weather by having a migraine kit in your bag or car. Your kit can include your sunglasses, a hat, a spray bottle, prescribed treatments and a migraine diary.
5. Use migraine management strategies
Your migraine management strategy may include an ongoing treatment and prevention plan. When you first talk to your doctor, they will likely suggest keeping a diary that can help you identify personal triggers and track high humidity and migraine episodes. Noting the weather, your symptoms and your treatment options during the humid months can be extremely beneficial for managing your migraine.
You can also speak to your healthcare provider about implementing different migraine management strategies, such as the following:
- Relaxation techniques: Mindfulness and meditation can give you more emotional and cognitive control of your migraine pain.
- Lifestyle modifications: Changes like improving sleep habits, including exercise in your routine and exploring stress management techniques can help with migraine management.
- Herbal supplements: You can also talk to your healthcare provider about herbs like valerian, feverfew, butterbur, ginger and lavender.
- Noninvasive treatments: You may also consider trying CEFALY — a noninvasive electronic device that targets the trigeminal nerve and helps with migraine management and prevention.
Try CEFALY for migraine
Weather-induced migraine episodes can be painful, frustrating and debilitating. Finding the right treatment is important for your well-being and comfort. If you’re looking for a way to take control of your migraine attacks, try CEFALY as part of your migraine management plan.
CEFALY is a wearable electronic device that helps relieve migraine pain and prevent future attacks. It is an FDA-cleared, drug-free, over-the-counter migraine management solution that works by targeting the trigeminal nerve, the primary pathway for migraine pain. CEFALY uses external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) to desensitize the trigeminal nerve and reduce migraine symptoms.
You can use your CEFALY device in two modes — ACUTE, which helps relieve migraine pain at the onset, and PREVENT, which helps reduce the frequency of attacks with consistent use. Studies show that 79% of people experiencing acute migraine saw relief following a 60-minute ACUTE session, while 38.1% of users saw at least a 50% reduction in the number of migraine days with compliant use of PREVENT mode.
Speak to your healthcare provider if you would like to try CEFALY as part of your migraine management strategy. Our 90-day money-back guarantee makes it easy. Order CEFALY today to see how it will help your humidity-triggered migraine pain.
Get Drug-Free Migraine Relief With CEFALY
Shop Now
90-day money back guarantee
FDA-cleared
financing available
