Warmer Weather Triggers Migraines

Jumps in outdoor temperature linked to increased migraine risk
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 10, 2009 8:19 AM CDT
Warmer Weather Triggers Migraines
Migraines cost the US $17 billion every year in medical treatment and lost job productivity, researchers say.   (Shutter Stock)

A new study adds weight to the belief held by many who suffer migraines that weather changes can trigger headaches, Bloomberg reports. Harvard researchers compared weather data against the records of 7000 patients diagnosed with severe headaches and discovered the risk of headaches rose 7.5% for every 9-degree rise in temperature in the preceding days. Lower barometric pressure increased headaches to a lesser extent.

"One of the next steps is to ask if there is medication that can prevent this kind of triggering," said one of the researchers, whose work is published in the journal Neurology. (More weather stories.)

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