Weather Temperature Changes (And Red Wine) ‘Trigger Mild Migraines', Research Suggests
Why Rainy Days Trigger Migraines
Kyrsty Hazell— The Huffington Post UK
If you always have a migraine attack when it’s raining, it could be more than coincidence, suggests recent research.
Researchers from the National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine in Taipei, Taiwan, discovered that sudden temperature changes in the atmosphere could be the underlying trigger of up to a fifth of migraines.
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The study enlisted the help of 60 migraine sufferers and asked each person to keep a diary of possible triggers during a one-year period.
The results from the study concluded that weather changes do play a part in triggering migraine attacks (mostly mild, rather than moderate or severe headaches), with participants citing colder temperatures as the biggest catalyst.
Researchers discovered that in the winter 16.5% of mild migraines were triggered by the cold weather, compared to 9.5% in the warmer months of summer.
"The study provides pioneering evidence that headaches are associated more with temperature among those with subjective temperature sensitivity than those without," lead author Dr Shuu-Jiun Wang said in a statement, reports Medical Xpress.
"If patients report temperature sensitivity, physicians should pay more attention and may adjust preventive agents in certain seasons for these patients," he added.
Another study included in the presentation included research by the Headache Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which discovered that red wine could be also be a leading migraine trigger.
The small study looked at 33 adults who considered themselves regular red wine drinkers and had suffered from migraines previously.
(WATCH) Find out how alcohol triggers migraines...
Participants were asked to drink half a bottle of Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, four days apart.
Although most participants reported a migraine attack (at least once) within 12 hours of drinking wine, some wines were more to blame than others - specifically Tannat and Malbec, which contain higher levels of flavonoids, which give red wine its colour.
A migraine is a complex condition with a wide variety of symptoms other than a painful headache, like disturbed vision, sensitivity to light, sounds and smells and vomiting. Symptoms vary from person to person and attacks can last between four to 72 hours.
It's estimated that one in seven people in the UK suffer from migraines.
Do you suffer from migraines? Find out how to treat and prevent an attack...
How To Treat Migraines
How To Ease, Treat And Prevent Migraines(01 of07)
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Prescribed Medication (02 of07)
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If you suffer from regular migraines, your doctor might prescribe you acute (treatment) and prophylactic (prevention) medicine.You may be given the following:Anticonvulsant, such as divaloproex sodium (sodium valproate), topiramate or gabapentinAntidepressant, such as amitriptylineAntihistimine, such as cyproheptadineBeta-blockers, such as propranolol, metoprolol, timolol, nadololAnti-inflammatory drug, such as pizotefenNot all medication has to be prescibred as you can get the following non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) over-the-counter:ApisrinIbuprofenParacetamolCodeine (credit:Alamy)
Self-Help(03 of07)
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If you don't want to take medication and prefer to treat the problem mechanically, you can try the following at home:Change your temperature. Try applying an icepack, or a hot water bottle, to the painful area. Hot or cold showers and a long soak in the bath does help some sufferers, or try soaking the hands and feet in hot or cold water.Apply pressure. Try applying pressure to the pulse points on the side of the forehead or neck to relieve the headache.Moderate exercise. Experts claim that easy exercise, like swimming and brisk walking, can have a therapeutic effect on migraines.Keep a diary. Note down symptoms, date and time of attacks and what you've eaten and drunk. This will help you identify possible triggers. (credit:Alamy)
Salt Supply (04 of07)
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Lack of sodium can be pinpointed as a cause of migraines and could explain why migraine sufferers crave a salty snack after an attack.In moderation, salt can have health benefits, so if you feel the onset of a migraine developing, add a tiny amount of salt into a glass of water and sip slowly. (credit:Alamy)
Complementary Therapy (05 of07)
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Some migraine sufferers swear by complementary treatments like the following:Acupuncture. A type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of thin needles in the body, stimulating the anatomical locations under the skin called acupuncture points.Chiropractic. Helps treat and prevent neuromusculoskeletal condition by manipulating the spine, joints and soft tissue.Homoeopathy. A form of alternative natural medicine that treats patients with liquid 'remedies' that apparently help relieve pain.Herbalism. An old traditional form of medicine made entirely of plants and plant extracts which help relieve pain and discomfort from within. (credit:Alamy)
Drink More(06 of07)
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It sounds obvious, but a big cause of migraines is down to dehydration. It's currently recommended that people drink between six to eight glasses of water a drink to help keep the body functioning properly. (credit:Alamy)
Botox (07 of07)
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Botox injections were licensed in 2010 to be used on people suffering from severe headaches and migraines. Although the evidence surrounding this treatment is still inconclusive, previous clinical trials have proved that it makes a difference if administered regularly.The treatment is currently available privately and costs between £400 to £600. (credit:Alamy)