May 16, 2021 12:00:00

Why do you get a headache in bad weather?

Many people react to changes in the weather, which can lead to headaches and joint pain in bad weather.

Amanda Ellison , a professor of neuroscience at Durham University in the United Kingdom, explains the mechanism of 'headaches in bad weather'.

Can bad weather really cause headaches?
https://theconversation.com/can-bad-weather-really-cause-headaches-158258

Although it is difficult to specifically measure how many people suffer from weather-related headaches, a 2004 study found that more than 60% of people suffering from migraines said that headaches are affected by weather conditions. I know that I think. In addition, in 2015, which investigated the sales of headache drugs in Japan research in, and the weather down the average atmospheric pressure is worse, has shown that sales of headache drugs is greatly increased.

Ellison points out that there are multiple mechanisms why many people experience headaches as the weather worsens.

◆ 1: Headache related to sinuses
The paranasal sinuses are cavities in the facial bones around the nose, such as the maxillary sinus, ethmoid sinus, frontal sinus, and sphenoid sinus. There are four types of cavities called ethmoid sinuses, one on each side.

Since each cavity is filled with air, inflammation and pain can occur when there is a difference between the air pressure inside the sinuses and the air pressure outside, just as changes in air pressure can clog your ears. That thing. The location of pain varies depending on the forehead, between the eyes, cheeks, head, etc., and it depends on which sinuses are most affected by atmospheric pressure.

In addition, when the humidity rises due to rain, the mucus in the sinuses increases, and allergens, dust, particles, etc. contained in the air tend to adhere to the sinuses. This may cause congestion, inflammation, and discomfort in the sinuses, leading to headaches.

◆ 2: Headache related to blood flow
Another mechanism that causes headaches under the influence of atmospheric pressure is that headaches occur when the blood flow in the cerebrovascular system changes as the atmospheric pressure changes. Because the brain is a very important part of humans, the

blood-brain barrier that separates blood vessels from brain tissue protects it from pathogens and toxins that may be found in the blood.

In the cerebrovascular system, there are receptors that are activated when blood vessels expand more than usual, and it is said that it is a system that issues a warning when a problem occurs. Ellison pointed out that changes in air pressure can cause headaches because activation of this receptor is perceived as 'pain' by humans.

Ellison also explains what to do if you have a headache.

◆ Remedy
Since the bad weather cannot be changed, it is common to use

painkillers and decongestants to improve nasal congestion when headaches occur. Also, when the weather is likely to worsen, you can even out the pressure in the sinuses through the mouth, nose, and eustachian tube by moving your mouth violently, such as by chewing gum.

However, the weather is not always the cause of the headache. Prolonged contraction of muscles due to poor posture causes insufficient blood flow, and stress causes increased secretion of adrenaline and cortisol , which causes inflammation, which causes blood vessels in the brain to widen and cause headaches. It is said that it may be done. Therefore, proper posture and stress relief may help prevent headaches, and it is also important to have good fluid and nutrition.

In addition, serotonin and dopamine act as natural painkillers by reducing pain signals to the brain. Eating chocolate that activates serotonin secretion in bad weather, chatting with friends, watching your favorite movies and maintaining hormonal balance can also reduce the negative effects of headaches on your daily life. He said.