The Upside to Winter: Fewer Migraines?

When damsels and lieges warn that "Winter is Coming" on HBO’s acclaimed hit show, Game of Thrones, could this be good news for the citizens of the five kingdoms with regards to migraines?

According to Dr. Vincent Martin, Professor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, the answer is yes, but not every type of headache is influenced by climate. Migraines, however (yes, the kind that can induce nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and make us want to crawl up into a ball in a darkened room), can indeed be brought on by meteorological change, he says.

"It is possible that weather directly changes the brain chemistry of patients with migraine, lowering feel-good serotonin levels," says Dr. Martin. "Another possibility is that falling barometric pressure might activate the trigeminal nerve in the sinuses or eye that could initiate a migraine attack."

Coming this Spring: Attack of the Migraine!

"Springtime can be particularly bad for migraine-sufferers because not only can allergies to pollen lead to head pain, but lightning – brought on typically by rainstorms in warmer months - can too," Martin adds. Dr. Carolyn Bernstein, Clinical Director of the Harvard Medical Faculty Physician’s Comprehensive Headache Center at Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and author of "The Migraine Brain" has a similar view, "Many patients do report worsening migraines with acute storms. Here in Boston, I have seen a spike in migraines for my patient population each August during hurricane season."

Lightning, Hurricanes & Barometric Pressure, Oh My!

So while Scientists are still trying to determine the precise mechanism behind weather-induced migraines and their tie to low barometric pressure, lighting, warm weather and other drastic temperature changes - there are other migraine triggers to be aware of and they include:

• Red wine
• Stress
• Chocolate
• Lack of sleep