Home › Blog › john bart's blog

weather as a migraine trigger, and how the MediClim Index(R) helps predict when it will act.

Mon, 10/06/2008 - 20:24 — john bart
We live in a gaseous ocean that extends from the earth's surface to the limits of our atmosphere. It has hidden currents we can't see but in which we live, work and play. These currents have an effect on us, just as fish are affected by the behaviour and character of the waters in which they swim. Many years of fact finding have given us an idea what these currents-- which we call the weather-- can do to us. Forinstance, a particular type of headache is a well known result of special changes in the currents ... In other words weather is a trigger for migraine. It is not the only one of course...there are several others, but common experience has proved that many migraine sufferers are sensitive to particular weather patterns. Investigation, documentation and correlation have identified what weather is more likely to bring on a migraine attack. The same scientific methods have shown that there is a particular way of looking at the weather which brings about the best and most reliable results. It is called synoptic weather analysis, which associates simultaneous changes in several different meteorological parameters in a way that has meaning when we look at disease triggers. The MediClim Index (R) is an example of this method. Weather is forecastable...which fact is validated every day on T.V., radio and the papers. When we analyse it according to research in synoptic weather analysis, the MediClim Index (R), we have a good idea of what diseases, especially migraine, may become more active, and when. To sum up: Particular weather changes are a well known trigger for migraine. The MediClim Index (R) can predict which weather patterns these are. It follows then, that, based on the weather forecast, we can say when someone is more likely to get a migraine attack. It's not a guarantee, but it is a real possibility, and forewarned is forearmed. Our aim is to provide the warning and ask you to follow your doctor's advice as closely as possible on the coming day.

Comments

Thu, 05/13/2010 - 17:42 — first

Feature Request

Shouldn't there be a facility to allow us to input whether we actually get a migraine on the migraine alert days, (as well as the the non-alert days), and shouldn't this then be shared on the website so we can see what % of users are finding their attacks correlate with the mediclim alerts?
Fri, 05/28/2010 - 23:54 — Carboda

Feature Request

Brilliant idea to track migraines to mediclim alerts. I just signed up for the service after having 2 migraines in 8 days and was shocked to see there was an alert posted on both days! Evidently mine are triggered by the change in barometric pressure, too bad, I can change my diet but I can't change the weather ... yet!
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 11:02 — berry

Pretty good post. I just

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. eco friendly bags
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 20:14 — DeirdreLynn

what a relief!

Just heard about these alerts recently from my father-in-law (also a migraine sufferer) and it's amazing how accurate it is! My migraines get at least twice as frequent in the winter- I usually blame the amount of time indoors with fluorescent lighting- but now I realize just how big a part the weather plays. Nice to have some warning now!
Sun, 03/01/2009 - 01:54 — Joshinto

I thought it was all psychosomatic,has anyone got advice for me?

I am a 25 year old Mexican guy who has been living in Toronto, Canada for several years now. When I first moved to Canada, the rhythm of life and change in pace never really bothered me, it was until my first winter came about that my nightmare began. I have never experienced such horrible headaches and continuous irritation of my nasal channels as I do in the winter time here. During my first years, I tried to ignore it, thinking that it was all due to the psychological effects of long winters. However, when I went back home a few years back for almost a year, I noticed that I had had a constant phlegm in my throat that kept me clearing my throat, this disappeared in Mexico, but reappeared when I came back. I never expressed this concern to any physician up until about 2 years ago, my physician's response was to try stomach acid reflux pills, which to me sounded ridiculous cause I felt it was a drip, not a reflux, and I explained this, and she still went ahead and prescribed. I dislike taking medications so, I discontinued after 2 weeks and seeing no result. I then spoke to my uncle who is a specialist in pneumology (lungs and respiratory system), I told him about the constant phlegm in my throat and how it was intensified with winter and in the summer time when it got really hot. He then was able to find a solution to my problem, he diagnosed me with sinusitis caused by air conditioning, heating and extreme weather conditions, this was an eye opener for me, but since he is in Mexico, he can't prescribe anything for me. I came back and told my new physician about the problem, and he seemed surprised when I had told him about the diagnose my uncle had given me, THERE IS SO MUCH IGNORANCE in terms of these conditions and how they can be treated or controlled. He then proceeded to prescribe a nasal spray, which helped me a lot!!! but, it cannot be used for over 4 weeks, so, after the spray was over, I began experiencing the same symptoms again. I am now using a seawater nasal microspray, it helps me very much, but I need to constantly use it, and that represents a problem for me. HAS ANYONE GOT ANY ADVICE ON NATURAL REMEDIES OR BETTER WAYS TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS THE MIGRAINES??? I would greatly appreciate it :-)
Sat, 07/31/2010 - 19:03 — cariemchugh

I tend to take ibuprofen 600

I tend to take ibuprofen 600 mg and drink a large cup coffee with caffene... at the same time I have an ice pack on my neck...takes a bit but it will calm down the pain.
Fri, 05/28/2010 - 17:03 — LynRose

Treating sinus problem

Use a neti pot. It is an Indian (not American) yogi, and it washes contaminants and germs out of the nasal passages, giving your body less to fight against. I had very bad sinus problems, (2 surgeries in 15 months, constant antibiotics). You use normal saline solution (1/2 tsp uniodized salt in a cup of warm water) and it washes the gook out of your nose. I used it every day for years, as I found that when I didn't, I'd get a sinus infection. Now I only use it on the rare times I have some sort of nasal thing going on, a cold or whatever. If I were you, I'd make sure to use it on Mediclim days especially. You can get a neti pot online, or frequently in chain drug stores or healthfood stores that deal with alternate medicines.
Mon, 06/01/2009 - 20:41 — gwenloren

steroid nasal inhaler works

I am a migraineur who used to suffer from chronic sinus h/a and infection. After many courses of antibiotics year after year, an allergy doctor in Los Angeles prescribed a steroid nasal inhaler, beconase, and I have been sinus infection free for about 20 years now. There are many different brands and even generic now. I also use a Neil Med sinus rinse PRN (not daily like the nasal inhaler which I use year round). I still get migraine, but don't have the on-going h/a from sinus.
Sun, 03/01/2009 - 01:54 — Joshinto

I thought it was all psychosomatic,has anyone got advice for me?

I am a 25 year old Mexican guy who has been living in Toronto, Canada for several years now. When I first moved to Canada, the rhythm of life and change in pace never really bothered me, it was until my first winter came about that my nightmare began. I have never experienced such horrible headaches and continuous irritation of my nasal channels as I do in the winter time here. During my first years, I tried to ignore it, thinking that it was all due to the psychological effects of long winters. However, when I went back home a few years back for almost a year, I noticed that I had had a constant phlegm in my throat that kept me clearing my throat, this disappeared in Mexico, but reappeared when I came back. I never expressed this concern to any physician up until about 2 years ago, my physician's response was to try stomach acid reflux pills, which to me sounded ridiculous cause I felt it was a drip, not a reflux, and I explained this, and she still went ahead and prescribed. I dislike taking medications so, I discontinued after 2 weeks and seeing no result. I then spoke to my uncle who is a specialist in pneumology (lungs and respiratory system), I told him about the constant phlegm in my throat and how it was intensified with winter and in the summer time when it got really hot. He then was able to find a solution to my problem, he diagnosed me with sinusitis caused by air conditioning, heating and extreme weather conditions, this was an eye opener for me, but since he is in Mexico, he can't prescribe anything for me. I came back and told my new physician about the problem, and he seemed surprised when I had told him about the diagnose my uncle had given me, THERE IS SO MUCH IGNORANCE in terms of these conditions and how they can be treated or controlled. He then proceeded to prescribe a nasal spray, which helped me a lot!!! but, it cannot be used for over 4 weeks, so, after the spray was over, I began experiencing the same symptoms again. I am now using a seawater nasal microspray, it helps me very much, but I need to constantly use it, and that represents a problem for me. HAS ANYONE GOT ANY ADVICE ON NATURAL REMEDIES OR BETTER WAYS TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS THE MIGRAINES??? I would greatly appreciate it :-)
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 17:28 — sunshine

Migraines or Sinuses?

Yes, I get terrible headaches usually before the weather changes. I thought I was getting migraines but when I get these headaches and take a sinus medication such as Sinutab, the pressure releases within a half hour. Although the pain and nausea is comparable to what a migraine sufferer describes, the effectiveness of sinus medication leads me to believe they are actually sinus headaches as opposed to "migraines". I have suggested this to my friends who refer to their headaches as migraines and they have said sinus medication has worked for them as well. I am not a doctor but just thought I would share the connections I have personally made.
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 18:32 — yota

Sinus problems too!

I totally agree! My mother suffered from migraines like crazy when I was younger. I remember her lying in bed for days. About 10 years ago she found out she has sinus problems and she says that that's probably what she had all along as she doesn't get 'migraines' anymore! She treats them as sinus headaches and that is what they must've been all those years ago also. I have experienced it too, where no headache medication works...until I take Sudafed. Only thing is, with hypothyroidism, I'm not supposed to take any meds with decongestants in them, so I have to be careful.
Tue, 03/17/2009 - 16:36 — Liiindy

decongestants for migraine??

Hello, I just read your piece about your mother taking decongestants for her migraine which had turned out to be sinus headaches. You mention that you are hypothroid and are not supposed to take decongestants...I too am hypothyroid but wonder why no decongestants for us?????
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 11:05 — berry

compensation lawyers :-

compensation lawyers :- compensation lawyers
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 16:51 — jseniuk

Barometric pressure

Greetings from Montreal! I just wanted to share a bit of a patern that I have recently noticed with my migraines; barometric pressure. The last dozen or so times that I felt a migraine coming on I opened up my "Weather Eye" on my desktop and I have noticed that more often than not it reads 101.45 and rising...strange... but true. Hopefully (thanks to this site) I will be able to pre-emptively load up on meds...LOL!
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 23:46 — Sandy

migraine

My husband heard about this website on Metro Morning CBC. Today I have a thunderous headache. I'll look to see what the website forcasts....and it says migraine for tomorrow. I'd say it is fairly accurate.
Thu, 12/11/2008 - 20:56 — manwithmigraine

weather as a migraine trigger

[quote=Sandy]My husband heard about this website on Metro Morning CBC. Today I have a thunderous headache. I'll look to see what the website forcasts....and it says migraine for tomorrow. I'd say it is fairly accurate. [/quote] I've only been a member a couple of days. I had a migraine this morning and got an alert this afternoon about tomorrow. In the words of Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by that much!" (Thumb and forefinger 1/2" apart). Does anyone else get their migraines before the weather changes? I have a low pressure front coming through my area right now and, as I said, I had a migraine this morning (and premonitions last night). Scott
Fri, 03/20/2009 - 19:00 — heatherann.agnew

So nice to meet others with the same migraine triggers!

I was referred to this website by my fiance's mom and it was fantastic! It has been apparent to me that my migraines are caused by barometric pressure changes for many years. When I signed up for MediClim and looked back over the last month's notices for migraine and my record of migraines they matched up ALMOST perfectly! Again, the alerts seemed to be posted the day AFTER my migraine began - just as the few of you have been saying! I signed up for the alerts but they have become almost a way of confirming the cause of my migraine as opposed to an alert ("missed it by that much" - I love that! very appropriate). The relationship seems absolutely undeniable if you ask me, but I also have skeptics in my life, my doctor included!! It is very frustrating. I also found it very interested that one of you mentioned that airplane flights and travel causes migraines for you - me too! Recent example: on a trip to the mountains from the prairies I was migraine free until we got most of the way up the mountain, at which point I was suffering from a sudden onset of migraine. Same thing on the way down. This may sound goofy, but can I ask (1) if any of you have found a preventative medication that seems especially helpful for your migraines? I assume that the mechanism by which our migraines occur are quite similar with the same trigger, and (2) How do your doctors react to your knowledge that barometric pressure triggers your migraines? My doctor is very good and knowledgeable about medications for migraines but is very stubborn and does not like to listen to what I KNOW about my own condition! I'm just wondering if this is a common experience? I have very frequent migraines (chronic - on average 10-20/month depending on the month and season)... I plan to move to a more stable climate ASAP :) Thanks for your messages! Its very comforting to know there are others experiencing the same thing out there :) Take care!!
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 17:26 — sunshine

Yes, I get terrible

Yes, I get terrible headaches usually before the weather changes. I thought I was getting migraines but when I get these headaches and take a sinus medication such as Sinutab, the pressure releases within a half hour. Although the pain and nausea is comparable to what a migraine sufferer describes, the effectiveness of sinus medication leads me to believe they are actually sinus headaches as opposed to "migraines". I have suggested this to my friends who refer to their headaches as migraines and they have said sinus medication has worked for them as well. I am not a doctor but just thought I would share the connections I have personally made.
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 23:04 — CanMFT

Weather as a migraine trigger

I woke up yesterday morning with the beginning of a migraine. Before I looked out the window, I knew it was snowing (incidentally not forecasted). My migraines seem to start the evening before a storm and continue throughout the duration of the storm and sometimes beyond. This is a very new (and annoying) reality for me since I live in the Toronto area and we are getting a lot of storms this year. If anyone has any good information about the link between migraine and weather, I'd appreciate hearing about it.
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 20:27 — tanes

"the weather"

[quote=CanMFT]I woke up yesterday morning with the beginning of a migraine. Before I looked out the window, I knew it was snowing (incidentally not forecasted). My migraines seem to start the evening before a storm and continue throughout the duration of the storm and sometimes beyond. This is a very new (and annoying) reality for me since I live in the Toronto area and we are getting a lot of storms this year. If anyone has any good information about the link between migraine and weather, I'd appreciate hearing about it. [/quote] I don't know so much about links, but I can tell you that the changes in barometric pressure usually associated with a front coming or going, have always been a migraine trigger for me; especially the *rapid* rise/fall of barometric pressure. I get it from flights and the de/pressurization of the cabin, changes in elevation... It's only one aspect I've been able to pin down to my satisfaction. I've had migraines since I was around seven years old; before they even recognized migraine in children. I didn't even recognize them as having been migraine until my neurologist pointed it out. I've run across a lot of debate over the years about whether or not weather is an actual migraine trigger. The majority of the naysayers, from what I can tell, have never had a migraine in their life. For me, it's a matter of semantics. It's not weather in general, or as a whole; there are specific weather conditions which do the contributing. The problem is, everyone is so hung up on sematics, i.e., "the weather" vice "changes in barometric pressure" or whatever phenomena it might be, that no research is being done. Doctors hear claims of the weather causing someone's headache and dismiss it automatically as superstitious nonsense, rather than considering their patient might be generalizing. (I've had this happen to me, it's very frustrating.)
Tue, 08/11/2009 - 22:09 — gottaracquet@ha...

Weather

I found that "Heal Your Headaches" by David Buchholz extremely helpful. My doctor has me on Verapamil, twice a day and my migraines have decreased from 12-15 a month to 8. They're also less severe and taking my rescue medicine promptly really is the key.
Tue, 12/23/2008 - 19:56 — andrea

New to the Forum

Greetings and warm wishes for the holiday season. I have just returned from a visit with a very senior headache specialist in the US. I have a new diagnosis-basilar migraine-. Ouch! I am a retired health care professional and am intriqued by the potential of this grassroots research. I am currently living on an island off the coast of Vancouver where part of the beauty is the dramatic mixture of mountain and sea, wind and water currents which create awesome and sometimes rapid weather patterns. The headache experts have raised a question about the impact of this region's weather on my health. So... I am very interested in gathering as much information as possible. I wonder how, or if, this forum's creators are organizing feedback from it's members? I am sure the American Headache Association and other Societies would be happy to receive data. Thank you for creating this space for conversation and for providing an important service.