Seasonal Suffering: How The Changing Of Seasons Impacts Migraine Patterns

S​easonal changes can be difficult for migraine sufferers. Changes in temperature or barometric pressure may be the cause of many seasonal migraine complaints.

"Migraine is a disease that causes the brain to be hypersensitive to both internal and external changes, Dr. Niushen Zhang, clinical associate professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford, told weather.com. "Other things to keep in mind — adjusting to change is challenging for the migraine brain. Triggers are usually partial and additive. We typically counsel our patients to not fixate too much on individual triggers, but rather, to think of the various changes that they have been experiencing as potential, contributing factors to a migraine attack."

While some people who experience migraines may be triggered by cold, dry weather, others may see an uptick in symptoms during heat and humidity. Different individuals experience different triggers. But as seasons change, the change in barometric pressure can lead to migraines, the American Migraine Foundation reports.

(​MORE: Winter Weather Can Affect Migraine Sufferers)

"Some patients do experience seasonal periodicity with migraine. This is very individual for people," said Zhang. "Often it is the change or transition from season to season that can contribute to an increase in migraine frequency. Along those lines, time change, shorter days, barometric pressure changes and cold weather in winter can be some of the contributing factors to migraine frequency."

W​inter Migraine Triggers

S​pring Migraine Triggers

S​pring weather is often very changeable, especially in the early spring. March and April are often cold one day and warm the next, and these changes can be tough for the migraine sufferer. Spring is also known for quick transitions between rain and sunshine, a fast shift of barometric pressure.

"Seasonal allergy can be one of many contributing factors to migraine frequency and severity," Zhang explained.

S​ummer Migraine Triggers

T​he combination of heat and humidity during the summer months can trigger migraines. It can also be easier to become dehydrated during the hotter months, which can lead to migraines as well, Medical News Today reports. Longer daylight hours can affect sleep, and lack of sleep can be a migraine trigger for some individuals.

F​all Migraine Triggers

"​I see many patients where it is the change in seasons, particularly the beginning of the fall season, where their headaches can get much worse," Robert Fryer, MD, Ph.D., director of the Division of Headache Medicine in the Department of Neurology at NYU Langone Health, told weather.com.

T​emperature fluctuations could be the culprit, especially at the beginning of the season. As humidity decreases and barometric pressure changes, migraine sufferers often see an uptick in migraine frequency and severity. And as days become shorter, sleep schedule changes can trigger migraine attacks, according to the American Migraine Foundation.