Are migraines more common in spring?

Spring and fall in Minnesota bring unpredictable weather – and for many people, migraine attacks.

Weather changes are one of the most common migraine triggers, along with the “big three” of stress, lack of sleep, and menstrual cycles for women.

Migraine disorder is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects roughly 12 percent of Americans. Like asthma, it ranges in the severity and frequency of attacks. People with asthma may have asthma attacks every few months or every few years depending on a number of environmental and other factors. The same is true for people with migraine attacks.

“Everyone with migraine disorder has unique triggers,” said M Health Fairview Neurologist Abby Metzler, MD. “It’s often a genetic condition, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your relatives with migraine disorder will have the same triggers.”

Metzler often hears from patients who have identified weather changes as a trigger for their attacks. Over one third of people who experience migraine attacks report that weather changes have a significant effect on their symptoms, according to the American Migraine Foundation. While severe headaches are one common symptom of a migraine attack, these can also include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and sensitivity to light or sound.

The fact that weather changes can trigger migraine attacks likely has to do with changes to the amount of pressure in the atmosphere. Recent studies have also shown people with seasonal allergies are more likely to have migraine attacks, according to Metzler, although it’s not clear if one is causing the other.

So, what can you do if you’re experiencing symptoms of migraine disorder this spring?

First, work with your doctor to identify the cause. Metzler says many people mistakenly self-diagnose migraine attacks as sinus headaches.

“If people are experiencing pain and pressure in their face, they think it must be related to the sinuses – but migraine disorder can also cause pain in the face,” said Metzler. “If your doctor isn’t finding other signs of a sinus infection like fever, don’t jump to trying to treat the problem with antibiotics.”

Metzler and her team at M Health Fairview’s Headache Care program see a lot of referrals from otolaryngologists – also called ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors. Patients come in looking for sinus infection or allergy treatment, but their symptoms end up being from a type of headache disorder.

If it’s migraine disorder, there are many treatment options available.

At home, Metzler recommends going to bed, waking up, and eating meals at the same time every day. It’s also helpful to identify and avoid your triggers as much as possible – although that’s not always possible with weather.

“The migraine brain likes routine,” said Metzler. “The more of a routine you can keep, the fewer triggers you’re going to expose yourself to.”

But lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications aren’t always enough to treat migraine disorder. The good news is that there are additional supports available. 

“Everyone with migraine disorder should have a rescue plan – a lot of times that’s prescription medications that can treat a migraine attack,” said Metzler. “If you’re experiencing frequent attacks, there are preventative options as well.”

M Health Fairview Headache Care offers comprehensive treatment for mild to complex headache disorders – and everything in between. We offer migraine medications, including a new group of acute migraine medications that are an alternative for people unable to tolerate triptans, a common class of medications for migraine disorder.

There are also many emerging treatments available through our Headache Care program. These include monoclonal antibody injections, which are self-administered every month and help prevent migraines. Botox is another option we offer that has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks in people with migraine disorder.

Migraine disorder is one of the leading causes of disability in the world, and Metzler says there’s an increasing need for headache-specific care.

“We’re unique in that we have a dedicated, trained team of headache specialists,” said Metzler. “We also have a good relationship with our colleagues in behavioral health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and pharmacy so we can tackle migraine disorder holistically together with our patients.”