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Are migraines getting worse?

New research suggests that climate change, which causes more erratic and severe weather conditions, may be a trigger for more intense migraines.

Migraines are increasing in frequency and intensity among Americans: Could climate change be a reason?

Although the number of Americans who have migraines has remained stable for the last 30 years, their impact on people’s daily activities — including missing social events or being less productive at school or work — has become much worse, according to a recent study.

The “disability” scores reflect how severe a migraine is. 

“Additionally, our research indicates that the average monthly frequency of headaches has risen over the past 20 years.”

Dr. Timothy A. Collins, chief of the headache division in the department of neurology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, said migraines are causing people to be less productive at school and work, attend fewer social and leisure activities and perform fewer household chores because the migraines more frequent and more forceful. Collins was not part of the study.

The Mount Sinai researchers note that the observed increase in the frequency and negative impact of migraines on work and home productivity may be due to increased social awareness of migraines and less stigma around the debilitating condition.  

Climate change can lead to more erratic and severe weather conditions, which are known triggers for migraines, Cohen said.

“As extreme weather events, like hurricanes, become more frequent and intense, they could be contributing to an increase in migraine attacks and their severity,” he said.

British researchers warned on Wednesday that extreme weather and heat fluctuations may aggravate neurological disorders such as stroke, dementia and schizophrenia. Climate change could also be linked to migraine “severity, duration and frequency,” according to the paper published Wednesday in the Lancet Neurology.

“Worsening climate conditions (including rising temperatures, extreme weather patterns, and escalating pollution) are likely to lead to effects of two types: heightened attack frequency in people who already have migraine, and an upsurge in the overall occurrence of migraine,” the scientists from University College London wrote.

Dr. Rochelle Frank, a clinical professor in neurology at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, said, “There are many factors that could be contributing to these findings.” 

More research is needed, she said. 

How to avoid migraines

Treatment for migraines may be based on a patient’s medical history, other medications being prescribed, as well as personal preference, Burish said.

One of the main risk factors for increased severity and frequency of migraine attacks is inadequate treatment, Cohen said. 

“For patients who have headaches often or are heavily burdened by their headaches despite their ‘as needed’ treatment, we add a preventive treatment,” Burish said. 

This may include over-the-counter supplements, prescription medications, self-administered injections, wearable devices, infusions and provider-performed procedures, he said.

Preventative medication can often decrease the number of days that people get headaches every month by greater than 50%, Collins added.

Not all treatment requires medication. Many people may not realize how everyday conditions — dehydration, sleep deprivation, skipping meals and emotional stress — can trigger symptoms.

Dietary changes such as avoiding caffeinated beverages, chocolate or alcohol that can trigger a migraine, improving sleep hygiene and vitamin/mineral supplements can also have a significant impact on headache health, Cohen said. – NBC NEWS

By Shiv Sudhakar, M.D.

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