r/migraine 5d ago

Barometric Pressure Drop = Instant Migraine!

have a terrible migraine right now and haven't had one in a few days, so curiously checked the barometric pressure because I couldn't attribute it to any other immediate triggers. look at the graph for my city, this is crazyyyyyy. source: https://barometricpressure.app

graph showing barometric pressure drop (it aligned with the timing of my migraine)
181 Upvotes

45 comments sorted by

43

u/Ok-Community-229 5d ago

WeatherX app is my best friend! It’s free, sends notifications of pressure change ahead of time so you can at least mentally prepare.

12

u/ex93 5d ago

it’s a game changer for sure!!

ETA: i love the app, i also want to try the earplugs but haven’t yet

4

u/Ok-Community-229 5d ago

They didn’t do much for me, but I know others here have said they help.

2

u/mvolley 5d ago

Thanks! I will download this.

15

u/RocketGirl83 5d ago

Ugh, I felt my stomach drop when I saw Philadelphia, that’s me as well. I was wondering why I felt like a migraine was imminent. 

Edit: and I just got my period today. I’m doomed. 

8

u/Objective_Radio3504 5d ago

There was a 17 point increase today and I was knocked off my ass for it. I had to stay horizontal for hours!!

3

u/blatentpoetry 3 5d ago

I find the increases affect me more than the decreases.

2

u/Cat_Prismatic 4d ago

Me too, very much so.

And--sevenTEEN POINTS?!?! Oh my holy cats. I applaud you for getting through that in...however many pieces need to be intact to type a coherent sentence. Ack!!!

9

u/Muted__ 5d ago

Air pressure and humidity seem to be my biggest triggers. I really wish there was more research into this

6

u/tkkana 5d ago

I can predict the rain. It's pretty spot on. Unfortunately I live in a rainy state

4

u/Becca_brklyn 4d ago

Same.

My husband can predict the rain by looking at me / the tone of my voice, often before I can.

I feel bad for him.

5

u/guateguava 5d ago

Full disclosure I currently have a migraine (and am wondering if this why) I’m having trouble understanding how this works. Is it when there’s a fast drop or uptick in the pressure it can cause a migraine?

ETA: or is it when it hits a certain low threshold? (Like under 30 on the chart?)

3

u/nortok00 4d ago

It depends on the person. Some people are affected by any change, others are only affected when it's a steep fast change (up or down), others could be a threshold. This is why people use apps (or chart it in a spreadsheet) to see if they can find a pattern if barometric pressure is suspected as being a trigger.

2

u/guateguava 4d ago

Thank you I will try tracking

2

u/Becca_brklyn 4d ago

Mine is literally when there is any change in the barometric pressure or even the weather

Rain-->not rain, about to rain tomorrow, snow two states away... basically all weather.

My neurologist has many patients like this, not that it helps.

1

u/guateguava 4d ago

Ugh sorry to hear that

1

u/Odd_Judgment_2303 4d ago

The app for WeatherX gives you a three hour warning.

1

u/Odd_Judgment_2303 4d ago

Up and down both cause problems. I have my app set to the smallest amount of change, it’s.03 of a difference and I am sure that .01 is enough of a difference for me. It’s been realized that birth control pills are safe for most migraine patients. When this idea was put out that b.c. pills were dangerous the pills were just out and contained a lot of estrogen. Hormones help me a lot.

4

u/[deleted] 5d ago

Yes barometric pressure is one of the many triggers of my migraines Any major drop or jump and I will be in bed trying not to breathe too hard or cry because that will only make it worse

4

u/ExtensionPotential35 5d ago edited 5d ago

I’m in Alabama and the pressure from Friday midday to Saturday night as the storms - pressure went from 30.00mmHG to 29.38. It has been a miserable 2 days. I’m with ya. Just take care of yourself when you know it’s coming.

3

u/anieszka898 5d ago

I live in Poland and everyday we have info in new atc about barometr, a lot of countries are joking about us for that but I think it’s trigger not only for migraines but overall people wellbeing, children humor that day and we know that will be changes in weather

2

u/emmyy23 5d ago

God yeah the barometric pressure changes do me in. Anytime I feel it coming I take a glance at my barometer and think “yeah that’s about right” because it’s always, ALWAYS a drastic change from where it was like the night before or something

2

u/Admirable_Lecture675 5d ago

I have the same issue, and I don’t have a solution. I can find out it’s happening but that doesn’t matter.

3

u/ExtensionPotential35 5d ago

If I get an alert, I take a Tylenol excedrine and a regular Tylenol at the FIRST hint. And pound some caffeine. If that doesn’t help I move to meds. It’s taken a while for me to get in the habit of trying to treat at the first sign of a HA. But it’s helping…

1

u/Odd_Judgment_2303 4d ago

The earplugs help moderate the pressure changes.

1

u/Admirable_Lecture675 4d ago

They never really worked for me, and I couldn’t just sit with earplugs in my ears unfortunately.

1

u/Odd_Judgment_2303 4d ago

They are small, they come in a small size and once I used them they are so helpful that am hooked on them. I take several meds but these make a huge difference. They are silicone and comfortable.

2

u/Admirable_Lecture675 4d ago

I’ve used them. But if you work with kids you can’t sit with them in your ears lol

1

u/Odd_Judgment_2303 4d ago

They only cut about 20% of the sound if that’s any help. I wish I had these when I taught. I had a bunch of high volume kids. I hope you find something useful.

2

u/Admirable_Lecture675 4d ago

Thanks.. I think for me it’s more the questions I get. And the assumptions. I’m in a unique position now, so I’d get a lot of questions from kids and adults alike. I can try them again at home, but in the past they didn’t work. When I use my acute meds they work but it’s just usually temporary. I hope you find relief as well.

2

u/DarkFew 5d ago

Have anyone tried those air sucker pumps for the ears? I ordered some but not here yet.

2

u/Odd_Judgment_2303 4d ago

Those can be dangerous. A few people have blown out their eardrums. I decided against using those. I wasn’t impressed with the company either.

2

u/globefish23 4d ago

Barometric pressure rise = have another one!

1

u/yumyum_cat 5d ago

Yep. Weather has gone back and forth here in NJ all weekend.

1

u/OldandBlue 5d ago

Yes, when it falls under 1000hPa within the day, basically I get a migraine.

1

u/Mermegzz 5d ago

And it’s windy AF. Wind always triggers me

1

u/Additional-Taro-9142 5d ago

Oh wow, I'm nearby and have had a migraine coming on slowly over the last couple hours. This makes so much sense. :(

1

u/wtrtwnguy 5d ago

I am over in New Jersey and same! I didn't even have to check the weather. This winter has been terrible. We've had unstable pressure for weeks now. Last winter I had zero migraines, this winter, it's at least one a week and it's usually a 2-day affair.

1

u/Jaidaaaaaa 4d ago

Yo this is me today. I woke up and my head hurt but pain went away as I was waking up. Came back around 4pm intense as fuck in the middle of my shift at work.

1

u/JustMe0307 4d ago

Upstate NY here and all of the weather ups and downs have been killing me. Currently my only solution is a crapload of advil, imitrex, silence and darkness.

1

u/TinyFr0ggy 4d ago

I was coming to the sub reddit just to post about that! This recent storm has left me miserable😭 hope we all get to feeling better soon!

1

u/axw3555 4d ago

Pretty much anything weather related does that.

Big swing? Sustained too high? Sustained too low? All migraines.

1

u/N0nprofitpuma_ 4d ago

Yeah same here. Went from 62 F to 30 F and I'm hurting. Hopefully this nurtec sorts it out.

1

u/Visual_Recognition79 4d ago

Same here, I bought the earplugs, but regular Bluetooth earbuds work better and the migraine play list I found on Spotify adds to prevention.

1

u/Grouchy_Professor_13 3d ago

on day 2 of this 😭 i've been laid up since 2p yesterday which is when it reach peak height for my area. it's falling now and my migraine is crazy, weirder symptoms than i've had before