I just had a conversation this morning that began with the question, “Do you think there’s a connection between this crazy weather and my headaches?” Let me tell you, I think I talked her ear off before she put up her hand and said, “So, yes… OK, let’s get me checked!”
Headaches are by far one of the most common reasons people begin care in our office. There are many triggers for headaches or migraines, and each person can have unique triggers. Two very common triggers that we see over and over are stress and weather changes. The first probably makes a lot of sense. When our body is overwhelmed by stress or chronically in a fight-or-flight response state, that leads to increased tension and irritation – particularly in the neck and upper neck region… and boom, headache central.
The other trigger might seem odd, especially if you aren’t a headache sufferer. However, quick changes in temperature or barometric pressure, changes in humidity, or storms are top triggers for headaches. Barometric pressure is the force put on our bodies by the air around us. This force requires a quick change of our body to accommodate it; sinus cavities along with structures and chambers of the inner ear need to change to adapt this new pressure. Basically, this boils down to another stressor the body has to change and adapt to… and the system of your body that’s responsible for coordinating that adaptation is the nervous system. In general, people with migraine and headache disorders tend to have an overactive nervous system that already is in a heightened state and has trouble adapting to these changes… leading to the inevitable headache during these weather changes.
Now let’s leave high school biology class for a minute and talk about why we are discussing this issue. It is what we do every day in the office – assess how well a nervous system can change and adapt stress. We have technology that monitors when a nervous system is in an overactive state, and therefore has trouble adapting these additional stressors. Through our specific type of chiropractic care that focuses on the upper cervical area, we can influence and help the nervous system get out of that overactive state and be better able to handle and adapt these stressors.
And it’s what we see all the time. One great example is Pam. When Pam first came in, she had a constant headache for 2 months, that would intensify into a migraine 2-3 times per month. They would especially flare into a migraine with any upcoming storm, pressure change, or temperature change and last for days without any sort of medication being able to touch the pain. She’d try Imitrex, Ibuprofen, and even botox injections into her forehead. And her goal when she started? The simplest, yet biggest one – being able to feel good and enjoy being a Grandma, because her first grandchild was going to be born in a few months.
Now, Pam can get through most pressure and temperature changes without any headache. The very intense ones (hello, Nebraska – you’ve had a few lately!) will trigger a mild headache that will typically subside quickly after she gets adjusted. This has made a huge impact on Pam’s life, not only how she feels day to day, but the fact she can count on being there and being present for her family and new grandson.
If you or someone you know suffers from headaches, migraines, or sinus issues that are related to weather changes – please share this information with them. An assessment of HOW their nervous system is handling the stress of weather change could make a huge impact in their life, just like Pam. CLICK HERE to set up that assessment or with any additional questions.
