Climate change may be linked to increased severity and frequency of migraines among Americans, study finds

Migraines are increasing in frequency and intensity among Americans: could climate change be the cause?

Although the number of Americans suffering from migraines has remained stable over the past 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 report, published in early May in the journal Headache, analyzed 11 studies conducted among American adults from 1989 to 2018 on episodic and chronic migraines. Researchers found that the prevalence of migraines over the past three decades has remained stable, but uncovered Migraine Disability Rating Scale scores, which measure the impact of migraines on a person’s daily activities ., has increased from 22.0% to 42.4% since 2004, according to the study.

“Disability” scores reflect the severity of a migraine.

Migraines affect approximately 39 million adults in the United States, according to the American Migraine Foundation.

“While the burden initially increased more significantly among women and has since stabilized, the rate of burden among men has continued to increase,” said lead author Dr. Fred Cohen, assistant professor of medicine and neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. New York, told NBC News.

“Additionally, our research indicates that the average monthly frequency of headaches has increased 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 cause people to be less productive at school and work, participate in fewer social and leisure activities and do less work. less household chores because migraines are more frequent and more violent. Collins was not part of the study.

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

Climate change may 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 more intense, they could contribute to an increase in migraine attacks and their severity,” he said.

There is some evidence that thunderstorms and barometric pressure can trigger headaches, but it is unclear whether “regular” air pollution – such as stale air from wildfires – is a migraine trigger , Collins added.

These weather changes can trigger a migraine by disrupting the balance of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Weather-related triggers include sunlight, extreme heat or cold, sun glare, and high humidity.

British researchers warned on Wednesday that extreme climate and temperature fluctuations could worsen neurological disorders such as stroke, dementia and schizophrenia. Climate change may also be linked to the “severity, duration and frequency” of migraines, according to the article published Wednesday in Lancet Neurology.

“Deteriorating climatic conditions (including rising temperatures, extreme weather conditions and escalating pollution) are likely to lead to two types of effects: an increased frequency of attacks in people who already suffer from migraine and an increase in the overall occurrence of migraines,” the scientists said. from University College London wrote.

Monitoring weather changes, such as with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HeatRisk tool or your local National Weather Service forecast office, can help migraine patients sensitive to extreme weather.

Dr. Mark Burish, director of the Will Erwin Headache Research Center at UTHealth Houston, said the research highlights a “concerning trend” but it’s unclear why migraine disability is getting worse. is still unclear.

Dr Rochelle Frank, clinical professor of neurology at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, said: “There are many factors that could contribute to these findings. »

More research is needed, she said.

How to avoid migraines

Treatment for migraines can be based on the patient’s medical history, other medications prescribed, as well as personal preferences, Burish said.

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

“As-needed” treatments can range from over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, to prescription medications and wearable devices, Burish said.

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

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

Preventative medications can often reduce the number of days people experience headaches each month by more than 50%, Collins added.

Not all treatments require medication. Many people may not realize how everyday conditions—dehydration, lack of sleep, skipping meals, and emotional stress—can trigger symptoms.

Dietary changes such as avoiding caffeinated drinks, chocolate or alcohol which can trigger a migraine, improving sleep hygiene and taking vitamin and mineral supplements may also have an impact significant impact on headache health, Cohen said.