The erratic British weather has well and truly outdone itself lately: one minute it’s pure blue skies, the next it’s torrential rain and darkness at midday. We all know the science behind seasonal affective disorder (SAD), but it turns out these sorts of short-lived changes in the weather also take a toll on our physical health as well as our mental health. It comes down to changes in the pressure of the atmosphere.
The weather most of us welcome – sun and warmth – is generally characterised by high pressure, while low pressure is synonymous with wind, rain and the kinds of temperatures that require a coat. Our bodies acclimatise to suit each level of pressure as it fluctuates, but it takes us time, so when low pressure is sprung upon us spontaneously (thunderstorms and rain aren’t exactly typical of summertime), it puts our bodies out of whack, meaning you might feel, ahem, under the weather.
Dr Chris George, a GP for the NHS, tells us that ‘barometric pressure headaches’ are one of the most common symptoms.
What are barometric pressure headaches?
“Like the way in which we might experience headaches when flying or trekking at high altitudes, a drop in pressure from the weather can cause headaches known as barometric pressure headaches,” Dr Chris says. Besides their origin, there’s not much that differentiates these from a standard headache, but you might also find you feel nauseous, or sensitive to light, much like a migraine.
How can I get rid of a barometric pressure headache?
Soothing symptoms depends on each individual – someone who drinks, say, barely a bottle of water a day will suffer more than someone who drinks 2L, for example – but there are a few things Dr Chris recommends.
- Pain relief. Popping standard over the counter paracetamol can do the trick. Be sure to stick to the recommended dosage. If this doesn’t work, a registered GP may be able to prescribe you triptans – a stronger form of painkiller – to tide you over.
- Stay hydrated. Down at least 2-3L of H2O per day to limit pain. If you don’t get enough fluid, your brain temporarily contracts, which is where the aching comes from, but as soon as you’re fully aboard the hydration station, your brain will return to its usual state.
- Try not to miss meals. Your blood sugar levels plummet if you haven’t had any food for a while, which then causes your body to release the hormones that tell your body it’s hungry. These hormones increase your blood pressure and tighten your blood vessels, which materialises as a headache. Make sure you’re fuelling up at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Stay active. Dr Chris tells us regular exercise can also help ease symptoms of a barometric pressure headache. The biology behind this one is simple: when you exercise, you release endorphins (the happy hormones), which are also the body’s natural painkillers and therefore work to put paid to a sore head.
- Practice mindfulness and relaxation. Massage, meditation and yoga can all work wonders for a barometric pressure headache, so says Dr Chris. In the same way that exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, so do these, making them further alternatives to popping manufactured pills.
How can I prevent a barometric pressure headache?
We can’t control the weather (who knew?), but Dr Chris recommends keeping a diary of your symptoms and noting down any additional triggers or factors that affect how frequently, or how severe, your headaches are (think less sleep, not enough food, or stress). If you can rule these out, you may find that a barometric pressure headache isn’t anywhere near as debilitating as it is when combined with other contributing factors.
In the meantime, can the weather gods please do their thing and give us the summer we deserve?