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Sudden weather changes trigger migraines

How preventive medicine can help
Posted at 10:25 PM, Oct 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-18 08:39:48-05

COLORADO SPRINGS — When a new cold front rolls into Colorado Springs some people can experience more of an inconvenience than a slower commute or the need to shovel their property.

A neurologist from UCHealth said sudden pressure changes in the weather can actually trigger migraines for some people.

Dr. Andrea Manhart, says there are several triggers for migraines that include lights, sounds, lack of sleep, and even certain wines or cheeses.

Barometric pressure changes can also be a trigger, which is essentially when the weather changes suddenly. Doctors are still not exactly sure what about that impacts the brain.

"A lot of my migraine patients will know when a weather front is coming in, they'll know a day before, they'll start to get symptoms of a migraine and they'll tell their family there's going to be a weather change happening," Manhart said.

Manhart also said around 12% of the population gets migraines, and they are more common in women than men.

However, preventive medicine has greatly helped with the treatment of migraines, and Manhart said it's made her patients lives much easier once they identify their triggers.

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