Your weather headache is real — and 6 other headaches women experience most

Some experts give tips on how to identify and manage common types of headaches.

Weather-related headaches are more common than you might think, with migraines affecting women three times more often than men. The good news? There are ways to be proactive in preventing future headaches — and in cases where there’s no stopping it, you do have some options for managing the symptoms.

We can’t talk about the physical pain caused by headaches without also considering some possible links to mental health, so we’ve enlisted the expert insight of Vancouver-based physician and bestselling author Dr. Jacqueline Fowler, as well as Vancouver-based therapist and mental health professional Alyson Jones, to help us explore the causes of seasonal-related headaches, among other types that typically affect women.

DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice of your healthcare practitioner. Always seek medical advice that is specific to you and your situation.

According to The Mayo Clinic, some people have a higher sensitivity to seasonal weather shifts and tend to experience headaches as a result. Those affected tend to struggle with extreme temperatures, bright sunlight and barometric pressure changes, to name a few reasons.

As a result of fluctuations in the weather, those with this heightened sensitivity may experience imbalances in brain chemicals such as serotonin, which can pave the way for subsequent migraines.

But what can you do about it? Alyson Jones and Dr. Jacqueline Fowler suggest the following:

Environmental factors can play a role when it comes to headaches.

“If we experience pressure changes due to weather, we can get imbalances in our sinus. This can cause congestion and inflammation, which then causes headaches,” says Fowler.