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Lightning storms trigger migraines

Migraine headaches usually manifest as recurrent throbbing headaches that typically begin on one side of the head, may be preceded by auras or abnormal sensations, and are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or visual changes. The exact mechanism behind migraines is unknown although experts suspect that abnormalities to the nervous system and blood vessels to the brain are involved.

There are many reported triggers for migraine headaches. These include psychological stress, hormonal changes in women, fasting, noise, foods, caffeine, odors, and alcohol. Recent studies have found a link between low barometric pressure before cloudy or rainy weather and migraine headaches. Now, researchers have linked lightning storms to migraines.

In an early online edition of the journal Cephalgia, experts recruited 90 adults with migraine headaches and had them record their daily headache activity for three to six months. Headache frequency on days with lighting were compared their frequency on days without lightning. Lightning strikes were measured using ground sensors that detected electromagnetic radiation from cloud to ground strikes. After accounting for other weather factors (e.g. barometric pressure), individuals with migraines had 31% more headaches on days with lightning. The probability of having a headache also was related to the average current of lightning strikes on days with lightning.

The authors were uncertain if lightning directly triggered headaches through electromagnetic waves, via production of ozone, nitric oxide, or other chemicals, by inducing fungal spores, or by another mechanism. They also cautioned that this was a small study and recommended further study of this phenomenon using a larger, more comprehensive dataset.

 

Source : healthnewsobserver.com