Migraines are increasing in frequency and intensity among Americans: Could climate change be a reason?
Although the number of Americans who get 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 magazine Headache, analyzed 11 studies among North American adults from 1989 to 2018 on episodic and chronic migraines. The researchers found that the prevalence of migraines over the past three decades has remained stable, but they discovered Migraine Disability Rating Scale scores, which measure how migraines affect a person’s daily activities, jumped from 22.0% to 42.4% since 2004, the study concluded.
“Disability” scores reflect the severity of the migraine.
Migraines affect about 39 million adults in the U.S., according to the American Migraine Foundation.
“Although burden initially increased more significantly among women and has since stabilized, the burden rate in men has continued to increase,” said the lead author. Dr. Fred Cohenassistant professor of medicine and neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, told NBC News.
“Additionally, our research indicates that the average monthly frequency of headaches has increased over the past 20 years.”
Timothy A. Collins, chief of the headache division in the department of neurology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, said migraines are causing people to be less productive at school and work, to participate less social and leisure activities and perform less. less household chores because migraines are more frequent and stronger. Collins was not part of the study.
Mount Sinai researchers note that the observed increase in the frequency and negative impact of migraines on work and home productivity may be due to increased social awareness about migraines and decreased stigma surrounding the debilitating condition.
Climate change could lead to more erratic and severe weather conditions, which are known triggers of migraines, Cohen said.
“As extreme weather events like hurricanes become more frequent and intense, they may be contributing to an increase in migraine attacks and their severity,” he said.
There is some evidence that thunderstorms and barometric pressure can cause headaches, but it’s unclear whether “regular” air pollution — like bad air from forest fires — is a migraine trigger, Collins added.
These climate 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 bright sunlight, extreme heat or cold, sun glare, and high humidity.
British researchers warned on Wednesday that extreme climate and heat 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 paper published Wednesday in Lancet Neurology.
“Worging weather conditions (including rising temperatures, extreme weather patterns, and increased pollution) are likely to lead to effects of two types: an increase in the frequency of attacks in people who already have migraines and an increase in the overall occurrence of migraines.” , scientists at University College London wrote.
Monitor climate change, such as with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HeatRisk Tool or your location National Weather Service Forecast Officecan help migraine patients who are sensitive to extreme weather conditions.
Mark Burish, director of the Will Erwin Headache Research Center at UTHealth Houston, said the research highlights a “troubling trend,” but why migraine disability is getting worse it is still not clear.
Rochelle Frank, clinical professor of neurology at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, said: “There are many factors that could be contributing 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, prescription for other medications, as well as personal preference, 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 frequent headaches or who are heavily burdened by headaches despite ‘as needed’ treatment, we add preventative treatment,” Burish said.
This can include over-the-counter supplements, prescription medications, self-administered injections, wearable devices, infusions and doctor-performed procedures, he said.
Preventative medication can often decrease the number of days people have headaches each month by more than 50%, Collins added.
Not all treatments require medication. Many people may not realize how everyday conditions – dehydration, sleep deprivation, skipping meals and emotional stress – can trigger symptoms.
Dietary changes such as avoiding caffeinated drinks, chocolate or alcohol that can trigger migraines, improving sleep hygiene and taking vitamin/mineral supplements can also have a significant impact on headache health, Cohen said.
This article was originally published in NBCNews. with
