Living in wonderful Bend, Oregon is a wonderful, beautiful experience with four distinct seasons – summer, autumn, winter, and spring. However, for some people, the four seasons can also bring seasonal triggers for a common chronic condition called migraine headaches. These migraine triggers – or “triggers” – can lead to intense headaches, nausea, or dizziness, and can be a source of stress and anxiety for many people. If you live in Bend, or indeed anywhere in the world, and you have migraine headache, it’s crucial to understand what seasonal triggers may be affecting you and what precautions you should be taking.
What are Migraines and What are Seasonal Triggers?
A migraine headache is an incredibly intense, pulsating headache that can be accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, blurred vision, and nausea. Migraine is a neurological disorder that can be inherited and can be generatively seen in a family. It can be the result of an overactive reaction in the brain that triggers abnormal activity in the cerebral blood vessels and nerves, resulting in the pain of a migraine.
Migraine triggers, meanwhile, are a group of external or internal factors that are believed to trigger a migraine attack. These triggers depend on the individual, as someone else may not find their same triggers to be a problem. It is common, though, for certain factors to be a trigger over and over in the same individual, leading researchers to believe that these triggers are “seasonal triggers” or “seasonal changes.”
Common Seasonal Triggers for Migraine in Bend
Overexposure to Sun
One of the most common migraine triggers for people in Bend are the days with intense sunshine, and long days with the sun. Many people in Bend have reported getting headaches, even migraines, on sunny days when they are outside for too long, due to the sun’s intensity being a concern. This trigger was found to be especially common in late spring and summer for people in Bend, when the sun is brighter and warmer than in the other four seasons.
High Elevation
Bend is located at a high elevation of 3,623 feet and is located in in the Cascade Range which extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. This elevation or change in altitude is a large trigger for migraines for some people. Migraines can be caused by reductions in oxygen pressure, changes in weather, and atmospheric pressure changes. While some people might not initially get migraine from a change in elevation, many visitors to Bend or newcomers to Bend have reported an increase in headaches since they have relocated.
Hot, Dry Days
Some people with migraines – especially those in Bend – have reported that hot, dry days make them particularly susceptible to migraines. Changes in humidity can also trigger migraines too. Migraines caused by changes in temperature, or temperature extremes, are believed to be related to the nerves in the brain and the blood vessels constricting and then expanding as they adjust to the temperature changes.
Hair Spray and Other Aerosol Products
It is common for people in Bend with migraines to be more susceptible to aerosol hairspray or other aerosol products around the winter and spring months. The reason is that people often use – or dry their hair – with hairspray to prevent flyaways, and aerosol products are used more in the colder seasons when electricity and bathtime are less likely to be enjoyable. The hair spray particles can make it easier for airborne suspended particles to be caught in nasal passages, leading to a triggering of a migraine.
Precautions You Should Take for Migraines in Bend
Understanding the seasonal triggers and taking precautions are an important part of managing migraines in Bend. Some of the most common precautions that be taken include:
Limit Your Sun Exposure
Losing easy, sun-exposed jobs in areas like swimming or tennis can reduce the risk of migraines, as can the use of sunscreens or hats that cover the eyes. Additionally, ensuring to take breaks while sun exposure and stay well hydrated can help prevent migraines.
Monitor Elevation Changes
For people allergic to changes in elevation or associated pressure changes, it is a good idea to be mindful when traveling up or down hill and to be sure to give oneself time to adjust to the new elevation.
Stay Moisturized on Hot Days
High humidity can negatively impact the blood vessels in people with migraines as much as low humidity. In either case, keeping up with skin hydration and use of nasal saline sprays can help prevent the onset of migraines.
Use Products with Caution
Using aerosol bottles with extra care by spraying them in an area with more open space and avoid excessive use can also play a helpful role for people with migraines.
It is important to remember that everyone’s experience with migraines is different. Communication with your primary care doctor to get advice on additional precautions beyond what has been discussed in this article is an important step for those experiencing migraines. Call today for your appointment and to get help with seasonal triggers and migraines in Bend.