Barometric Pressure Headache

by Mary J.
(Lenoir, NC)

I get horrible headaches whenever the barometric pressure goes down, or I travel to higher elevations. Could this be a sinus or a neurological problem? Any suggestions?

Answer:

Hi Mary,

And I thought Buffalo was the only place with big pressure swings!

As I tell many of my patients when they tell me they get "sinus", it most probably is a migraine.

The most common cause of migraine is stress, second is hormone fluctuations and third is barometric pressure changes causing migraine. Changing elevations by flying is also a common migraine trigger. This is why many migraineurs cannot go diving as the pressure change could bring on a severe migraine underwater.

If the headaches are severe and disabling, you should talk to your doctor or consider seeing a neurologist. If the treatment for migraine (Imitrex or another triptan) takes the headache away then it was indeed a migraine.

Many of my patients do respond to increasing their magnesium for headaches.

Good luck!
Mary Kay Betz MS RPA-C