Barometric pressure and migraine: what the research says
Can a drop in air pressure trigger a migraine? What a year-long diary study found, why the change matters more than the level, and how to find out whether weather affects you.
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Short answer
Falling air pressure is a real trigger for some people with migraine, not for everyone. In a year-long diary study of 28 patients, attacks were more frequent around days when pressure fell by more than 5 hPa (about 0.15 inHg), while the monthly average pressure made no difference. The only way to know if it applies to you is to log your attacks next to the pressure for a few months.
Choose this if
A paper diary and a weather site can show a link if you are patient and write everything down.
Choose the other option if
Miggry lays each attack next to the pressure and weather for you and only shows a pattern once there is enough data.
At a glance
| Feature | Paper diary and a weather site | Miggry |
|---|---|---|
| Logs attacks with time and intensity | Yesby hand | Yesin seconds |
| Records the pressure at each attack | Partlyif you look it up | Yes |
| Pressure forecast and alerts | Partlyweather sites only | Yesalerts you choose |
| Shows why a day scores as risky | No | Yesevery signal is shown |
| Report for your doctor | No | YesPDF or CSV |
| Diary stays on your phone | Yeson paper | Yesnever sent to iCloud |
What the study found
Researchers at Dokkyo Medical University in Japan asked 28 people with migraine who lived within 10 km of a weather station to keep a headache diary for a full year, then compared the attacks with the station’s daily pressure.
Migraine was more frequent when the pressure difference between the day of the headache and the day after was lower by more than 5 hPa. Eighteen of the 28 patients (64%) had attacks linked to weather changes, and 14 of them named low pressure as a cause. The monthly average pressure showed no link with how often they had headaches.
The change matters more than the level
Standard sea-level pressure is about 1013 hPa (29.92 inHg), and ordinary weather moves it up and down by a few hectopascals a day. A fast fall of 5 hPa or more in a day usually comes with an approaching low-pressure system and stormy weather.
That is why a pressure headache forecast should show the change over 24 hours, not only today’s number. Our free pressure headache forecast does exactly that for any US ZIP code, and marks falls over 5 hPa.
What it does not prove
It was one small study in one city. Many people with migraine notice no link with the weather at all, and pressure often changes together with temperature, humidity and wind, so the real trigger can be hard to separate.
A weather change also does not mean an attack will come. It raises the chance for some people, and other triggers such as sleep, meals, stress and hormones add up with it.
How to find out if weather affects you
- Log every attack with its start time, intensity and medication for at least a few months.
- Record the pressure on attack days and on good days; comparing only bad days shows nothing.
- Note sleep, meals and stress too, so weather is not blamed for something else.
- Look for a pattern only when you have enough attacks, then bring the record to your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What barometric pressure causes migraines?
No single number. In a year-long study, attacks were more frequent when pressure fell by more than 5 hPa (about 0.15 inHg) from one day to the next.
Why does low pressure give me a headache?
The exact mechanism is not established. Studies link attacks to changes in pressure rather than to the level itself, and only in some people.
Can I predict a weather migraine?
You can see a fast pressure fall coming a day or two ahead in the forecast. Whether it will trigger an attack depends on you, which is why a personal diary matters.
When should I see a doctor about headaches?
For a sudden, severe or unusual headache get medical help right away. For frequent migraines, a doctor can review your diary and discuss treatment.
Is Miggry available?
Miggry is in development for iPhone.
Our pick
Miggry, a migraine diary with the weather beside it
Miggry makes logging an attack take seconds, keeps the pressure and weather next to it, and shows every signal behind its weather score, so you learn whether pressure really matters for you.
- Pressure change, forecast and alerts you choose
- Patterns only with enough data, never as proof
- Reports your doctor can read, as PDF or CSV
