Barometric Pressure Headaches: Causes, Symptoms & Relief

Headaches and migraines can have a number of different causes, including barometric pressure. When the pressure drops, the oxygen level in the air drops with it and the blood vessels in your head can expand to compensate for those sensitive to pressure changes. While counteracting barometric pressure headaches can take time, there are effective measures that can assist in treatment.

Things You'll Need

• Journal
• Humidifier
• Massager
• Hot and cold compresses

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Instructions

• 1

  Write down the weather conditions in a journal every time you feel a headache coming on. Over time, you will start to notice trends in which weather conditions affect your headaches.

• 2

  Use a humidifier to adjust the amount of moisture in the air on days when the weather could cause headache issues. If more humidity brings about headaches, use a dehumidifier instead.

• 3

  Use relaxation techniques such as meditation, acupuncture and yoga to prevent your muscles from tensing and counteracting any swelling of the blood vessels in the head when you feel a barometric pressure headache coming on or if the weather conditions indicate that one may begin. A massager can also be used on the temples to achieve this effect.

• 4

  Experiment with the application of heat and cold. Heat can sometimes relax the facial muscles and relieve pain while cold compresses can numb pain effects for some individuals.