How Seasonal Shifts in NYC Weather Can Trigger Headaches 

Fall in NYC is beautiful, but can also come with some complicated symptoms. Summer is behind us and as the leaves change, so does the weather. We have cool mornings and evenings that require warm layers mixed with higher temperatures in the middle of the day. We work in offices with cold air conditioning while our landlords turn on the furnace in our apartments without notice. This inconsistency can not only make you uncomfortable, but also leave you feeling sick. 

Our bodies do not tolerate sudden changes so well, especially to our environment. And while most people worry about cold and flu season, others are dealing with daily tension headaches or migraines. 

HEADACHES AND THE WEATHER in NYC

Headaches can be complicated. To start, there are different types of headaches that can arise in people: 

• Tension
• Migraine
• Cluster
• Sinus 
• Hormonal
• Hypertension 

And then there are all the many underlying reasons for said headaches, such as: stress, hormones, nutrition, sleep, blood sugar, blue light, weather, etc. 

How does weather play a role? A change in barometric pressure, also known as how much weight is in the air, can increase pressure between our sinuses. Barometric pressure is higher in the cold and dry months and lower in warm and humid months. These changes most commonly cause people to experience migraines, sinus headaches and tension headaches. 

OTHER SEASONAL CAUSES OF HEADACHES in NYC 

Temperatures aside, we deal with a lot of additional changes as the seasons change: 

• The sun sets much earlier, leaving us with less exposure to direct sunlight. This, in turn, can cause a depletion of vitamin D levels. 
• Increased screen time, whether at work or on our phones or television, expose us to high amounts of blue light, we can disrupt our circadian rhythm (or sleep cycles). 
• There is a decrease in serotonin, which is a brain and gut chemical, that supports our good mood. A combination of decreased sunlight, physical activity, and screen use can deplete our serotonin levels. 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEADACHES 

It’s much easier to be active and outdoors during the summer months, but getting to the gym or walking every day in the cold can be difficult to do. Unfortunately, this is vital to ensuring we keep headaches and illness away as the seasons change. Staying active can help you combat headaches by: 

• Releasing Endorphins 
• Produce Serotonin 
• Regulate Blood Sugar 
• Improving Sleep 
• Reducing Stress
• Build Immunity 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE THE RISK OF TRIGGERING A HEADACHE

Expose yourself to sunlight during the daytime for at least 20 minutes. Whether it is cloudy or not, natural light helps produce melatonin in our brain which allows us to get better sleep at night. 

Wear blue light blockers after sundown. Use these when looking at your phone, computer and even if you are watching television. By blocking blue light, you are further supporting natural melatonin production in your brain. 

Move your body for at least 30 minutes a day. This does not need to be a structured gym routine. You can opt for a walk, yoga, stretching or strengthening at the gym. Scheduling movement, of any kind, into your day can alleviate your tension headache and migraine symptoms. 

If you find that these changes do not help alleviate your headaches, reach out to Dr. Mallik in Union Square for a consultation or contact me here. A thorough movement assessment, treatment and individualized plan can help you heal from headaches while also building consistent healthy habits into your day. 

Yours In Health,

Dr. Monisha Mallik, D.C.