Headaches during Arizona’s Monsoon Season: The Cause and Cure

You might get the “crazy” idea that every time a big monsoon rolls through, you suffer from a massive headache or even a migraine. You don’t know what the connection is; you just know that when the weather channel calls for a monsoon, you dread it because you know you’ll be laid up with excruciating pain, nausea, or even visual disturbances.

Well, your so-called crazy idea isn’t all that crazy after all. The truth is that there is a connection between the monsoons that Arizona experiences every year and an increased likelihood of suffering a migraine or intense headache in Mesa. Doctors get a rash of additional complaints during monsoon season, and the people who suffer from these headaches know very well that there’s a connection.

Why You Might Get Headaches during a Monsoon

Several things can contribute to headaches. Some common causes include:

• Changes in barometric pressure
• Extreme heat or cold
• Strong odors
• Flickering lights
• Bright lights
• High winds
• Changes in altitude
• Smoke

Many of these conditions occur when there is a monsoon. The intense thunderstorms dump rain on the desert landscape when temperatures are still at or near triple digits, and that changes the humidity dramatically, causing the barometric pressure to change, as well. Of course, monsoons also come with heavy winds. Those high winds can also usher in all kinds of odors from the environment, which can irritate someone who is sensitive to them. If a fire has occurred in the area, the winds can also blow in smoke.

The lightning that accompanies monsoons can be bright enough or frequent enough that it triggers headaches or even migraines in some. Temperatures can change when a storm comes down during monsoon season, but the temperatures don’t usually reach extremes. However, with all the other conditions present that contribute to headaches, even slight temperature changes can be enough to send someone over the edge.

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It’s no surprise then that monsoons can trigger headaches and more serious migraines in Mesa. The connection isn’t in your head. Well, er, actually it is. A real connection happening in your head!

Preventing and Curing Your Headaches

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to escape the effects of a monsoon. You can stay inside to avoid the bright and flickering lights and some of the smells. But the changes in barometric pressure will affect you inside or outside, and strong odors that are blown in by high winds will reach you even inside. The best thing you can do is monitor weather reports so you know when a monsoon is likely and take the best care of yourself as possible so that your body is more resilient to the changes the monsoon causes.

If a headache or migraine does strike, it’s best to get as much rest as possible and to reduce stimulus. If you can, lie down in your room with the curtains drawn and a mask over your eyes. Put on soft music or wear ear plugs. Light some incense or plug in an oil diffuser with some soothing aromas. Or, if you don’t want to lie in bed, you can soak in a warm bath with the eye mask, soft music, and incense. Do whatever will help you to relax.

Getting regular body work can also help you to avoid headaches or to lessen their intensity. For example, chiropractic care in Mesa can relieve muscle tension and align your spine so that there is clear communication with your nervous system and that circulation is optimal for delivering oxygen, blood and nutrients to all parts of your body. Pinched nerves, tense muscles, or compressed discs can all increase the frequency and severity of headaches, and chiropractic care can address these issues.

Mesa massage therapy can relieve muscle tension that contributes to headaches, and acupuncture can clear energy pathways in the body to improve circulation, nervous system communication, digestion, and more. Getting a combination of body work therapies, plenty of rest, healthy exercise, and nutritious foods can improve your health and reduce the likelihood that you will suffer from headaches, no matter what the conditions are outside.

My Body Workz in Arizona offers chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage therapy. You can visit a specialist for one service, or you can sign up for a package of body work services to get optimal benefits. Our specialists will talk with you to get a complete understanding of your health complaints, such as if you suffer from frequent headaches. They will then recommend the appropriate therapies to help you get relief. Call us in Arizona today to talk with one of our specialists!