The reason why more people than ever are getting migraines

Climate change could be driving a worrying rise in debilitating migraines, leading experts have warned.

An estimated 10 million Britons suffer from the condition, which is characterised by recurring, severe headaches and a range of other symptoms, including nausea and sensitivity to light.

In the past 12 months alone, around 40,000 people in England have been admitted to hospital because of migraines – a 20 per cent increase over the past five years.

Now scientists believe they may have identified a key reason why.

In a recent article, Dr Danielle Wilhour, a neurology expert at the University of Colorado, told the National Geographic that climate change appears to be contributing to more frequent and severe migraine attacks.

‘Climate change is amplifying environmental conditions that are already known migraine triggers,’ she said.

These include high temperatures, greater temperature swings, worsening air quality and changes in barometric pressure – all of which have been linked to migraine onset.

Experts also warn that the psychological stress associated with climate change may be playing a role.

Stress is one of the most common migraine triggers, and experts say rising anxiety linked to extreme weather events, disrupted routines and environmental uncertainty could be further fuelling the increase.

One person who has noticed his migraines worsening is Cristian-Ovidiu Marin, 34, the CEO of an online gaming company based in Bucharest.

He told National Geographic that he used to experience migraine attacks only once every few months – until around four years ago, when they became both more frequent and more intense.

Crucially, he says the change appeared to coincide with shifts in his environment.

‘My migraines have become more frequent and intense, often with sharp, pounding pain, nausea and light sensitivity,’ he said.

‘It’s not just heat, either. Storm fronts, humidity shifts and sudden pressure changes also seem to trigger symptoms.

‘It’s like my body has become its own weather barometer, warning me that something’s changing before the forecast even updates.’

Experts caution that the evidence linking climate change to migraines remains correlational – meaning it cannot yet prove cause and effect.

However a growing body of research is adding weight to the theory.

One such study, presented at the American Headache Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting last year, analysed migraine patients’ diaries and found that for every 1.2°C rise in outdoor temperature, there was a six per cent increase in headaches on the same day.

‘If you have global warming and higher temperatures to begin with, you’re going to have more headache,’ said Vincent Martin, co–author of the study and a professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati.

‘With more low–pressure systems and turbulent weather rolling in, the fluctuating weather patterns associated with climate change can trigger more frequent and severe migraine attacks, as well as longer–lasting headaches.’

Similar findings have emerged elsewhere. 

A 2023 Japanese study found headaches were more common on days with higher humidity, increased rainfall and changes in barometric pressure.

Another large study involving more than 400,000 Britons found migraines were more common among people exposed to extreme temperatures, both in summer and winter.

Migraines are a complex neurological condition thought to involve abnormal brain signalling, changes in blood flow and the release of inflammatory chemicals that affect pain pathways.

They affect around one in seven people in the UK, with women three times more likely to suffer than men, and are one of the leading causes of disability among adults of working age.

Alongside established therapies such as triptans and preventative medications including beta blockers and anti-seizure drugs, a newer class of treatments targeting a molecule called CGRP – calcitonin gene-related peptide – has transformed care for many patients.

CGRP is known to play a key role in migraine pain and inflammation, and drugs that block its action have been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks in some people who previously struggled to control symptoms.

Non-drug approaches can also help, experts say, including identifying personal triggers, staying well hydrated during hot weather, maintaining regular sleep patterns and managing stress.