ST. PAUL, Minn -- March 10, 2009 -- Higher temperatures and lower barometric air pressure may lead to a higher, short-term risk of headaches, but air pollution may not have a significant effect on headache, according to a study published in the March 10 print issue of the journal Neurology.
"Air temperature and pressure have been widely cited as a possible trigger for headaches, particularly migraines, but the potential connection hasn't been well documented," said lead author Kenneth Mukamal, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
For the study, researchers looked at 7,054 people who were diagnosed with headache in a Boston emergency department over 7 years. They then compared temperature levels, barometric pressure, humidity, and other air pollutant or weather factors during 1 to 3 days leading up to the hospital visit.
The study found that higher temperatures increased the risk of headache. The risk went up by 7.5% for every 5 degree Celsius increase in temperature. Lower barometric air pressure within the 2 or 3 days leading up to a person's hospital visit also increased the risk of nonmigraine headaches. Air pollution levels had no affect on the risk of headache in the study.
"There is growing interest in exploring whether there is any link between air pollution and headaches," said Dr. Mukamal. "While our study did not find an association, other studies have shown that air pollution has possible links to other health problems like heart disease and stroke."
SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology
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