Many migraine sufferers claim that the weather can precipitate one of their blinding headaches.
A study reported in the journal Neurology 1 shows a definite correlation between the westerly 'Chinook' winds, which bring welcome warmth to the chill of winter in Alberta, Canada, and the incidence of migraines. In the most serious cases patients may see spots or lines in their visual field, and may even experience slurred speech and temporary paralysis. Unfortunately, these episodes are still little understood. These winds are ideal for studying a link between weather change and migraine because they start and stop at clearly definable times and bring about a profound weather change. Moreover, unlike other winds or weather phenomena, the Chinooks are usually associated with positive psychological and physical effects because they up the bitter winter temperature when they blow in.