The relationship between weather and migraines are not fully understood yet. Rapid weather changes, especially shifts in barometric pressure and extreme temperature swings, can trigger migraines for some people.
by Colleen Reynolds OSF Healthcare
Weather changes can play a major role in triggering migraine headaches for some people, according to specialists who treat the condition. In fact, for some people, weather can play a huge role in migraine headaches.
Photo provided
Ashley Workman
Ashley Workman is an advanced practice registered nurse with OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute (OSF INI). She works in the headache and cranial facial pain program and explains, “Specific weather changes that we see influence some of our patients’ migraine patterns are changes in barometric pressure, which we identify as any fluctuation or drop in the atmospheric pressure around us in our environment, extreme temperature shifts — so not only extreme heat waves, but also those cold snaps, or any more extreme shift in temperature from high to low.”
Workman says Illinois weather has offered recent examples of those quick changes when it was 90 degrees just a few weeks ago, but now it’s dropping into the 30s and most people have turned their heat on. While scientists understand parts of the migraine process, Workman stresses the relationship between weather and migraine isn’t fully understood.
Migraines are a complex disorder, and there are some theories out there that weather changes influence migraines. Workman points out that researchers have one theory in particular that is centered around the influence of barometric pressure.
“Does that shift in atmospheric pressure actually have an influence on the pressure within our skull? And that can then further influence how our blood vessels constrict and dilate. And those specific changes then can trigger those neurons and nerves signaling the pain process, which then leads to inflammation and causing that migraine headache for patients.”
Photo: Vitaly Gariev/Unsplash
Testing those theories can be difficult because the brain and the nervous system are so complex.
“These neurons that we’re talking about are so teensy, tiny and can be influenced by so many factors, migraine being one of those that the sky is somewhat the limit on what triggers them and it’s very individualized to the person so that really adds a layer of complexity of giving someone sometimes a straightforward answer of why they have migraine or what their triggers are, because it can differ so much across the board,” Workman suggests.
There is no cure for migraine headaches, so Workman says it truly is all about education and managing the condition by being prepared. Here are some approaches:
Tracking headaches on a calendar can help identify weather-related patterns. She says that’ll help better identify triggers.
Having medication readily available is also key. Workman emphasizes the importance of always having your medication with you in case a migraine comes on, especially unexpectedly.
Managing stress and routinely getting enough sleep are important.
Focusing on a better diet and drinking more water to avoid dehydration is also a key to better management of migraine.
Ultimately, Workman advises that there are things providers can do to help patients live a little better lifestyle, knowing that they have migraine headaches including prescriptions, including acute medications or preventative medications.
She adds, “A lot has evolved in the migraine world over the last five to seven years, with newer treatments on the market that we haven’t had that have been really, really so impactful for patients and leading to better migraine control.”
If you have been struggling with migraine headaches, Workman says there’s no need to suffer without support. Make an appointment with your primary care provider.
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Tags: struggling with migraine headaches, the brain and the nervous system are complex, weather changes can play a role with migraines
The 2025 All-IPC soccer honors highlight the best players from the Illini Prairie Conference season. St. Joseph-Ogden, Bloomington Central Catholic, St. Thomas More and Illinois Valley Central each earned first-team selections.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Tyler Hess and Illinois Valley Central's Brody Garceau battle for ball control during their regular season match in September. Both players earned recognition from the Illini Prairie Conference coaches and named to this year's First Team.
SNS - With the season over until next August, the Illini Prairie Conference has announced its 2025 All-IPC soccer team, selected by coaches from member schools.
This year’s first team includes seven seniors, four juniors and one freshman among the honorees who showcased their skill and talent throughout the season, which began in August.
Following a thrilling regular season, three players from St. Joseph-Ogden, the Williamsville Sectional runner-up, made this year’s top team. The Spartans finished the season as conference champions with an impressive record of 24 wins, two losses and two ties.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Spartan's Zach Harper celebrates his game-winning goal against the Grey Ghost in September. The senior, who averaged 2.3 goals per match was St. Joseph-Ogden's most-prolific scorer this season.
Bloomington Central Catholic, whose only loss came against SJO, finished the season 9-11-3 and second in the Illini Prairie. The Saints had three players named to this year’s first team.
Meanwhile, coaches agreed that two players each from St. Thomas More and Illinois Valley Central, instrumental to their teams’ success, also deserved recognition for their talent and contributions in downstate Illinois’ toughest small-school conference.
Here is the list of this year's conference teams.
1st Team All-Conference
Jack Wyse - Junior, #7, Central Catholic Lucas Beck - Junior, #2, Central Catholic Sam Allen - Senior, #8, Central Catholic Andrew Scheirer - Junior, #5, Illinois Valley Central Brody Garceau - Senior, #4, Illinois Valley Central Oscar Valera Echeverria - Junior, #8, Rantoul Township Zach Harper - Senior, #24, St. Joseph-Ogden Tyler Hess - Senior, #77, St. Joseph-Ogden Lucas Stevens - Freshman, #10, St. Joseph-Ogden Riley Hogan - Senior, #4, St. Thomas More Owen Yeager - Senior, #17, St. Thomas More Matthew Hollett - Senior, #25, Unity
2nd Team All-Conference
Benjamin Dappen - Junior, #10, Central Catholic Mason Clark - Junior, #11, Central Catholic Jonathan Blankenship - Junior, #1, Central Catholic Ryan Urbanc - Senior, #8, Illinois Valley Central Drew Marquis - Senior, #3, Illinois Valley Central Sully Beccue - Junior, #7, Monticello Issack Ocadiz - Junior, #11, Monticello Steven Newman - Junior, #21, St. Joseph-Ogden Quinn Stahl - Senior, #22, St. Joseph-Ogden Will Grissom - Sophomore, #16, St. Thomas More Raphael Enzo Dongo Kengue - Junior, #10, St. Thomas More Nicholas Ribeiro O’Grady - Junior, #00, St. Thomas More Jacob Yeager - Junior, #11, St. Thomas More Caden McCaskill - Senior, #26, Unity Tyler Huntington - Senior, #35, Unity
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Leo Triveno - Freshman, #14, Central Catholic John Urbanc - Senior, #10, Illinois Valley Central Jackson Lopotko - Junior, #12, Illinois Valley Central Logan Sullivan - Senior, #7, Illinois Valley Central Channing Morris - Senior, #11, Illinois Valley Central Chris Clavey - Sophomore, #12, St. Thomas More Alex Kessler - Junior, #30, Monticello Walter Saiger - Sophomore - Monticello Waylon Jones - Junior - St. Joseph-Ogden Chris Clavey - Sophomore- St. Thomas More
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Unity's Matthew Hollett dribbles the ball down the field in the Rockets' postseason match against St. Joseph-Ogden. The senior and two other teammates earned spots on this season's all-conference list.
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2025 Illini Prairie Conference All-IPC soccer selections,
High school soccer all-conference team Illinois,
St. Joseph-Ogden Illini Prairie soccer champions 2025,
Top Illinois high school soccer players 2025 season,
Bloomington Central Catholic and SJO All-IPC honorees
by Colleen Reynolds
