JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Do you frequently wake up with a sinus headache, migraine, or joint pain just days before or on the day it rains in your area?
If so, you’re not alone. And there’s a scientific explanation for why this happens.
Weather changes can trigger migraines and joint pain for many, including extreme heat or cold, high humidity, dry air, windy or stormy weather, and especially barometric pressure changes.
Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure, drops as a storm system approaches. In Florida, where low-pressure systems are common, the link between these drops and physical discomfort is particularly evident. These quick changes in pressure can trigger headaches and joint pain, often a day or two before rain arrives.
For some people, weather changes may cause imbalances in brain chemicals, including serotonin, which can prompt a migraine, research from Mayo Clinic found.
Why barometric pressure impacts the body
When atmospheric pressure decreases, it exerts less force on the body. This change allows tissues to expand slightly, creating a sensation of pressure and discomfort in sensitive areas like joints and sinuses.
For some, this expansion causes a headache that feels like their head is swelling, akin to a balloon about to burst. The air pressure outside drops significantly, and that imbalance with the air in your sinuses can make you feel like your head might explode.
People with conditions such as arthritis are more likely to experience pain on days with higher humidity, stronger winds, and lower barometric pressure, a study found.
“As pressure decreases, our tissues – like muscles, ligaments, soft tissue and connective tissue – expand,” explained Andrew Bang, DC, a chiropractor at Cleveland Clinic. “If you have arthritis, like osteoarthritis, the space is already reduced in your joint. The pressure change expands those tissues, so now they’re butting up against arthritis. Maybe that’s why people hurt more when the barometric pressure changes.”
Tips to lessen weather-related pain
If incoming storms consistently bring pain, there are practical ways to ease the symptoms.
Keeping up with regular meals helps stabilize the body, and medications such as Tylenol or Zofran—an anti-nausea medicine that also alleviates headaches—can provide relief. Using nasal spray has been effective in relieving pressure for many people. Adequate rest is another essential part of managing these symptoms.
For immediate relief, using an ice pack or even a heating pad around the head or neck can reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. This simple remedy works by constricting blood vessels and calming swollen tissues.
While you can’t avoid changing weather, you can also take steps to prevent, ease or relieve weather-related joint pain. Dr. Bang recommends:
- Being active. Muscles, tendons and ligaments that don’t move tend to tighten up. It’s why you might feel creaky after sitting for long stretches. “Motion is lotion,” says Dr. Bang. “If you keep moving, you’re less likely to get some of these aches.”
- Stretching regularly. Stretching regularly and doing yoga are great ways to increase flexibility and maintain joint health. (Try these stretches to keep your neck, back and shoulders loose.)
- Staying warm. Dress for the weather … or even your home or office if the indoor temperature gives you an arctic vibe. “Coldness stiffens up your muscles,” he says. “Keeping them warm can help keep the pain away.”
- Heat treatment. Take a hot shower or dig out that heating pad if you feel weather-related aches coming on. “If you can get heat to penetrate areas where you have pain, you increase blood flow and can loosen up tight ligaments, tendons and connective tissue.”
- Reviewing your diet. Research shows that foods such as green tea, berries, broccoli and whole grains can reduce inflammation. So, eating better may help you feel better. (Learn more on the topic from a registered dietitian.)
- Consider using anti-inflammatory medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) in pill or lotion form can work to reduce the swelling behind joint pain. Talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
“When it comes to making an achy joint feel better, there are three main things you can do to make it feel better — heat it up, tighten it up or loosen it up,” states Dr. Bang. “That can go a long way to solving any problems.”
The science behind it all
Barometric pressure drops before a storm serve as an early warning system for sensitive individuals. These pressure changes are part of the natural mechanics of weather systems, signaling shifts in moisture and atmospheric dynamics.
While not everyone experiences these symptoms, those who do can take comfort in knowing they’re not alone—and their discomfort has a clear, scientific explanation.
So, the next time you feel a headache brewing before the rain starts, you can blame the low-pressure system moving in.