Investigation of the Effects of Climate on Migraine Patients’ Headaches

Bacground Headaches in migraine are triggered by different variables and can negatively affect the quality of life of patients. This descriptive study was carried out to determine whether headaches experienced by individuals with migraine are influenced by climate changes. Methods The data were collected from migraine patients visiting the neurology outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital. The data collection tools included a Personal Information Form, Climate Effects Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Headache Impact Test (HIT). The sample consisted of 153 migraine patients. Results The participants had a mean age of 37.10 ± 9.79 years, and the average duration of migraine diagnosis was 8.17 ± 8.15 years. Of the participants, 83.7% were female, 32.0% had a bachelor’s degree, 75.8% were single, 77.1% had a middle income level, and 56.2% were employed. In the study, participants most frequently reported that increases in temperature (71.9%), seasonal transitions (71.2%), and wind (68.0%) exacerbated their headaches. However, 11.8% of participants reported cold weather to alleviate headaches, and 66.0% reported rain to have no effect. Conclusions In conclusion, the results suggest that headaches in individuals with migraine can be influenced by climate changes. These results highlight the importance of considering climatic factors in migraine management and underscore the need for developing individualized preventive strategies.