Since we are currently studying how high and low pressure fronts differently affect the weather, I thought it would be interesting to see how these barometric pressure changes affect us personally. Scientists have found that changes in weather often cause headaches and migraines. No one knows exactly why this happens, but there are many theories. Changes in pressure cause changes in oxygen levels and therefore some believe that blood vessels in our heads expand or contract to compensate and this causes us discomfort. Other researchers believe that it's not pressure alone, but a variety of weather factors together that trigger migraines. A study conducted in 1981 found that the severity of migraines increased when individuals were exposed to weather with low pressure, which is a passage of a warm front, causing high temperatures and humidity. There was also a study led by Dr. Galina Mindlin of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia which found that migraines are likely not only when pressure rises, but also when the temperature rises due to the electrical charge of the air. Who knew that changes in pressure could affect our bodies in addition to our weather!
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