Migraines can be extremely debilitating and hard to manage for those who experience them frequently. Sometimes, in addition to headaches, they cause symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and sensitivity to light or sound. Although the underlying cause for migraines is not determined, in some cases, these headaches may be triggered by external factors like the weather, flashing lights, and pollutants.

Some environmental factors that trigger migraines are mentioned below:

1. Weather
Weather conditions can have a noticeable impact on our health and wellbeing. Slight changes in the weather such as increased humidity, fluctuations in the atmospheric temperature, extreme heat, extreme cold, or winds and storms can trigger migraine attacks. This is because atmospheric changes alter the body’s chemical balance and result in migraine attacks in some individuals.

2. Loud noises
Even people who do not get frequent migraines can often experience a throbbing headache after being at an extremely loud party or living near a loud construction site for a while. People with migraines may be more sensitive toward loud noises and may experience headaches after merely listening to some music using earphones, watching television for a long period, or talking on the phone with someone for a long period.

3. Flashing lights
Any external factor that overstimulates the brain has the potential to cause migraine headaches in people. Any kind of light source that is extremely bright or keeps twinkling at a faster rate can cause migraines in such people. In some cases, when a person is extremely sensitive to light stimulation, they may also experience intense migraines by being exposed to natural sunlight for a long period. It is important for such people to avoid prolonged exposure to screens, such as mobile phones and computers, to prevent intense headaches. It may also help to use polarised sunglasses whenever they are planning to go out in the sun.

4. Air pollution
Air pollution is quickly becoming one of the biggest causes of diseases in the world. The smoke from industries, automobiles, forest fires, and cigarettes is rapidly deteriorating the quality of air that we breathe every moment. Such poor quality of air can be an influential factor in the migraine headaches experienced by certain people. Installing a humidifier or an air purifier in the bedroom may help in reducing exposure to pollutants.

5. Certain smells
Aside from pollutants, depending on where one lives, the air may also be saturated with particulate matter from industries and factories. These may also include olfactory irritants such as chemicals, bleach, perfumes, or exhaust fumes that can stimulate one’s sense of smell and cause a migraine.