Heatwave: Extreme Heat and Air Pollution May Worsen Migraines, New Study Finds

Migraine is a moderate to severe headache disorder with unique characteristics that distinguish it from a regular headache. It is typically described as a throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. Attacks are frequently accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, and sometimes warning symptoms such as flashes of light or sensory disturbances. A migraine attack can last for hours or even days, significantly affecting quality of life. Current migraine treatment combines pain relief medications during attacks with preventive therapies aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of episodes.

As part of the study, researchers analyzed data from 7,032 migraine patients in the Be’er Sheva region over more than two decades. They examined the relationship between daily exposure to air pollution and weather conditions and urgent medical visits due to migraine, as well as the use of migraine specific medications known as triptans, which served as an indicator of disease activity.

The findings showed that exposure to everyday air pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide associated with traffic related pollution, as well as fine airborne particles originating from smoke, industry, and dust, was linked to increased migraine activity.

According to the study, in the short term, rising levels of air pollution and solar radiation were associated with an increased risk of acute migraine attacks leading to urgent medical care. At the same time, cumulative long-term exposure to these pollutants was linked to greater frequency and severity of migraines.

The study also found that weather conditions influence the intensity of the effect. During the summer, high temperatures and low humidity intensified the impact of traffic related pollution, while in winter, cold temperatures and high humidity strengthened the effect of fine airborne particles.

The researchers propose a model for understanding migraine as a condition influenced by several layers: individual biological predisposition, prolonged exposure to environmental conditions that increase sensitivity, and immediate triggers such as sharp rises in air pollution that may ultimately lead to an attack. Although the study demonstrates a statistical association rather than direct causation, the findings reinforce the understanding that environmental factors play a significant role in migraine and may open the door to the development of prediction and prevention tools.

The study was led by Dr. Ido Peles from the Clinical Research Center at Soroka Medical Center, in collaboration with Prof. Lena Novack, Director of the Negev Institute for Environmental Health Research, Dr. Michal Gordon, Head of the Research Data Unit and Spatial Research Lab, Prof. Batya Sarov from the Department of Epidemiology at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Prof. Victor Novack, Head of Internal Medicine Department H, Director of the Clinical Research Center and Head of the Research Authority, and Prof. Gal Ifergane, Head of the Neurology Department at Soroka.

We see that the environment plays a dual role. On one hand, conditions such as heat and humidity influence sensitivity over time, while on the other hand, sharp increases in air pollution can act as an immediate trigger for an attack. A better understanding of these relationships may eventually enable the prediction of high risk days and help patients prepare in advance.”

Dr. Ido Peles, Clinical Research Center, Soroka Medical Center

Prof. Gal Ifergane, Head of the Neurology Department at Soroka, added: “Migraine is not an ordinary headache but a chronic disease. People living with migraine know that extreme heat, dust storms, or smoke can worsen attacks. The study shows that this is not merely a momentary trigger, but rather a cumulative effect of environmental conditions on disease activity.”