IS YOUR MIGRAINE SEASONAL?

Certain foods, such as coffee and chocolate, are known to trigger migraines in some people. But there's another possible culprit - the weather!

- LUCY ROBINSON

The festive season may be known as the most wonderful time of the year, but for some of the 10 million people in the UK living with migraines, a change in the weather can put a dampener on the celebrations in more ways than one. Although "seasonal migraine" isn't an official term or diagnosis, variations in the temperature can bring on an attack, with often debilitating symptoms.

Neurologist Dr Anita Krishnan, who is the divisional clinical director for neurology at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, explains, "Migraine is triggered from an inherent nerve network within the normal human brain. This nerve network can create migraines spontaneously, but it is also often sensitive to external factors like tiredness, disturbed sleep, dehydration, hunger, stress, hormonal changes and so on.

"Similarly, it can be quite sensitive to variations in seasons. A change in external temperature and atmospheric pressure is a commonly cited trigger for migraines, though it has to be kept in mind that it is not the only trigger and varies among individuals."

Estimates suggest that in the UK, three million work days are lost every year due to migraine-related absenteeism, with the condition costing the economy more than £4 billion, so it's no surprise that there is great interest in what triggers an attack and how sufferers can manage them. With that in mind, here's what you need to know about seasonal migraines...

1 IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE