Barometric pressure and migraine: what Feelcaster watches

Ask people with migraine about their triggers and the weather comes up often. Storms, heat and fast changes in air pressure are among the most common. Here is what that means, and what Feelcaster does about it.

What barometric pressure is

Barometric pressure is the weight of the air above you. At sea level it sits around 1013 hPa. It falls ahead of storms and rises as clear, dry air moves in.

What the research says

The evidence is mixed. Some studies link falling pressure to more migraine days for some people. Others find no clear link. Weather is rarely the only trigger, so it can be hard to tell what set off a given attack.

Source: UPMC HealthBeat: Can weather changes trigger headaches?

What Feelcaster flags

Feelcaster watches how fast the pressure is changing, not just where it is. A swing of about 6 hPa within 3 hours is the starting point, and a clear shift from the day before counts too. If you said migraine affects you strongly, it speaks up sooner. A Feelcast Warning arrives when a rough stretch is likely within 12 hours, so you have time to plan.

Check the pattern for yourself

Log how you feel, especially on hard days. Each log keeps the weather from the hours before it. After three or more bad days, Feelcaster works out the pressure swing you actually react to, and the Report tab shows what your bad days have in common.