Science & Technology

Does lightning cause headaches ?

By T.K. Randall
January 25, 2013 ·  11 comments

Image Credit: US Navy The study found that on days with lightning there was a 24 percent increase in the number of people with headaches and a 23 percent increase in migraine cases within 25 miles of the strikes. Chronic sufferers were even more likely to be affected. It is thought that electromagnetic waves could have a lot to do with this, as could the increase in air pollutants typical of a lightning strike.

"The exact mechanisms through which lightning and/or its associated meteorologic factors trigger headache are unknown, although we do have speculations," said Prof Vincent Martin. "Ultimately, the effect of weather on headache is complex, and future studies will be needed to define more precisely the role of lightning and thunderstorms on headache."[!gad]The study found that on days with lightning there was a 24 percent increase in the number of people with headaches and a 23 percent increase in migraine cases within 25 miles of the strikes. Chronic sufferers were even more likely to be affected. It is thought that electromagnetic waves could have a lot to do with this, as could the increase in air pollutants typical of a lightning strike.

"The exact mechanisms through which lightning and/or its associated meteorologic factors trigger headache are unknown, although we do have speculations," said Prof Vincent Martin. "Ultimately, the effect of weather on headache is complex, and future studies will be needed to define more precisely the role of lightning and thunderstorms on headache."

Source: Telegraph | Comments (11)

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