The National Headache Foundation has found out that a sizable number of people listed weather as their top trigger, along with one or more of the 16 most common migraine triggers. Sudden or unusual humidity changes, temperature, dust or rainstorms, and a very dry environment can trigger a migraine. Along with the weather, medication, lifestyle, and stress are too major migraine triggers. Where you can live can improve or worsen your migraine symptoms.

Cities in the US with a risk for migraine:

1. Augusta – Unstable barometric pressure
Cities are more prone to dips in barometric pressure during storms and typhoons. Some had migraines the day after the typhoon made landfall when the winds were still strong. Augusta in Maine, Rapid City in SD, and Montpelier in VT were the top three cities for having the most days with barometric pressure variations. Honolulu, Miami, and San Diego are the safest cities with the least barometric pressure variations.

2. Nashville and Cincinnati – Abnormal weather condition
If cities have fewer thunderstorms, extreme summers, and winters, those cities are considered safe for migraine. Cities with high environmental pollutants are also not considered safe for people with migraines. Extended sunshine during winters is a migraine trigger for some. Cities like Nashville and Cincinnati have been recorded as one of the worst weather-related triggers for migraines.

3. Los Angeles – Pollution
Air pollution is another migraine trigger. Nitrogen oxide and particulate matters can alter blood flow triggering a migraine attack. In cold climates, pollutants like carbon monoxide and ozone precursors can trigger migraines. Los Angeles, Visalia, and Bakersfield, these three cities in California have the worst air pollution in the country and are not recommended for those with migraines.

4. Lincoln and Nebraska – Cities with higher stress levels
It is a well-known fact that stress, lack of sleep, and exhaustion are the top triggers of migraine. It implies that the incidence of migraine in such cities will be higher. Lincoln in Nebraska and Gilbert in Arizona were the least stressed cities. Cleveland in Ohio, Detroit in Michigan, and Birmingham in Alabama were the three top stressed cities with a higher incidence of migraines.

5. Nevada and Hialeah – Cities with more lifestyle-related diseases
You might be surprised that some cities have very unhealthy lifestyle factors. It is gauged by the city’s average diet tilting towards higher portions of red meat, fried food, and the presence of high sugary desserts and dairy products. Some cities consume more alcohol than others, and the sale of tobacco products is higher in some. These cities are not ideal for people with a risk of lifestyle-induced migraine. In Nevada, North Las Vegas, Hialeah in Florida, and Bakersfield in California were the worst three cities in the country for lifestyle-related diseases.

If you happen to live in any of the cities mentioned above and have frequent migraines, relocation to a safer city could be an option. However, it does not remove the risk of future migraine attacks completely. There could be other triggers in the new city that you move to that can cause migraine attacks.