A migraine is a type of headache that causes extreme pain and discomfort. The exact cause of the disorder is unknown. Experts suspect it could be because of genetics or environmental factors. Migraine attacks can last for days or weeks at end, interfering with a person’s daily activities. Nausea, numbness, and vomiting are common during or after an attack.

There is no single way of treating migraines. Most treatment methods only aim to reduce symptoms and prevent further attacks. However, lifestyle and environmental factors play a crucial role in controlling migraine. Due to this, certain cities are considered better or worse for migraine patients. Before listing out their names, here are six factors used in determining whether a city is good or bad for people with migraines.

Environmental factors

People suffering from migraines often claim that weather conditions and temperature changes trigger an attack. Air quality, odor, and even social factors like suicide and crime rate are also considered important for migraine patients. Hence, such individuals should stay away from cities known for drastic changes in weather or increased crime.

Lifestyle factors

Since migraine is a neurological disorder, anything that stresses the brain can potentially lead to an attack. Thus, places that rank the highest in terms of frequency of insomnia, sunburn, and overtime hours are not the best for people with migraines.

Prescription filled places

Places with higher numbers of migraine-related drug prescriptions (like triptans) per capita are worse for migraine patients.

Consumption of migraine-triggering foods

Eating habits have a significant impact on migraines. Foods rich in nitrates, like hot dogs, sausages, cheese, sour cream, nuts, alcohol, pizza, coffee, tea, chocolates, pickles, cola, and peanut butter, can cause problems in the brain.

Air pressure

Barometric changes are huge culprits as well, triggering frequent migraine attacks. Mountains commonly witness more pressure changes than low-lying areas, meaning cities located at higher elevation are bound to be more problematic for migraine patients than the ones closer to sea level.

Sleep

Since sleep is also a factor, major cities are bound to be more chaotic and loud, which triggers irregular sleep patterns. That, in turn, can trigger a migraine attack.

Worst US cities for migraine patients

Based on the above factors, the worst US cities for people suffering from migraine are:

• Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
• Madison, Wisconsin
• North Little Rock, Arkansas
• Knoxville, Tennessee
• St. Louis, MO-IL
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
• Chattanooga, TN-GA
• Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC
• Canton-Massillon, Ohio

What makes them so bad?

Simply put, all these cities had the highest number of migraine-triggering factors in the country. Most of them witness frequent weather changes, with hot, humid summers a major problem for people with migraines.

The likes of Cincinnati, Madison, and St. Louis additionally rank terribly on the lifestyle front. Major cities are also generally more populated than the countryside, making them concerning for migraine patients.