Full Question:

I have bipolar1 and have noticed that there are temperature drops and spikes. During spikes in temperature i get sever debilitating headaches i can't move, light and sound bother me, and my mood gets worse.

My question is does body temperature effect migraines and do migraines have any thing to do with bipolar?

Thank you, Blaine.

Full Answer:

Dear Blaine;

Yes, dramatic temperature changes can trigger Migraines. For some people, just going from an air conditioned room out into a hot summer day, or vice versa, can trigger a Migraine.

Also, mood swings can be a symptoms of a Migraine attack. During a Migraine, levels of neurotransmitters such a serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine fluctuate, and that can indeed cause mood changes and swings.

Migraine disease and bipolar disorder can be comorbid conditions, which means that a person can have them both at the same time, but there is no causative relationship, neither causes the other. For more information about Migraine and bipolar disorder, see Migraine Disease and Bipolar Disorder.

Good luck,
John Claude Krusz and Teri Robert

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About Ask the Clinician:

Dr. Krusz is a recognized expert in the fields of headache and  Migraine treatment and pain treatment. Each week, he and Lead Expert Teri Robert, team up to answer your questions about headaches and  Migraines. You can read more about Dr. Krusz or more about Teri Robert.

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© Teri Robert and J.C. Krusz, 2011.
Last updated February 20, 2011.