When the rainy season arrives, we see more visits for headaches—”my head feels heavy,” “it’s throbbing,” “over-the-counter medicine isn’t working.” During stretches of rain and cloudy weather, headaches can come on more easily or feel stronger than usual. In this article, I’ll focus on the kinds of headaches that tend to increase during the rainy season, centering on migraines. When is it a good idea to see a doctor for a migraine? Along the way, I’ll also walk through self-care you can do at home and what an appointment at our clinic looks like, organized from the perspective of a psychosomatic and internal medicine practice here in Oizumi-Gakuen, Nerima.
In my outpatient practice, I often hear, “I’m not sure whether I should see a doctor for my migraine or just wait it out with over-the-counter medicine.” Let me say up front: you don’t have to force yourself to make that call. If you’re struggling—or even just unsure—it’s perfectly fine to come in. I hope this article gives you a few helpful guideposts for that decision.
Why Headaches Increase During the Rainy Season
The rainy season brings large swings in barometric pressure and long runs of rainy, cloudy days. Changes in pressure, temperature, and humidity can affect the balance of the autonomic nervous system, and this can lead to headaches, dizziness, and a general feeling of sluggishness. Quite a few people tell me, “My head starts to hurt right before the weather turns.”
The Connection Between Rainy-Season Headaches and Barometric Pressure
When barometric pressure drops, the body tries to adapt, and the autonomic nervous system kicks into higher gear. At that point, the balance between the constriction and dilation of blood vessels can be disrupted, which is thought to sometimes trigger headaches. Rainy-season headaches tend to hit especially hard in people who are already prone to migraines. You can’t stop the changes in pressure themselves, but simply knowing your triggers can make it easier to anticipate and cope.
How the Autonomic Nervous System and Headaches Are Linked
The autonomic nervous system is the network that unconsciously regulates things like blood pressure, body temperature, and the work of your internal organs. When stress, weather, or lack of sleep throws this balance off, it can bring on not only headaches but also dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. This is the kind of state often described as an “autonomic headache,” and it overlaps with the territory we handle in psychosomatic medicine. When a headache comes together with low mood or trouble sleeping, an underlying imbalance in the autonomic nervous system may be playing a part. For more, please also see our page on autonomic nervous system disorder and dizziness.
The Main Types of Headaches That Increase in the Rainy Season
There are many kinds of headaches, but the great majority I encounter in the clinic fall into two types: migraine and tension-type headache. They have different characteristics, and the way we think about managing them differs as well.
Characteristics of Migraine
A migraine is characterized by a throbbing, pulsing pain on one side of the head or at the temple. It can come with nausea or a queasy, seasick feeling, and some people become sensitive to light, sound, or smells. Because moving around tends to make the pain worse, many people find they can’t do much but lie down. This migraine type is also the one most likely to worsen with the pressure changes of the rainy season.
Characteristics of Tension-Type Headache
Tension-type headache often stems from stiffness in the shoulders and neck. It’s characterized by a heavy, dull pain, as if the whole head is being squeezed, and it tends not to come with the intense pulsing or nausea of a migraine. Long hours of desk work, posture, and stress can all play a role.
Dizziness and Nausea Accompanying a Headache
Along with a headache, you may experience spinning, rotational vertigo or a floating, seasick-like unsteadiness. It can come with nausea, and in very rare cases a glitch in the autonomic nervous system may cause you to briefly feel faint. If you ever feel like you’re about to lose consciousness, please don’t try to manage it on your own—consider getting checked. (And if it comes with severe symptoms such as the sudden, intense headache described later, don’t hesitate to call 119 for emergency services.) When symptoms like these overlap, I’d encourage you not to carry it alone and to come in for a consultation. We also cover headaches in more detail on our headache page.
3 Signs It’s Time to See a Doctor for a Migraine
Many people wonder, “Is a migraine like this really worth seeing a doctor for?” The standard is simple: it comes down to whether it’s troubling you. If you’re managing with over-the-counter medicine and it isn’t getting in the way of daily life, it’s often fine not to rush in. On the other hand, when you notice the signs below, please consider coming in.
When It’s Interfering with Work or Daily Life
If headaches keep you from concentrating at work, or you can’t get through household tasks or your plans—and this happens again and again—it’s reasonable to think about seeing a doctor. One useful guidepost is whether it’s a once-in-a-while headache or something that’s frequently getting in your way.
When Over-the-Counter Medicine Isn’t Working
If over-the-counter headache medicine doesn’t ease the pain, or it’s started working less well, that’s a sign to come in. A headache that over-the-counter medicine can’t handle may have another cause behind it, or may call for more suitable treatment. I’ll come back later to what to do when over-the-counter medicine isn’t working.
When You Wake Up Already Having a Headache, Nausea, or Dizziness
If you wake up in the morning already experiencing a headache, nausea, or dizziness, I’d recommend coming in. The same goes for a headache that persists to the point of taking away your appetite. That said, if you have a sudden, intense headache unlike anything you’ve felt before, or symptoms such as numbness in your limbs or slurred speech, emergency care may be needed—so please don’t hesitate to consider calling 119.
Which Department Should You See for a Migraine?
I often hear, “I have a migraine but I don’t know which department to go to.” Headaches can be seen in internal medicine, psychosomatic medicine, neurosurgery, and other departments. If you’re worried about a problem in the brain, a facility that can perform imaging offers peace of mind. But for headaches that seem related to stress, the autonomic nervous system, or the weather, a clinic that combines psychosomatic and internal medicine is an easy place to bring your concerns.
What a Combined Psychosomatic & Internal Medicine Clinic Can Help With
Our clinic is a family practice that combines psychosomatic and internal medicine. We can look at headaches from both sides: the internal-medicine factors behind them (such as anemia or blood pressure) and the mind-body factors like stress or an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. Even if you’re at the stage of “I don’t know where to turn,” you can use us as a first point of contact to talk it through.
Self-Care for Migraines You Can Do at Home
Whether before or after a visit, there are things you can do at home. The basics are “medication” and “rest.”
Rest in a Dark, Quiet Place
When you have a migraine, rest is extremely important. Darkening the room and lying down to rest in a dim, quiet space often helps the pain ease over time. The key is to reduce stimulation from light, sound, and smells. If the pain still won’t lift even after lying down and sleeping, please consider seeing a doctor.
When Over-the-Counter Migraine Medicine Isn’t Working
Trying an over-the-counter headache medicine first is one reasonable option in itself. However, if over-the-counter migraine medicine isn’t working, or you find yourself taking it more and more often, please pause for a moment. Using over-the-counter medicine frequently can actually make headaches more likely to occur. If you feel it isn’t working well, rather than increasing the dose on your own, it’s safer to come in and talk it over.
Pressure Points and Lifestyle Tips for Migraines
Some people feel that pressing certain points for migraines brings relief, but the effect varies from person to person, and forcing stimulation when the pain is severe can sometimes backfire. More than that, everyday habits—keeping a steady sleep rhythm, avoiding both an empty stomach and oversleeping, sipping water regularly, and not letting stiffness build up in your neck and shoulders—can help reduce your triggers. During the rainy season, keeping an eye on the barometric-pressure forecast and adjusting your plans accordingly is another approach worth trying.
What an Appointment for a Migraine Looks Like at Our Clinic
If you come to our clinic, we proceed through the following steps to assess what’s behind your headache. You don’t need to figure out the cause on your own. For how to prepare for your visit and what to bring, please also see our page for first-time visitors.
1. Consultation and Medical Interview
First, we carefully ask about when and how the pain occurs, what makes it worse, and whether there’s any nausea or dizziness. Organizing the nature of the headache is the first step toward assessing its cause.
2. Internal Medicine Tests (Blood Test, ECG, X-ray)
As needed, we perform the kinds of tests done in general internal medicine. Specifically, these include a blood test to check for anemia, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and an X-ray (a chest X-ray to check the overall condition of the heart, lungs, and the rest of the body). We check whether anemia or a systemic factor might be hiding behind the headache.
3. Assessment of Blood Pressure and the Autonomic Nervous System
We also check your blood pressure. High blood pressure can sometimes be the cause of a headache, in which case we consider treatment to lower it. For more on blood pressure, please see our hypertension page. If stress or the autonomic nervous system appears to be involved, we’ll also ask about how you’ve been doing in mind and body.
4. Coordination for MRI/CT (Imaging) When Necessary
If your blood pressure is very high (for example, reaching the 200s), or if there are findings that suggest a brain condition such as a stroke, we arrange MRI or CT imaging at “Medical Scanning,” a nearby facility specializing in imaging. We may recommend imaging to evaluate the condition of the brain while also managing your blood pressure. By combining tests at our clinic with imaging at an outside facility, we work to assess the cause of your headache more accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It an Overreaction to See a Doctor for a Migraine?
Not at all. It’s perfectly fine to come in at the stage where you’re struggling or unsure. Rather than forcing yourself to make the call alone, please come and talk it over with us.
Can I Use Health Insurance?
Consultations and tests for headaches are covered by health insurance. Please bring your insurance card (or My Number insurance card) when you visit.
Do I Need an Appointment?
For first-time visitors, checking the process in advance helps things go smoothly. For how to prepare for your visit, please see our page for first-time visitors. When you’re not feeling well, don’t push yourself—come at a time that’s easy for you.
Can I Have a Consultation Online?
Our clinic also offers telemedicine. You can make use of it when you’re unwell and going out feels difficult. For details, please see our telemedicine page. Note that if testing is needed, we may ask you to come in.
Can I Come in Together with My Family?
Of course. We warmly welcome visits with your family. When it’s hard for you to put things into words yourself, it can help to hear from family about how you’ve been day to day.
How Do I Get to the Clinic?
Our clinic is located in Oizumi-Gakuen, Nerima Ward, Tokyo. From Oizumi-Gakuen Station, take the Seibu bus and get off at the “Oizumi Yubinkyoku” (Oizumi Post Office) stop—it’s a 1-minute walk from there. We’re open on weekends and national holidays as well.
In Closing
In my outpatient practice, I meet many people who have endured their headaches, wondering, “Is this really enough to see a doctor about?” But there’s real value in simply coming in so we can pin down the cause. You don’t have to force yourself to make that judgment alone, and there’s absolutely no problem with coming in while you’re still unsure.
Rainy-season headaches arise from a mix of factors—migraine, tension-type headache, an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, and more. As a family practice that combines psychosomatic and internal medicine, our clinic cares for you from both the physical and emotional sides, for the whole family. We warmly welcome not only you but also visits together with your family. If you’re troubled by headaches in the Nerima or Oizumi-Gakuen area, please don’t hesitate to reach out.