Show Notes
Do you feel fine outside in the heat… only to walk into strong air conditioning and suddenly feel dizzy, foggy, or on the edge of a migraine? In this episode of The Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores why temperature-sensitive brains often struggle with rapid shifts between heat and cold environments. Blending neuroscience with holistic insights, this episode unpacks how sudden temperature changes can stress the nervous system and quietly lower your migraine threshold. You’ll discover: 💡 Why rapid temperature shifts can overwhelm a migraine-sensitive brain even when the temperatures seem “normal” 💡 How blood vessels, hydration, and sensory nerves react when moving from heat into cold air conditioning 💡 Simple ways to help your brain feel calmer, safer, and more stable during summer heat or heavily air-conditioned spaces If you’ve ever felt triggered by cold offices, supermarkets, airplanes, or strong AC after being outside in the heat, this episode will help you better understand what your body may be trying to tell you. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com
References: Pathophysiology of Migraine (Goadsby et al., 2017): This major review explains migraine as a disorder of sensory processing involving trigeminovascular pathways, altered brain excitability, and brainstem dysfunction. Read more here. Migraine: Multiple Processes, Complex Pathophysiology (Burstein, Noseda & Borsook, 2015): This review explores the multiple neural and sensory processes involved in migraine, including trigeminal activation, sensitization, and altered sensory integration. Read more here. Water Deprivation and Migraine (Blau, 2005 – related alternative): This paper discusses dehydration and water deprivation as potential migraine triggers in susceptible individuals. Read more here. Weather and Air Pollution as Triggers of Severe Headaches (Mukamal et al., 2009): This study investigates whether weather conditions and ambient air pollution transiently increase the risk of severe headaches. Read more here. The Premonitory Phase of Migraine (Maniyar et al., 2014): This study examines brain activations during the premonitory phase of nitroglycerin-triggered migraine attacks, before the headache phase begins. Read more here.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is your go-to resource for understanding, managing, and overcoming migraine attacks. We cover all types of migraines and related headaches, including primary and secondary migraines, chronic migraines, and cluster migraines. We dive deep into the complexities of migraine with aura and migraine without aura, as well as rarer forms like hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine, and acephalgic migraine (silent migraine). Our discussions also extend to cervicogenic headaches, ice pick headaches, and pressure headaches, which often mimic migraine or contribute to overall migraine burden.
More from Migraine Heroes
For some people, COVID ends, but the headache does not. Long COVID can bring a new headache pattern or make an existing migraine condition feel very different. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores why migraine, fatigue, poor sleep, dizziness and brain fog can sometimes appear together after COVID and why it may help to look beyond the head alone. You’ll learn: 💡 Why Long COVID may trigger new headaches or worsen an existing migraine pattern 💡 Why fatigue, sleep problems, dizziness, brain fog and exercise intolerance may sometimes travel alongside migraine 💡 Why recognizing your new post-COVID migraine pattern can be more useful than assuming your old triggers still explain everything When the pattern changes, understanding what has changed can be the first step toward making sense of your symptoms. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com
What if one of your biggest migraine triggers is something you have never thought to notice? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme takes you through a practical “trigger scan”: from sleep, hormones and food to weather, sensory overload, posture and more without turning migraine management into a life of avoidance. You’ll learn: 💡 How to spot less obvious migraine triggers across your everyday routines, environment and body 💡 How to observe patterns without obsessing or eliminating everything and identify the few things that may actually matter for you The goal is not a smaller life built around avoiding triggers, but greater awareness of what helps your body become more stable. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com Few of the trigger episodes mentioned: Indulgence or Insight? What Chocolate, Cheese & Wine Reveal About Your Brain The Fasting Paradox: Why Skipping Meals Can Spark Migraine and Stress Why Red Wine Triggers Migraines for Some People And What Science Reveals Kombucha for Migraine: Healing Tonic or Hidden Trigger? 5 Reasons Why Fragrance & Perfume Smells Are Triggering Your Migraines & What To Do About It When Light Hurts: The Hidden Link Between Screens, Stress, and Migraine Hidden Sugar and Blood Sugar Spikes: The Silent Migraine Trigger
Seeing flashing lights or strange visual changes on one side does not always mean the problem is coming from one eye. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explains the important difference between migraine aura and true retinal migraine and why knowing whether your symptoms affect one eye or both can matter. You’ll learn: 💡 Why migraine aura comes from the brain, even when the visual change seems to be on just one side 💡 What makes true retinal migraine different, why it is so rare, and why other causes of temporary vision loss need to be ruled out 💡 A simple one-eye-at-a-time test that can help you describe your visual symptoms more clearly to your doctor When it comes to visual migraine symptoms, one eye versus both eyes can be a very important clue. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com
Have a migraine question you wish you could ask Diane directly? Every other Thursday, Diane opens the door for a small, informal live Q&A, bring your question or simply come and listen. The next sessions are October 22 and November 5, 2026. They are not recorded, so the conversation stays with the people in the room. 👉 To join, register at migraineheroes.com/live
Could your jaw be quietly adding fuel to your migraine attacks? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores how jaw tension, clenching, and TMJ dysfunction may interact with migraine, especially if you wake with headaches or feel pain around your temples. You’ll learn: 💡 How to recognize signs that jaw tension or clenching may be contributing to your migraine 💡 Why teeth and tongue position at rest matter and why a mouth guard may not solve the clenching itself 💡 A simple jaw-reset routine you can try at home to release tension and calm the system Sometimes, a small change in how you hold your jaw can make a surprisingly meaningful difference. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com