An estimated 240 million people worldwide suffer from migraines. Migraines have disruptive capabilities, therefore, understanding the mechanisms that trigger them is crucial for effective prevention and treatment. Air mass types and migraine induced emergency department (ED) visits in select North Carolina counties were collected over a seven year period in order to determine a potential relationship. Barometric pressure changes associated with Transitional air masses were also analyzed for potential trends. Bootstrapping showed that Tropical air masses resulted in greater numbers of migraine ED patients, while Polar air masses led to fewer. Moist Polar air masses in particular were found to correspond with the fewest number of migraine ED patients. On Transitional air mass days, the numbers of migraine ED patients fell between those of Tropical air mass days and Polar air mass days. With regards to barometric pressure changes associated with Transitional air masses, no trends were found.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-4763 |
| Date | 12 August 2016 |
| Creators | Elcik, Christopher James |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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