Historic Low Air Pressure Brings Health Concerns to the St. Louis Region

Park Hills, Mo. (KFMO) - If you suffer from migraines or joint pain, you may have noticed an increase in symptoms Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

A powerful storm system brought not only intense winds and rain but also record-low air pressure to the region. The system pushed air pressure near or below the previous March record of 977.3 millibars, set in 1976. The National Weather Service had been monitoring the pressure drop since Sunday when it was recorded at 1027.1 millibars. While research is still inconclusive on the direct impact of air pressure changes on joint pain, many migraine sufferers are more sensitive to such shifts.

Experts recommend monitoring weather changes, keeping a headache diary, and taking migraine medication at the first sign of symptoms.