Temperatures in Cochrane have shifted by more than 30 degrees over the course of the week.

While the majority of Cochranites are grateful for the warm-up after an eight-day deep freeze, many migraine sufferers are feeling the effects.

The fluctuating temperatures and pressure shift that we experience regularly here in Southern Alberta, seem to be a major trigger for migraine sufferers across the province, with many Albertans searching for a means to cope and find some relief.

Dr. Aaron Todd along with his wife Dr. Amanda Tulk are the owners of West Valley Chiropractic Centre in Cochrane. Dr. Todd says that a large number of their patients come to the clinic looking for migraine relief.

"I'd say a vast majority of our patients are chinook migraine sufferers," says Todd. "Taking a look at how your neuro system is functioning and where those little bones are sitting at the top of your neck, alleviating some of the stress and some of the pressure up in those areas. We find that it really helps to normalize how their bodies sort of react to the changes in the barometric pressure."

Dr. Todd says that when it comes to migraines, the symptoms and solutions aren't one size fits all. 

"I think some of it comes down to diagnostic testing to help really hone in on what exactly is the problem," says Todd.

In speaking to many local migraine sufferers, residents seem to use a large variety of methods to cope, including botox, acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments.

Dr. Todd says that speaking from his own professional experience, migraine sufferers won't be cured overnight.

"Some people will need to go through a series of treatments over let's say a four to six-week period helping the area and the brain tissue start to heal," says Todd. "Once we get them through that phase, that's when we really start to say, okay now that we've done this, you're noticing a reduction in headaches, how do you do with the chinook headaches?"

While some evidence does suggest that chinooks contribute to migraine headaches, many medical experts recommend reducing the external triggers that we can control, whether it be stress, or forgoing that glass of wine or piece of chocolate.