How To Relieve A Summer Headache

There is no doubt that a summer headache is something that everyone suffers from at some point. The summer season is associated with an increased number of headache consultations and an exacerbation of migraine attacks.

Research in several countries has shown that between 85-90% of people have had a headache at least once in the past year. Headaches are thus the most common consultation in almost all health services.

However, this condition does not affect men as much as it affects women. 80% of men have had a headache in the past year, but in women this number has risen to 95%. Also, migraines affect women more than men, about 15% of the general population.

So why is summer a risk factor when it comes to headaches? It should just be a time to relax more, do outdoor activities, avoid staying indoors and of course the weather is nicer, right?

However, those conditions and activities are exactly what can contribute to headaches. Let’s take a look at some of the hidden causes behind the so-called summer headache.

Causes of a summer headache

There are several reasons why you can get a headache. Except for diseases and conditions with known causes, headaches are usually not caused by a single factor.

A summer headache is no exception. Your head doesn’t hurt just because it’s summer. It hurts because of a number of circumstances and situations that can arise at that time of year.

The combination of all these summer related situations can very often lead to irritating headaches. A common combination is when you go on vacation, for example, and there are changes in your sleeping pattern along with additional sun exposure.

Heat

Heat is, of course, one of the most common causes of headaches. In the summer, blood vessels in the body often dilate due to higher temperatures outside.

This means that the blood vessels enlarge to exchange heat energy with the outside and thereby help prevent heat stroke. Unfortunately, migraines can be a side effect of this widening of the blood vessels.

Alcohol consumption and dehydration

In the summer, your body needs more fluids than usual because of the high outside temperatures. People often try to quench their thirst with alcohol during these warm months. You can then suffer from dehydration symptoms that subsequently cause headaches, but also because you have too much alcohol in your body.

Changes in your sleep rhythm

Changes in the day and night rhythm can also be a reason that your migraines or headaches are getting worse. When the body is exposed to more light during the day, sleeping habits and sleep rhythms can change.

A classic consequence of this is that you sleep fewer hours in the summer or even suffer from insomnia. People who do not normally suffer from insomnia can experience it in the summer.

Maybe work is more relaxed, your kids don’t have to get up early to go to school, you spend longer on your phone screen or watching television, and so on. All of this affects your sleep schedule.

Your social life is also busier, you consume more alcohol and caffeine (a diuretic) and as a result you may experience more headaches.

How can you prevent a summer headache?

Let’s take a look at what measures you can take to prevent the onset of a summer headache. These are all simple steps that can be divided into two groups based on their main goals:

• measures to combat the summer heat.
• prevent unhealthy summer habits.

Steps to Fight the Heat and Combat a Summer Headache

• Be careful with the sun: the summer sun is much more intense for your body. So it is important to protect yourself with a hat or cap and by wearing white clothing. Sunglasses are also helpful. If possible, try to do your outdoor activities a few hours before or after noon. That’s when the sun is strongest.
• Avoid drastic temperature differences: In summer, it is common for people to run the air conditioner on full blast. However, entering and leaving places where the temperature is very low or very high can lead to headaches.

• Keep your house cool, not cold: Try to keep the temperature in your house cool instead of cold with your air conditioner. Fans are therefore a much better option if you want to beat the heat.
• Stay hydrated: During the summer, the body needs more water than usual. To prevent dehydration, it’s important to drink fluids very regularly and avoid drinks that quickly dehydrate you, such as alcohol.

Measures to combat unhealthy summer habits

• Eating healthy: You can increase your fluid intake by consuming more foods that provide water, such as fruits and vegetables. For people who suffer from migraines, it is important to avoid foods that contain substances that can trigger headaches. For example, think of sausage and chocolate.

• Keep a regular sleep schedule: Changing your routine in the summer seems to be a habit. However, many medical specialists agree that it is best to try to maintain the same sleep schedule year round. In addition to going to bed and waking up around the same time, you should get the same amount of sleep every night.
• If you can’t wake up or go to bed on time, you can try adding a nap of up to thirty minutes during the time of day when the sun is most intense. This also prevents you from going out into the sun when it is strongest.

Conclusion

In the summer we are exposed to an increasing number of factors that can lead to the onset of headaches. The higher temperatures combined with insomnia and dehydration may explain why more people suffer from headaches at this time of year.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to take better care of yourself by changing some of your habits. These are ways to both prevent the onset of a summer headache and to ease existing pain. Keep these tips in mind!