Summer mornings have their perks — waking up to a bright sunrise energises one and all. Of course, the catch comes later. The heat kicks in as the day progresses and, in peak summers, being outdoors can get physically draining. Staying indoors at times may not offer a respite either. And the harsh noon sun can cause dehydration, heatstroke or sunstrokes, heat rashes and heat headaches or heat-induced headaches.
What are heat headaches?
Headaches can be caused by many factors, ranging from stress to physical strain. Extreme weather or changes in weather can trigger headaches too.
“Weather changes trigger headaches,” says Dr Rahul Chakor, neurologist at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai. “This is more so with migraine. The number and severity of migraine episodes increase during summer. India being a tropical country with hot summers, it is normal for many people to experience frequent migraine during summer. The OPD visits for headaches also increase. As the temperature cools down after the first rain in June, many people get relief from their headaches.”
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Sunlight and temperature can trigger headaches or even migraine, collectively called heat headaches. While some people experience a headache when they are directly under the sun, for others it is precipitated when they move indoors, especially when there is a big temperature difference due to air conditioning.
What causes heat headaches?
Homeostasis (physiological processes that keep the body in equilibrium) is a survival mechanism ingrained in humans. Maintaining the optimum body temperature, between 97˚F-99˚F, is part of that process.
“When the external body temperature is too much, it causes a series of problems, starting from heat rashes, muscle cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle cells),” says Dr Anantha Padmanabha, consultant, internal medicine, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru.
This can lead to heat headaches.
While heat-induced headaches can occur in any individual, they are more common in those who suffer from migraine.
“In migraineurs, it is thought that they have an unusual sensitivity to temperature [and] strong smell, and these stimuli are converted into migraine attacks,” says Dr Chakor. “How it happens is not clear. It is thought that they have a more allostatic load (cumulative burden of chronic stress and life events). They have a maladaptive response to these environmental changes which causes headaches.”
Identifying heat headaches
To differentiate between a heat-induced headache from other forms, one would have to look out for the telltale signs.
“These headaches are usually felt in the frontal region of holocranial (the entire head) with pressing or throbbing pain,” says Dr Chakor.
Dr Padmanabha adds that other headaches are not related to the season.
“Normal headaches can occur at any time of the day, any time of the month [and] any time of the year irrespective of the external temperature or the heat,” says Dr Padmanabha. “But heat headaches occur in the peak of summer or when someone is exposed to high degree of heat with respect to their profession (like people exposed to high heat while operating hot air ovens and heat chambers, and soldering). Individuals with heat-induced headache will feel dehydrated, thirsty, heat rashes, and decreased amount of urine outflow. In extreme levels there could be syncope (unconsciousness) with weakness of the limbs which can mimic an actual stroke. It is usually reversible in majority of the cases.”
Avoiding heat-induced headaches
A simple step to prevent heat-induced headaches would be to avoid outdoor activities when the sun is at its peak. Since dehydration and headache occur together most of the time, proper hydration helps.
“Not waiting for thirst to drink water is important,” says Dr Padmanabha. “During summer, there could be insensible loss of fluids. It means we start breathing more heavily and with that more liquid would be lost through the breath itself. The body also produces a lot of sweat, making the skin moist. That sweat keeps the body’s temperature at normal. Thus, we will be losing more water. Hence, one should start drinking more fluids. Do not wear sweaters, woollens or silk materials. Wearing thin cotton clothes would be preferable.”
Dr Chakor adds: “Using an umbrella or goggles will reduce the effects of bright sunlight and prevent headaches. Simple analgesics and having good hydration with electrolyte replacement will give good relief for mild headaches due to heat.”
Takeaways
- Heat headaches occur in the peak of summer or when someone is exposed to a high degree of heat.
- Heat-induced headaches can also be accompanied by dehydration, heat rashes and decreased amount of urine outflow. In extreme cases, there could be syncope (unconsciousness) with weakness of the limbs that can mimic a stroke.
- Avoiding going out at noon, wearing thin cotton clothes and proper rehydration can help prevent heat-induced headaches.
2 Responses
Thank you for this Vishalakshi. I get a headache the following day after I have stepped out in the sun. Always. I am so relieved that it has a name.
Thank you so much for your positive response!