Surely you have noticed that in the summer, when it is hot, your head hurts quite often. Naturally, this causes discomfort, because the body is not at all easy to endure high air temperature.
Ekaterina Yatsenko – Doctor of Neurology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Member of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN)
Why is this happening, and what can be done about it? Let’s try to figure it out together Ekaterina Yatsenko – Doctor of Neurology, MD, Member of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN)
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Why does my head hurt when it’s hot
One of the main causes of headaches in hot weather is dehydration. Due to the lack of fluid, the blood circulation of the brain is disturbed, as a result of which a headache may occur. And the lack of fluid, when +30 outside the window appears very quickly, because a person is actively sweating.
Important: salts that are important for the body also come out with sweat, the lack of which also causes headaches, pressure drops and dizziness.
In addition, the constantly running air conditioner can cause headaches. Add air-conditioned dry air, temperature fluctuations (when you enter and exit the room) and possible noise from equipment to a cocktail, and you will get a headache.
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Another cause of headaches in the heat is heat stroke. In this case, in addition to a headache, you will be accompanied by weakness, nausea (and even vomiting), dizziness, diarrhea, and fever. This is a dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention. Therefore, if you suspect a heat stroke, immediately call an ambulance.
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How to prevent a headache in the heat
The first and foremost rule is to drink enough water. Please note that we are talking about plain water: without gas or any other additives. You can also drink green tea in the heat, it perfectly tones the body, normalizes blood pressure and reduces the risk of headaches.
On hot days, avoid caffeine, black tea, and alcohol. Food is best to choose as light as possible, of plant origin. Meat or fish is best eaten in the morning, while it is still not hot, and in small quantities. Avoid fatty, fried, salty, smoked and so on. Remember that your body is already hard, you should not load it with heavy food.
Make sure you have enough magnesium and potassium in your diet. The lack of these trace elements can cause headaches. You will find a lot of magnesium and potassium in: dried fruits, bananas, wheat bran, nuts, spinach, parsley, avocados. Let these products be on your table every day.
Important: in the heat, in no case should you endure thirst, this provokes pressure surges. Make sure you always have water.
Also in the summer, it is advisable to abandon strong perfumes or eau de toilette. A rich aroma at high temperatures can also cause headaches. For summer, choose light and weightless fragrances.
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What to do if your head hurts
It is important to understand that a headache is not normal. This is a signal from the body that something is wrong with it. If you have isolated cases of headaches that are associated with heat, change your diet, normalize your drinking regimen, and the situation will improve.
As a rule, a cup of green tea, rest in a cool place and maximum relaxation helps with such a headache.
Do not neglect evening walks, it also helps to relieve a headache if it is caused by one of the above reasons. If all else fails, take a painkiller pill (but it’s better not to get carried away. Uncontrolled use of painkillers as a result will only increase headaches).
If headaches recur regularly (3–4 times a month), this is an occasion to consult a doctor to understand the cause of the pain and prescribe the correct treatment. With repeated episodes, the cause of pain is unlikely to be high air temperature, this may be a sign of some disease.
A headache in the heat is quite a natural phenomenon, since our body often suffers from dehydration and malnutrition at high temperatures. Try to follow the drinking regimen, eat right and take care of yourself.
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