Some people experience intense migraines during warm weather. Warm weather ushers in a host of potential headache "triggers." If you understand your warm weather triggers, it can make it easier for you to avoid headaches in the first place. Changing regional temperatures is just one of several headache triggers associated with warming weather.
Temperature
Rising heat and humidity can trigger headaches, according to the Harvard Medical School. Though not clinically proven, neurologists think that migraine headaches are caused by changes in blood flow and nerve cell activity in the brain. When temperature and humidity increase, blood flow increases slightly in the human body. To avoid this trigger, dress in thin clothing, drink chilled fluids and try to stay cool when the local climate warms.
Warm Weather Diet
Warm weather causes a dietary shift for most people. Dr. Loretta Mueller, director of the University Headache Center for University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, explains that typical summer diets often include several possible migraine triggers. Alcohol, ripe cheeses, sausage, lunch meat and hot dogs can all trigger headaches. These foods change bodily chemistry in some individuals, especially if not consumed regularly during winter months.
Stress and Depression
According to the University of South Florida, stress, depression, anxiety and fatigue can trigger headaches. For some people, summer is a fun, stress-free time. However, depending on your career, the summer months may be very busy. If your job requires summer overtime, this extra stress could cause warm weather headaches. Meditate, engage in leisure activities and use some vacation days to help reduce summer stress. If you feel depressed or overly anxious during the summer, discussing your issues with a therapist may be helpful.
Physical Activity
Warm weather is well-suited for a plethora of outdoor activities. Exercise is good for you, but irregular exercise can alter your blood pressure and nerve cell activity. If you are typically sedentary during the winter, summer activity may shock your body, causing painful headaches. Try to stay active during the winter, and slowly ease into intense summer activities when the weather changes.
Treatments
Mueller recommends keeping a "headache diary" to keep track of possible warm weather triggers. If you're unable to control headaches through trigger avoidance, over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen are all effective, according to the Harvard Medical School. Prescription painkillers can also help, so visit a doctor if your headaches do not improve using OTC medications.
