Why Do I Get Migraines in The Summer?

why-do-i-get-migraines-in-the-summer

Headaches can affect anybody regardless of gender, race, or age. You can even say no one is immune from this condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 50% of adults worldwide would experience at least one headache in any specified year. 

Why do people get headaches? Here are some of the general factors that can cause it:

  • Stress – it can be emotional, meaning it might involve anxiety or depression
  • Physical – due to injury, head or neck trauma
  • Medical conditions –due to high blood pressure or migraines

Some people experience headaches whenever they get exposed to the sun's scorching heat during summer. Often, in many cases, most people feel that extreme heat gives them migraines or head pain. Can the summer heat actually cause migraines? Let's take a more in-depth look into this particular subject.

Headaches Due To Heat – Is This For Real?

Most people experience headaches when they get exposed to the scorching summer heat. True, it can be a real pain in the head. However, is it causing headaches? According to one Baylor College of Medicine expert, problems during the summer months are more likely due to dehydration. 

How can dehydration cause headaches then? When you become dehydrated, your blood vessels narrow as your body loses electrolytes and water. Thus, you become more vulnerable to suffer from a heat stroke. As a result, a headache becomes a symptom of that. Other symptoms of a heat stroke include:

  • High body temperature
  • Rapid breathing
  • Nausea
  • Rapid heartbeat

If you are prone to getting migraines and headaches, dehydration can be the trigger. Therefore, doctors recommend that you try to drink lots of water before you go outdoors and while you spend time at the scorching heat of the sun. Also, it would be good to take short breaks from doing strenuous activities to prevent dehydration.

Do Not Ignore Your Headaches

Doctors also caution people against ignoring their headaches if they become recurrent, especially when accompanied by the following:

  • Weakness
  • Numbness
  • Slurred speech
  • An altered mental state

If these symptoms accompany your headaches, it could be a warning sign of a more severe health issue. If your head pain suddenly changes in frequency and severity, please seek help from your family doctor as soon as possible.

Be Careful of Rebound Headaches Too

You must be aware that over-the-counter medications can help temporarily. However, if you take them too often, they can start to give you worse headaches. These headaches are called rebound headaches, and these are more severe than migraines. Whenever a patient takes pain medication of any kind for more than 15 days in any given month to deal with headaches, medication overuse headaches (MOH) are sure to follow. MOH or rebound headaches are one and the same. 

Therefore, staying hydrated is still an excellent idea when dealing with most headaches. Also, getting plenty of sleep helps a lot. Finally, try to identify your headache triggers so you can avoid them; exercise regularly; and eat healthy daily.

Ten Common Reasons Why You Are Getting Headaches

Here are 10 of the most common reasons for headaches or migraines to occur:

  • Anxiety

Stress is one of the leading reasons for headaches. Always aim to relax and refocus on positive thoughts. Also, try your best to keep your stress levels low by doing any of these activities:

  • Talking a walk
  • Soaking in a hot bubble bath
  • Reading a good book
  • Doing something that you love (a hobby)
  • Not Enough Physical Activity

Keeping a sedentary lifestyle is not good. Therefore, getting up and moving around helps decrease the risk of headaches. Also, light exercise helps keep you healthy and feel better overall.

  • Fluctuating Hormones

It is a valid point for women. Right before a menstrual period, the estrogen levels drop, and this is what causes headaches in females.

  • Bad Sleeping and Eating Habits

When you are hungry, take a minute to get something to eat. Too little sleep is not good. It’s a good idea to keep a regular and consistent schedule for sleeping and eating. Doing so helps you prevent headaches and migraines.  

  • Improper posture

Slouching or keeping a lousy posture is terrible. How so? It strains the spine and the neck. Also, proper blood flow becomes hindered. 

  • Noise

In this case, it’s not just about hearing loud or repetitive noise. It also includes continuous sound at a lower pitch or level. Ultra-low frequency can also cause headaches and migraines. Therefore, calming or soothing music may give you relief.

  • Glare

Avoid glare from the sun, a bright computer screen, overhead lights, and car lights. Start wearing sunglasses or anti-glare glasses; take a break from the computer screen exposure; and use a desk lamp (with a shade) instead of overhead lights.

  • Too Much Physical Exertion

Doing an intense workout at the gym can cause the blood vessels in your neck, head, and scalp to swell, leading to headaches. Mild to moderate exercise would be enough. Too much is bad.

  • Medication

Certain medications list headaches or migraines as a possible side effect. Please check with your doctor first before taking any medication.

  • Food sensitivities

Some specific foods and drinks can release neurotransmitters that cause some people to have headaches. Beware of such substances such as:

  • Aspartame
  • MSG
  • Chocolate
  • Alcohol
  • Cheese
  • Red wine

How Patients in a Study Relieved Their Headaches and Migraines

Trying to get the help that works naturally for headaches and migraines can often leave you disappointed and frustrated. However, checking out the results of a study conducted by Dr. Erin Elster, a researcher, and upper cervical chiropractor, can give you much-needed hope.

This case study involved 101 patients. These patients experienced a variety of different headache types, including migraines. The results showed that 87 of the participants recalled at least one traumatic experience that involved injury to the head or neck before the start of their headaches. 

All patients showed misalignment in the top bones of their neck after thorough examinations. The misalignment was either the C1 (atlas) or C2 (axis). Later, the patients all received personally tailored adjustments from an upper cervical chiropractor. Out of the 101 patients, 85 of them reported complete resolution of their headaches and migraines. Twelve patients said they had significant improvements. Only four patients reported they had little to no changes in their symptoms.

Why Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care?

A misaligned axis or atlas vertebra can create pressure on the brainstem because they share the same spot. Misalignment leads to a malfunction of the brainstem, causing it to send improper signals to the brain. Also, it causes disruption in the proper flow of oxygen-rich blood and cerebrospinal fluid from the brain. All of these cause headaches. 

Upper cervical chiropractors use a safe, gentle, and precise technique to realign the atlas bone accurately. As a result, this is all that is required to see an improvement in migraines and headaches. In some cases, they are also entirely gone for good.  How’s that for natural and long-term relief from migraines and headaches? 

Find an upper cervical chiropractor near your area now.

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