When the summer arrives so do my headaches and not just in the form of my four kids. Headaches can be a real pain this time of year, especially in children who play outdoor sports. Football camp started this week for my twins so here is a little info about summer headaches, what you can do to prevent them and when to be worried about something else.
Why are headaches worse in the summer?
1. Dehydration
Dehydration is the number one reason for headaches in summer.
The best way to prevent headaches is to drink water, especially when exercising. Even once a headache starts, the first line of treatment should be hydration with water or 8 ounces of an electrolyte drink like Gatorade.
This will often stop the headache right away. If you don’t have relief within 15 minutes, then take a pain reliever such as some ibuprofen, aspirin or Tylenol. One of the biggest mistakes people make is not treating the headache early enough. Be aggressive with the fluids and the hydration and you may avoid having to use stronger medications.
When these simple measures don’t work, then see a physician to discuss prescription medications such as a family of drugs called triptans.
2. Summer Sun
It’s not just the heat, but bright sun will often trigger headaches. Wear a hat or sunglasses and use an umbrella to greatly decrease the chance of a headache.
3. Sleep schedule
Sleep deprivation is a major reason why children will suffer from headaches and the best thing to do is have the child rest or take a nap. They will often have relief when they wake up. Sleep disruption and stress affects adults too but often times their headache will get worse while they sleep so hydrate and give medication before resting. Stick to a regular schedule, especially while on vacation, and exercise to prevent headaches.
4. Summer picnic triggers
Oh the wonderful summer barbeque. I Love them but often regret what I ate at them (and not just the excess calories). Summer picnic foods are filled with headache triggers. Nitrates in hot dogs and sausage, citrus in lemonade, aged cheese, chocolate in brownies and the worst, of course, alcohol, especially red wine. They are all big triggers and should be avoided. Keep a diary of headache times and triggers. Looks like the veggie tray, water and watermelon will be my picnic friends!
5. Change in air pressure
Summer storms as well as summer travel can produce changes in air pressure that lead to headaches. Some studies show that melatonin can help maintain a sleep schedule while traveling and help to avoid headaches.
Headache Prevention
My son suffered from headaches starting at 5 years of age and Children’s Medical Center in Cincinnati started him on CoQ10 supplements, which dramatically helped with his headaches. In fact, studies have shown over 50 percent of people will have their headaches stopped with CoQ10. It does take about 6-12 weeks of 150 milligrams for adults and 60 milligrams for small children to take effect but it has very little side effects. It also appears to help with cardiovascular health. This has been life changing for my son and something that many doctors do not recognize. CoQ10 can have some delivery issues so buy from a trusted source. I use Epic4Health as they contribute to clinical trials.
There a many complementary headache strategies such as biofeedback, massage and acupuncture that many people find helpful.
Menstrual Migraines
Many women will get headaches when estrogen levels fall before their period, especially as they approach perimenopause. There are several ways to alleviate this.
Some women wear a low dose estrogen patch the week before their period. If they are on the birth control pill, then they can stay on the active pill for three months and go off for just a few days so that they only have a period every three months. Many will also wear a patch during the placebo week.
When could it be something more?
If you have the worst headaches of your life, especially if it came on suddenly or have a fever, stiff neck, any paralysis, drooping or slurred speech go to the emergency room. You may have a stroke, meningitis or tumor, especially if you are over age 50. Headaches that last for days or are accompanied by memory loss should be evaluated by your physician.
Headaches are very common especially in summer so hydrate, avoid triggers and treat the headaches early!