FAQ Episode 35: How the heat of summertime can worsen your migraines
FAQ Episode 35: How the heat of summertime can worsen your migraines
As I write this, there is an early summer ‘heat dome’ developing over the NE US and Eastern Canada, with ‘feels like’ temperatures of 5-10 degrees F warmer than usual for the season. Its estimated that as many as 270 million Americans will experience temperatures at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit this coming week as we approach the 4th of July holiday weekend. The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center said parts of the Midwest to the Northeast could endure the longest heat wave they’ve seen in decades, with multiple June high temperature records expected to fall. If you read this anytime this summer, I’ve no doubt some version of the above will apply.
As temperatures continue to rise, so do cases of migraine headaches.
That’s the latest from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine researchers, in a study presented to the American Headache Society’s 66th Annual Scientific Meeting this June.1 To examine the relationship between hotter weather and migraines, the researchers studied cross-referenced regional weather data with 71,030 daily diary records of 6,060 migraine patients. The study discovered there was a 6% increase in headache occurrences for every 10 degrees the temperature warmed. For instance, 6% more peole with headaches in a week where temps are 90 vs 80 F. How might this happen?
Potential sources of summertime headaches
Many people living with migraine frequently count heat as one of their attack triggers. Provocative weather elements accentuate inflammatory effects that can precipitate migraines and prolong their symptoms. These can include:
heat waves, barometric changes with storm fronts, and higher humidity.
higher late spring to summer pollen counts. The associated histamine effect can be a root cause factor in driving migraines Paid subscribers should review the Natural MIgraine Relief course Lesson 7 on Inflammation, especially Part 2 about the role of histamine.
dehydration. Remember that water is the solvent for all chemical reactions in the cell to enable efficient function and repair. Migraine prevention is a 24 hour a day process, not just for the hour before the headache pain begins.
bright sunlight and the associated glare are very common trigger factor. The clearer skies and longer days of summer accentuate the activation of the trigemino-vascular pathway and the overproduction of calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRPs), which could eplain why drug therapy that blocks these brain peptides can minimize the effect of summertime headaches. See Lesson 8: Inflammatory Factors Part II for more information.
Preventive measures for summertime migraines
plan outdoor activities around the cooler and less humid earlier morning and later afternoon time frames.
hydrate well round the clock during these months, not just when outdoors
consider using migraine specific sunglasses that have FL-41 tint, wraparound frames, and anti-glare lenses to minimize light sensitivity.
ask you doctor if you are a candidate to try one of the CGRP blocking medications.
while addressing the obvious trigger factors is the place to start, it is essential to understand the root cause factors that promote your personal version of migraine. You can view my “top ten categories” list of root cause factors that promote migraines in Lessons 7-22 of my course.
As reported in the University of Cincinnati News “Is there a link between hotter temps and increased migraine headaches?” by Cedric Ricks June 14, 2024 https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2024/06/link-between-increased-headaches-and-hotter-temps.html