Lifestyle change essential to deal with summer headaches

By Ajita Rijal  

Kathmandu, Apr 19 : Headaches can be awfully upsetting as it can be persistent or recurrent. According to doctors, minor headaches can be relieved with some rest, fluid-intake or an over-the-counter medication but severe headaches need immediate medical attention. 

According to doctors, due to the rise in temperature, many people complain of headaches during summer season. The hot weather with bright sunlight would aggravate the headaches disorder. As temperature rises, the number of patients visiting the hospital complaining of prolonged headaches increases, said Dr. Suman Bhattarai, a consultant neurologist. During summer time, people are prone to consume sugary drinks and spicy foods which also aggravate headache.  

Migraine trigger, a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head can be caused due to various reasons, including pollution, junk food, alcohol, loud noise, stress, bright lights and glare, lack of sleep and sometimes medication, said Dr. Bhattarai.  

One needs to identify the cause and avoid the possible reason to keep headache at bay, suggested Dr. Bhattarai. 

Summer heats can cause the vascular headache as the head blood vessels expand, said Dr. Suman Prasad Adhikari, a consultant neuro-psychiatrist.

Due to the rise in temperature, steroid blood level increases, causing severe headaches, said Dr. Adhikari. 

The headache disorders are more common among women than in men, said Dr. Suman Bhattarai, consultant neurologist. “Hormonal fluctuations are the trigger for menstrual migraines in women.” 

Women have more roles which cause tension and stress and it contributes to more frequent headaches, added Dr. Bhattarai. In a nation-wide population survey of Nepal in 2016, headache prevalence was 85.4 per cent with majority in female (61.6 per cent) compared to male (38.4 per cent). One needs to seek medical help if headaches are affecting your day-to-day activities, according to physicians. In order to receive appropriate treatment of headache disorders, accurate and timely diagnosis is very essential. 

Doctors suggest certain lifestyle modifications, including regular physical exercise, avoiding stress, adequate sleeping, incorporating more 

plant-based food into diet and drinking sufficient fluids to stay safe from such 

disorders. They also suggest 

wrapping head with shawl or 

carrying umbrella when stepping out in the sun. 

A major cause of summer headaches may be due to the strong-fragrance products including sunscreen, insect repellent and body perfume. One must understand the cause of headache and stay away from those products, said doctors. Despite having the lifetime prevalence of 90 per cent, primary headaches are significantly unaddressed, undermanaged and mismanaged by the 

treating physicians as well as the patients.