Why does the hot sun cause headaches?

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The hot summer sun is a very easy time to trigger acute headaches. High temperature and excessive sweating are the main factors that cause headaches. At the same time, they also cause the body to become dehydrated and weak.

1. What are the symptoms of heatstroke?

Heatstroke (also known as heat stroke) is the body's response when working or studying in hot, high temperature conditions. Heatstroke is a common heat injury in children, the elderly, and people who are active outdoors.
Heatstroke can develop suddenly or gradually. Typical symptoms of heatstroke are:
High fever over 40.5 degrees Celsius; Headache; Dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting; No sweating; Red, hot and dry skin; Muscle weakness, cramps; Nausea, vomiting; Fast, strong or weak heart rate/pulse; Rapid and shallow breathing; Behavioral changes such as lethargy; Convulsions, epilepsy ; Comatose.

2. Why does the hot sun give you a headache?

The first cause of headaches in the summer is that your body is dehydrated and does not replenish water in time, leading to dehydration, causing a headache.
Second, when exposed to high temperatures, the capillaries on the head are excessively dilated to resist the weather. This leads to increased pain and headaches when you often move between the air-conditioned room and the outside space.
Third, when the hot sun affects sleep, the brain is deprived of oxygen, which can easily cause headaches and even body aches. During the summer, many people have the habit of drinking ice water to cool the body, but it also irritates the lining of the throat causing pain.

3. How to prevent headaches caused by heatstroke

3.1. Add enough water for the body
High temperature makes sweat a lot leading to loss of water and electrolytes from the body. Dehydration makes the body feel tired and headache. You should pay attention to timely replenishment of water to compensate for the amount of sweat that has been lost and balance body temperature.
When you work in hot environment, you need to replenish water about 1/2 - 1 cup of water per hour (cup about 230-250ml). You should not drink cold water. Drinking natural fruit juices is an effective method of replacing salt and minerals.
When you have liver, kidney, heart problems, epilepsy and diseases related to water retention) you should consult your treating doctor about the issue of replenishing water in the summer.

3.2. Limit exposure to the sun

You should limit outdoor exposure when the weather is hot. The reason is that the sun not only makes the skin dark, easily irritated, but also makes headaches easier to start.
When you must go out, you should wear a hat and use sun protection devices, especially between 11am - 3pm. In addition, you should wear sunglasses to reduce the impact of sunlight on the optic nerve. This helps limit headaches and reduces dizziness or heatstroke.

3.3. Moderate exercise

Regular exercise is also a way to help you relieve stress and reduce headaches. However, in hot weather, you should not exercise too much especially when the sun is at its peak. Avoid overwork in both labor and training. When the body shows signs of fatigue and exhaustion, stop all activities and rest. Also, if possible, change the time of your outdoor activities to a cooler time of day like early morning, after sunset.

3.4. Living in moderation

Daily routines are often affected by hot weather. You will have a feeling of fatigue, loss of appetite, making the body not get enough nutrients. In addition, the phenomenon of sleep deprivation, insomnia also often occurs.
You should balance enough sleep and eat right. This will help you ensure your health and limit headaches or fatigue when it's hot.
At the same time, you need to add more vegetables containing vitamin C such as bananas, oranges, tangerines, etc. to your daily diet. Vitamin C has the effect of increasing resistance, clearing heat, creating conditions for the body to fight the summer heat.
Usually, a headache caused by heat can go away on its own after 3-4 hours. In case the pain increases or occurs too often, more than 2 times a week, continuously for 2-3 months, you should see a doctor for early intervention

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