Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsTreatmentWhen to Seek HelpCopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
When to Seek Help
Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
Headachetriggers differ from person to person, but headaches can be a symptom of heat-related disorders, such asheat exhaustion.Although heat itself does not cause headaches, its effects on the body can.
A heat-induced headache can feel like dull pain on both sides of the head and may get worse with activity. It can happen for several reasons, including dehydration, excessive sun exposure, or physical exertion in the heat.
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How Hot Weather Causes Headaches
There are a few heat-related factors in your body and environment that can bring on a headache.
Dehydration
Many people look forward to the warmer summer months because they can do more activities and sports outside.
However, heat also has some downsides. Not drinking enough fluids when you’re outside in hot weather can leave you with adehydrationheadache.
When you are dehydrated, you have less fluid in your body tissues and brain. When this happens, your brain tissues shrink and pull away from the skull, causing nerve pain. Drinking fluids will help get the tissue fluids back to a normal level and is often enough to fix the headache, too.
Sun Exposure
In some cases,sun exposurecan trigger a headache.
Photophobiais when a person has abnormal discomfort and sensitivity to light. It is a neurological symptom that happens because of problems with the transmission of information between the eye andbrain.
The part of the eye that transmits light to the brain is different than the part of the eye that helps you see. For this reason, even a blind person can get a photophobia-induced headache.
Barometric Pressure
Barometric pressure is the air pressure level in the atmosphere. Summertime thunderstorms are a commoncause of barometric pressure changes. Research has shown that even small decreases in atmospheric pressure can induce a headache.
Physical Activity
Heat exhaustion is when the body gets too hot and cannot cool itself down. This happens more commonly during the hot summer months, especially when it’s also humid.
Other symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
If not dealt with immediately, heat exhaustion can progress toheatstroke, which can be life-threatening.
Heat Exhaustion vs. Heatstroke: What’s the Difference?
Heat Headache Symptoms
Headache symptoms may include:
If your heat headache symptoms come along with confusion, slurred speech, weakness, or numbness, call 911.
Heat Exhaustion Symptoms
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
If you start to experience heat exhaustion symptoms:
Treatment for Heat Headaches
One way to help prevent heat headaches is to drink plenty of water and take breaks from activity during hot weather.
Once you feel a heat headache coming on,take measuresto keep it from getting worse like:
When to Seek Medical Attention
If your symptoms do not improve after about an hour of rest and fluids, call your provider. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if:
When Should You Worry About a Headache?
Coping With Excessive Heat
Sweltering weather can be a challenge and you can’t always avoid being in extreme temperatures. If you can’t beat the heat, here are a few ways you can stay safe:
Summary
Headaches can be a symptom of heat-related disorders, such as heat exhaustion. Although heat itself does not cause headaches, it can put you in situations that lead to headaches, such as dehydration.
If you have a heat headache, finding a place to cool down and rest, as well as drinking water for hydration, can help keep it from getting worse. You can also take OTC pain medications to relieve your head pain.
If these measures are not helping, you may need to call your provider for treatment. If you have extreme headache pain or other concerning symptoms call 911 or go to the ER right away.
Nausea and vomiting are two of the main symptoms of heat exhaustion. Other symptoms include:Heavy sweatingCold, clammy skinTirednessWeaknessHeadacheFaintingDizziness
Nausea and vomiting are two of the main symptoms of heat exhaustion. Other symptoms include:
High heat and humidity can cause anxiety and even makeanxietysymptoms worse.Cortisol, a stress hormone, increases during the summer months, leading to increased anxiety in some people.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat stress - heat related illness.National Headache Foundation.Light and headache disorders: understanding light triggers and photophobia.Okuma H, Okuma Y, Kitagawa Y.Examination of fluctuations in atmospheric pressure related to migraine.SpringerPlus. 2015;4:790. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1592-4Gauer R, Meyers BK.Heat-related illnesses.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8):482-489.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headache.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of hea- related illnesses.Kanikowska D, Roszak M, Rutkowski R, et al.Seasonal differences in rhythmicity of salivary cortisol in healthy adults.Journal of Applied Physiology. 2019;126(3):764-770. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00972.2018
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat stress - heat related illness.National Headache Foundation.Light and headache disorders: understanding light triggers and photophobia.Okuma H, Okuma Y, Kitagawa Y.Examination of fluctuations in atmospheric pressure related to migraine.SpringerPlus. 2015;4:790. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1592-4Gauer R, Meyers BK.Heat-related illnesses.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8):482-489.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headache.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of hea- related illnesses.Kanikowska D, Roszak M, Rutkowski R, et al.Seasonal differences in rhythmicity of salivary cortisol in healthy adults.Journal of Applied Physiology. 2019;126(3):764-770. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00972.2018
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat stress - heat related illness.National Headache Foundation.Light and headache disorders: understanding light triggers and photophobia.Okuma H, Okuma Y, Kitagawa Y.Examination of fluctuations in atmospheric pressure related to migraine.SpringerPlus. 2015;4:790. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1592-4Gauer R, Meyers BK.Heat-related illnesses.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8):482-489.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headache.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of hea- related illnesses.Kanikowska D, Roszak M, Rutkowski R, et al.Seasonal differences in rhythmicity of salivary cortisol in healthy adults.Journal of Applied Physiology. 2019;126(3):764-770. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00972.2018
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat stress - heat related illness.
National Headache Foundation.Light and headache disorders: understanding light triggers and photophobia.
Okuma H, Okuma Y, Kitagawa Y.Examination of fluctuations in atmospheric pressure related to migraine.SpringerPlus. 2015;4:790. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1592-4
Gauer R, Meyers BK.Heat-related illnesses.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8):482-489.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headache.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of hea- related illnesses.
Kanikowska D, Roszak M, Rutkowski R, et al.Seasonal differences in rhythmicity of salivary cortisol in healthy adults.Journal of Applied Physiology. 2019;126(3):764-770. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00972.2018
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