Forget handful of tablets: Here's real cause of summer migraines
Why headaches occur in hot weather (photo: Getty Images)
When a headache starts splitting your head in the middle of the workday or during a summer walk, our first instinct is often to immediately take a strong painkiller. Physician Olha Malliani explains what causes headaches in summer.
What happens to brain during dehydration
The human brain is more than 80% fluid, which makes it extremely sensitive to even slight changes in the body's water balance.
Even mild, barely noticeable dehydration can instantly trigger a harmful chain reaction: blood thickens, blood vessels constrict, and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells slows significantly.
At the same time, the electrolyte balance in the body is disrupted. This combined physiological imbalance manifests as that intense, throbbing pain.
The problem becomes especially acute in summer months, when high temperatures cause the body to lose large amounts of fluid through sweat, while people often forget to replenish it in time.
Two-glass rule
Before reaching for another dose of paracetamol or ibuprofen, experts recommend a simple test. Drink one or two glasses of plain room-temperature water in small sips, then wait 15–20 minutes.
Give your body a chance to restore its water balance and naturally thin the blood. In most cases, if discomfort is due to dehydration, the pain will begin to subside without medication or additional strain on the liver.
When hydration won't help
A glass of water is not a magical cure for all neurological conditions, of course.
Doctor Malliani emphasizes that this method works only when the headache is caused by dehydration.
If the pain is unusually severe, occurs frequently, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms—nausea, blurred vision, dizziness, or weakness—self-treatment should be stopped immediately.
Such signs require mandatory medical attention. But for everyday, basic well-being, a timely sip of water often proves the simplest and safest "remedy."
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This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
