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SHIELD YOURSELF
Bright sunlight is a common headache trigger, Dr. Martin says, particularly for migraineurs who experience visual aura.“ And it’ s not just light, it’ s usually glare.” Dr. Martin himself experiences migraine with aura and remembers a time from his childhood when he was riding in a car. The sunshine hit the mirror of the car in front of him and reflected into his eye.“ It triggered a migraine instantly,” he recalls. Even the glare produced by sunlight hitting the sand can be problematic. Protect yourself from both bright light and glare with sunglasses and brimmed hats( see page 14 for more ways to block out light).
HYDRATE— THEN HYDRATE SOME MORE
Dehydration is a very common culprit for headaches no matter the season, says Frederick G. Freitag, DO, a member of the NHF board and medical director for the Comprehensive Headache Center at Baylor Health Care System and director of headache medicine research for Baylor Research Institute in Dallas. In hot weather, our bodies lose fluids at a faster rate. Despite years of public health education and even beauty magazine articles on the topic, many people don’ t consume enough clear fluids.“ Few people even come close,” Dr. Freitag says.
While optimal fluid consumption varies by person( see page 35), one of the easiest, if slightly unsavory, ways to gauge your hydration is to examine the color of your urine.“ It should be nearly colorless,” Dr. Freitag says.“ If it isn’ t, then there likely is a degree of dehydration occurring.” Constipation can also be an indicator of dehydration, he says.“ If you are consuming sufficient fluids, then stools should not resemble pebbles.”
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EXERCISE CAUTION
Making tee time with friends or joining your company’ s soccer league? Proceed with caution. Physical activity like jogging could trigger migraines, and strenuous activity like lifting weights could trigger strain-induced exertional headaches.
It is possible to pre-treat exertional headaches with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory prescriptions( e. g., naproxen) or beta blockers that slow down the heart rate. These are usually taken about 30 minutes before physical activity. See your headache specialist for the proper medication for you, and remember that all-important hydration becomes even more critical when you exercise.
EAT SMART, DRINK SMART
In addition to keeping a regular meal schedule, remember that some of the classic foods of summer can be part of the problem. If you’ re attending barbecues, picnics or outdoor parties, avoid common food triggers such as foods with nitrates( including many hot dogs and prepared meats) and MSG, says Roger Cady, MD, associate executive chairman of the NHF and founder and director of the Headache Care Center, Inc. in Springfield, Mo.
While a cold drink can stave off the summer heat, Dr. Cady advises patients to pay attention to what type of alcohol they’ re drinking. White wine or drinks with clear liquors are less likely to trigger headaches than red wine or rum.“ And of course, drink in moderation,” Dr. Cady notes.
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BE AWARE OF ALL YOUR TRIGGERS
In addition to food and drink, dehydration, exercise, bright light and loud noises are significant triggers. But headaches and migraines can also be triggered by wind, extreme temperatures, allergens, humidity,
34 HEAD WISE | Volume 2, Issue 2 • 2012