Can heat cause migraines?

In this article:

• Can heat cause migraines?
• Why heat triggers migraines
• Causes and differences of heat headaches
• Treatment
• Prevention
• When to see a provider

In this article

• Can heat cause migraines?
• Why heat triggers migraines
• Causes and differences of heat headaches
• Treatment
• Prevention
• When to see a provider

A migraine is a neurological disorder that causes intense, throbbing head pain, sensitivity to light or sound, aura, and nausea. According to the American Migraine Foundation, migraines affect about 40 million Americans and more than 1 billion people worldwide. Migraines can be genetic or triggered by a variety of factors like stress, missed meals, or sleep problems.

If you’re a migraine sufferer, you may have wondered: Can heat trigger migraines? Unfortunately, yes, heat is a common trigger of migraine attacks.

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Can heat cause migraines?

Not necessarily. While heat is a commonly reported trigger of migraines in someone already prone to migraine attacks, it does not cause migraine disorder.

Many people believe there is a link between the weather and headaches. In fact, a study that surveyed over 1,700 participants with migraines found that more than 53% of respondents reported weather as a migraine trigger, with 30% identifying heat specifically.

However, research on the link between weather and migraines has had mixed results. Some studies have found that higher ambient temperatures increase the risk of headache, but others have found no clear relationship between weather and migraines.

Why does heat trigger a migraine?

There are several ways heat is believed to trigger a migraine attack:

• Dehydration: When it is hot outside, your body loses fluids through sweating, so staying hydrated (especially during physical activity) is critical. If you don’t replace these fluids by drinking enough water, you can become dehydrated. Dehydration is another common migraine trigger and can increase your chances of a migraine attack.
• Bright sunlight: Warmer weather usually means more sunshine. If you are prone to migraines, you may be more sensitive to light. Therefore, being out in the sunlight can increase your risk of a migraine.
• Change in daily routines: In the summertime or on really hot days, your routine may be different than normal. You may sleep more or less than usual, you may not have regular mealtimes, or you may change your caffeine intake. Changes to your normal routine can trigger a migraine because they disrupt your regular habits that keep the brain in balance.

There is also some evidence that higher humidity can increase the likelihood of heat triggering a migraine. In one study, researchers found that higher humidity increased the odds of a migraine headache during the warm season. It isn’t fully understood why this occurred, but it may be because high humidity makes it harder for your body to cool down, which leads to increased body temperature.

Heat migraine vs. heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke headache

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can both cause headaches. But, in these cases, headaches are considered a symptom of the heat-related condition.

Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to a large loss of water and salt, usually through sweating. The body is having trouble cooling itself down in a hot environment, and symptoms like headache, nausea, and fast heart rate may occur. Heat stroke, on the other hand, is a life-threatening heat-related illness that happens when your body overheats and cannot cool itself down. Symptoms of heat stroke include headache, confusion, blurry vision, and vomiting.

It might be hard to tell the difference between a heat-triggered migraine and a headache caused by heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The key is to consider all of your symptoms – not just the headache.

Here are some key differences between each heat-related illness:

Heat migraine vs. heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke
Condition	Key symptoms	What to do	When to seek emergency care
Heat migraine	Head pain Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells Nausea or vomiting	Drink plenty of water and fluids. Move to a shaded, cooler area, and try to avoid exposure to sunlight. Consult a healthcare provider about taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.	Heat-triggered migraines aren’t usually emergencies. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, get medical help right away: Head pain that becomes extremely severe within one minute New or sudden symptoms, such as weakness on one side of your body, numbness, changes in vision, or speech problems High fever or neck stiffness
Heat exhaustion	Excessive sweating Muscle cramps Headache Dizziness Fast heart rate	Call 911 or your local emergency number for medical help. Try to cool down your body by moving to a cooler area, removing excess clothes, or fanning yourself. Slowly sip water or other fluids.	Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke if you cannot cool your body down. Always call for medical help, and attempt any possible way to cool your body down while waiting for emergency services.
Heat stroke	Headache Blurry vision Confusion Changes in behavior Dizziness Fainting Low blood pressure Seizures	Call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Move to a cooler area. Try to cool down your body by applying cool towels to the skin, pouring water over your body, or fanning yourself.	Heat stroke requires urgent medical care. If you have signs of heat stroke, call 911 right away.

How to get rid of a heat migraine

If you develop a heat migraine, the key is to address the migraine as well as the heat exposure. Here are some tried and true ways to relieve a heat-triggered migraine:

• Consider taking migraine medications. OTC options include pain relievers, such as Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and Tylenol (acetaminophen). If those don’t work, or your migraine is severe or interfering with your daily activities, a healthcare provider may recommend prescription medications, including Imitrex (sumatriptan), Aimovig (erenumab), or Ubrelvy (ubrogepant).
• Move out of the heat. Try to move to a cooler area, out of the sunlight. This can help lower your body temperature.
• Drink fluids. The heat can increase the risk of dehydration, which can trigger a migraine. If you’ve been in the heat, be sure to drink plenty of water or electrolyte beverages.
• Rest in a cool, quiet, and dark room. If you have a migraine, chances are you are feeling more sensitive to sounds, smells, and light. Resting in a cool, quiet, and dark room can bring relief as your migraine subsides.

Recently, a “hot water on the feet” migraine trick has gained popularity online. The idea is that soaking your feet in hot water for 15-20 minutes can help with migraine relief. While this may help some people, there is very limited scientific evidence behind this remedy.

One study found that when headache medication was combined with a daily hot arm and foot bath and ice massage to the head, the frequency and intensity of headaches improved. However, this study combined multiple treatments over 45 days, and it is hard to say whether hot foot baths alone can provide migraine relief.

Another common migraine remedy you may have heard of is drinking Coke. But why does Coke help migraines? The answer is caffeine. A small amount of caffeine can help relieve migraines or increase the effects of pain relievers, but too much caffeine or caffeine withdrawal can actually trigger a migraine. If you drink Coke or caffeine regularly, continue drinking your usual amount during a migraine attack.

How to prevent heat-triggered migraines

While we can’t control the weather, there are strategies you can use to prevent heat-triggered migraines.

• Stay hydrated, especially on hot days
• Wear sunglasses or migraine glasses to protect against light sensitivity and glare from the sun
• Stick to shaded, cooler areas
• Stay in an indoor area with air conditioning during  the hottest stretches of the day
• Have acute migraine medication on hand in case a migraine occurs

Another key aspect of preventing migraines is avoiding triggers. A healthcare provider can help you identify your specific migraine triggers, and in many cases, they may recommend you keep a headache diary. A diary helps you keep track of your migraines, as well as the foods you ate, activities you did, or weather patterns that occurred before your migraine. Doing this can help you identify what specific weather patterns trigger your migraines and what you can do to avoid them.

People with frequent or very severe migraines may benefit from taking preventive migraine medication, many of which are newer to the market. Options can include Nurtec ODT (rimegepant), Aimovig (erenumab), Ajovy (fremanezumab), and Topamax (topiramate). A healthcare provider can determine if a preventive medication would be helpful.

When to see a healthcare provider

While most heat migraines can be managed at home, there are certain circumstances that warrant a visit to a healthcare provider. It is important to see a healthcare provider if the following occur:

• Your heat migraine is severe or affecting your daily activities
• You are having frequent heat migraines, such as four or more migraines in one month
• You are taking acute migraine medications more than two to three days per week
• OTC medications are not helping your migraines
• Your heat migraine lasts longer than one to two days despite treatment

If you develop a headache after you’re exposed to the heat, there is a possibility it is a symptom of a more serious illness, like heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Both of these illnesses warrant emergency medical care. Call 911 or your local emergency number if any of the following occur:

• You develop blurry vision, confusion, changes in behavior, fainting, low blood pressure, or seizures
• You develop head pain that reaches maximal intensity within one minute
• You have one-sided body weakness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that resemble a stroke
• You have a high fever or stiff neck
• You develop a migraine after a head injury