The heat is here: Here's how to prevent summer-season migraines

New Delhi: Summer can be a painful time of the year for many migraine sufferers. While some people do experience migraines in the winter, for some the hot summer months are worse.

Although there are a number of possible factors that may trigger migraines, studies indicate that a rise in temperature could be a major migraine trigger. Stress, anxiety, depression, poor sleep, dehydration, alcohol, smoking, shift work can also trigger a migraine.

Some women may also experience migraines around the time of their period, possibly because of changes in the levels of hormones such as oestrogen around this time.

It's not even May, but the temperatures across much of the region in India, including the national capital, are already soaring above 40 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Delhi is predicted to hover around 41 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, April 18.

Regardless of the season, however, following these tips can help you stave off some of your summer woes, particularly migraine.

Lifestyle changes

• Adopting a healthier lifestyle such as eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins.
• Eating regular meals as a drop in blood sugar can set off a migraine.
• Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and water.
• Getting enough sleep every day.
• Exercising regularly – at least 150 minutes a week.
• Limiting stress – tension is a common trigger.

Preventive migraine medications

Taking medications that help prevent migraines, make your headaches less severe. These medications can also reduce your migraines by half or more.

Identifying and avoiding triggers

One of the best ways of preventing migraines is identifying the things that trigger an attack and trying to avoid them.

Keeping a migraine diary might help you identify possible triggers and monitor better. In your diary, try to record - any warning signs or symptoms, certain foods or haits that trigger your migraines, time and date of the attack, etc. Doing this might also be helpful in assisting your doctors with confirming your migraine diagnosis.