Anyone else get headaches from the heat?

[Sweety_tweety]

How do you deal with headaches from the heat? The last time I was in DW, I had a headache for the last 3-4 days--I just think the heat and humidity was just too much. We are going again in June--I know it would be best to pick a different time of year, but this is the only time that works with our schedule.

The usual OTC medicine just does not seem to help. The Head-on Sinus Formula (red tube) actually helped me, but I can't seem to find it anymore in Delaware. Bath and Body Works also has an herbal roll-on for headaches that seems to work pretty well. I also found that they worked best if you applied them before the headache really takes hold.

I am posting this not just to help myself, but for others that suffer from headaches from the heat. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Ddennis37]

I usually only get headaches if I'm (a) sick or (b) haven't eaten. It's so hot and humid in Florida, you have to make sure you keep water in your system. I found that I didn't get headaches from the rides or anything, but we never left our room without multiple bottles of water.

Backaches are more of a problem for me. So we started walking mid-April for our trip in mid-June for 11 days. The extra strength tylenol seems to work for my backaches, but I will pop them when it feels like I'm about to ache and usually take 1,000-1,500mg. Extra strength are 500mg per pill.

As I don't get headaches often, I've heard good things about Advil and Excederin-"The Headache Medicine." :lmao:

[karliebug]

stay hydrated, that is a major cause of headaches. drink water even before you think you are thirsty and make sure you have a bottle of water with you to sip from throughout the day. wear sunglasses and a hat or visor to keep the sun off your face. I find that excedrin migrane works great for me if I take it at the first sign of a headache.

[torsie24]

The headache will have been because you were dehydrated!

Drink drink drink! :)

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I get migraines when it's hot and humid (and yes it does get hot and humid in Wisconsin). Since I work outdoors, I have to deal with this on a regular basis. I always have a cooler with bottles of water with me but it still happens when the heat and humidity go up - so I feel for anyone who has to deal with this. Other than staying hydrated as others have mentioned and bringing along enough OTC or Rx medicines with you - it can help to take a break in the shade when you first feel that twinge of a headache coming on. Find a quiet, shady place to sit, close your eyes and breathe deeply for 10 or 15 minutes. Do this as often as you need to during the heat of the afternoon. It might not make the headache go away, but it might help the pain decrease a bit.

While you might want to talk to your doctor before doing this (I cannot prescribe any treatment :rotfl:), it helps me to take an OTC pain reliever every few hours as a preventive when I know I'm going to have a problem. Of course this is hard on a persons liver and you wouldn't want to be doing this all the time.

[BeccaBellePA]

Lots & lots of water. And avoid sugar when possible. As tempting as the afternoon ice cream is when it's 95 degrees out, it always makes me feel worse.

[jm106]

I gt headaches from everything:mad: I have a prescription (actually 2) and will drink a lot of water, a little bit of caffein and take 2 motrin at first sign. Also find an air conditioned spot for a few minutes, and ˆ also hold an ice cold water bottle on the back of my head.neck. My migraines are bad, I was in ER last week for one!

[chesterpdt186]

hydrate before you go to disney, it will help u.
Also dont forget to eat regularly, low blood sugar can happen easily when its hot out. since you are working 2x harder to keep your body kewl.
Dont Forget to cover yourself in sunscreen.
I like copperton sport it keeps me kewler and allows me to sweat.

Have fun in june

[The Red Head]

Being out in the heat and the bright sun is one of my migraine triggers. If other things have not worked for you, you might be getting migraines and not even know it. Keep hydrated, wear sunglasses or a hat. Caffeine helps with migraines, but I also have a prescription medication from my doctor. If you do not have something from your doctor and are not sure if you have migraines, you might want to try one of the over the counter medicines like advil migraine or excedrin migraine and see if they work for you.

[WillCAD]

There are a lot of different kinds of headaches, each with different causes, and each with different treatments.

Yes, heat can trigger migranes, but most headaches are not "migranes", they are just headaches. People make this mistake quite often. Migranes are also triggered by bright lights and loud noises.

The most common headache at WDW is from dehydration. Drink lots of water. When it's above 80 degrees at WDW, if you're not stopping every hour to go to the bathroom, you're not drinking enough water. Remember, if you wait till you're thirsty, it's too late - you're already dehydrated. Drink when you're NOT thirsty, and don't let yourself get dehydrated in the first place.

Low blood sugar can sometimes cause headaches. If you're walking 5-10 miles per day, that's a lot of exertion, and if you're not used to it, you might not eat enough to keep your blood sugar up. It's not about eating MORE, it's about eating more OFTEN. Smaller, ligher, easy-to-digest meals, spaced throughout the day, help you to manage your blood sugar and handle the extra exertion. Hint: If you also feel sleepy or your hands shake, you're not eating regularly enough.

The most common headaches I get at WDW are from sinus pressure. Humidity or changes in the weather cause my sinuses to swell painfully; the only treatment for it is medication. The only meds that work for my sinus pressure headaches are those with pseudephedrine (sp?) in them, such as Drixoral (which is now off the market), or Zyrtec-D or Claritin-D or Mucinex-D (the D in all of them stands for "decongestant"). Note that these are all definitely different than the standard versions; if they don't have "D" in the name, they don't have pseudephedrine in them and won't help a pressure headache. Also note that some meds with a D in the name don't necessarily have pseudephedrine in them; check the label.

Painkillers will only help a headache up to a point. Beyond that, you have to look for the root cause of the headache and eliminate it as best you can to get any sort of meaningful relief.

[rosiep]

I suffer from migraines as well...and yes, heat and sunlight tend to trigger them. I will be using these cooling wraps for my trip in September:
http://www.polarbreezebandanas.com/
I also have large sunglasses, a large brimmed cotton hat, and moisture wick clothing. I will be drinking as much as I can stand as well as having my migraine meds with me at all times.
I will take copious breaks to get out of the heat and sun and I will remember to eat even if I don't feel like it.

Most of all: I will not push myself! If I find I am not feeling well I will go back to the hotel room and REST. I have learned that I save myself 3 days of headache if only I STOP right at the onset of one.

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

Have you ever tried Excedrine Migraine? I sware by it! Seriously. I have prescription medication for daily headaches, migraines & serious pain reliever to try before I go to the ER:eek:. But really the only thing that helps my headaches:headache: daily is Excedrine Migraine.

Keep cool w/water on the back of the neck, fan mister or battery handheld fan - or all of them. And like everyone else says: drink drink drink water.

I too am going in June (9-16), if you are there then & need Excedrine Migraine - look me up, I'll be the one w/the pharmacy of Excedrine (amongst other stuff) in tow!:rolleyes1

Good luck & enjoy. Don't push yourself it will only make it worse!

[rosiep]

Have you ever tried Excedrine Migraine? I sware by it! Seriously. I have prescription medication for daily headaches, migraines & serious pain reliever to try before I go to the ER:eek:. But really the only thing that helps my headaches:headache: daily is Excedrine Migraine.

Keep cool w/water on the back of the neck, fan mister or battery handheld fan - or all of them. And like everyone else says: drink drink drink water.

I too am going in June (9-16), if you are there then & need Excedrine Migraine - look me up, I'll be the one w/the pharmacy of Excedrine (amongst other stuff) in tow!:rolleyes1

Good luck & enjoy. Don't push yourself it will only make it worse!


Do you take the Excedrine Migraine daily..whether you have a headache or not?

[L2DAVI]

I to suffer from headaches from the sun. If I know that I will be in the sun, I take aspirin before I even leave my room. Wear sun glasses and a hat if possible. Stop and take a break in the air conditioning also, go into the bathrooms or where ever there is running water and wet your entire head. This will cool you off and help with the headaches. I feel your pain, I'll be there in the end of June as well.

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

Do you take the Excedrine Migraine daily..whether you have a headache or not?

No I don't take it whether I have a headache or not, but I get so many stress headaches & daily headaches, it is almost daily that I take it.

They are now trying braces on my teeth to try & aleviate some of the stress on my jaw (I grind my teeth at night) & a night guard - is it helping a little.

Just make sure you eat with it - I sometimes get the shakes w/it on an empty stomach - too much caffine?

[rosiep]

No I don't take it whether I have a headache or not, but I get so many stress headaches & daily headaches, it is almost daily that I take it.

They are now trying braces on my teeth to try & aleviate some of the stress on my jaw (I grind my teeth at night) & a night guard - is it helping a little.

Just make sure you eat with it - I sometimes get the shakes w/it on an empty stomach - too much caffine?

I carry regular aspirin, Excedrin Migraine and Maxalt with me at all times. It's like a mini pharmacy in my purse!

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

I have Maxalt too, but I find Excedrine Migraine works better for me. Maxalt I have to take several times & it doesn't take the edge off as quickly or as good as E.M. does. Weird I know - but whatever helps....

[AMDPhenomX4]

You can also ask drink vendors who will almost always give you some ice water for free.

[ZoZo]

Be sure to stay hydrated, especially if you're not used to the heat.

"They" say that lots of everyday headaches are caused by dehydration - can you imagine how many more headaches are caused by people who aren't used to the heat and humidity? It's easy to get dehydrated before you realize it. Keep chugging water!

[natnelliesmom]

In my experience headaches from heat are not temperature related but from dehydration. If the headache is in your forehead, tight and painful, it's because your body needs fluids.
Staying hydrated is important when you are sweating, or in hot or windy conditions.
I order a giant package of water bottles from Garden Grocer before our trip, it's ready for us when we get there and I can keep several bottles on hand without paying for them in the parks.
Also- counter service places and food carts will give you free cups of water if you ask. They don't want dehydrated guests!
-Sarah

[SGMsMom]

Yes, I do get headaches from the heat while at Disney World. Staying hydrated always helps, but if I make the mistake of drinking non-bottled water or eating ice from a fountain drink - I end up with a 'sick' headache.

There is something in the water in Orlando that causes me to have horrid headaches. I now even pack a Brita pitcher to use for rinse water after I brush my teeth.

Hope this helps, have a great vacation!

-Belynda

[cmusschoot]

Hi, I am a migraine sufferer but I am also prone to all sorts of headaches. To be honest once a migraine hits...it is over for me. Sleep is the only thing that helps.

But, I have found that to head off headaches, caffeine helps. I suggest a regular Coke...the sugar and caffeine combo can work wonders. This may lead to dehydration so follow up with plenty of water...

While I don't like to take OTC medicine I ALWAYS carry Excedrin Migraine with me, but have recently found Advil Migraine to work too...

Happy Travels to you!

[Experiment113]

No matter how much prevention i do, I seem to always have 1 bad headache/migraine at Disney. What i do at home to help with the pain (in addition to pain medication): Dampen a bath towel and microwave it to heat it and then wrap it around your head to relieve the pain. (Be careful not to burn yourself from the steam!)

Since i can't do this in our hotel room, i take a heating pad & a supply of the Thermocare Heat Wraps . They start heating up when they are opened and exposed to air. I know it sounds crazy, but when a headache hits, i take medication, go back to the room, turn on the air conditioning and use the heating pad or heat wraps to ease the pain.

While at Disney, in addition to drinking water, i also drink at least 1 Gatoraide a day.

We also plan our table service meals at lunch time. This way i am getting at least 1 good hour sitting in the air conditioning during the heat of the day.

Good luck!:flower3:

[bubba]

I agree with all previous posters saying hydrate, hydrate, hydrate ! Carry your OTC remedy of choice, and use it at the onset of headache. I swear by cooling neck bands, or if I don't have it with me I put a cold bottle of water on the back of my neck. Take advantage of AC when you can, take a couple relaxation breaks during the day and eat regularly. I keep a cereal bar, banana or crackers and cheese, etc in my bag to ward off the dips in blood sugar.

[rosiep]

Eating when it's hot is a real challenge for me. I need to be very consciencious about it. Fruit and starch (like a pretzel or popcorn) seems to be easy for me to get down, but I also need to make sure that I eat some protein!

[timzagain]

I live in the Caribbean - year round heat and glare! I used to get frequent, terrible migraines from the heat until I made a few changes:-


I invested in a pair of good quality sunglasses with polarized lenses! I chose Ray Bans - not cheap but well worth every cent! As I am outdoors during the day, I make sure that I wear them
Stay hydrated! It makes a HUGE difference.
In a theme-park type of situation - I look for every opportunity to cool down - air conditioning, getting wet etc.
If all those tricks fail, take headache meds as soon as there's even the slightest hint of a headache


Edited to add:

I forgot to add 2 other tips:-

1) If I feel a migraine coming on and I have no meds on me - I drink a Coke. The caffeine definitely helps
2) Don't allow yourself to get too hungry

[onelilspark]

I'm with the others. I think for migraine sufferers the heat, humidity, and sunshine can be killer triggers. For me, I know I need to just keep drinking a ton of water. I'm definitely one that walks up to Counter Service places and asks for ice water...otherwise I'd spend a fortune on bottled water ;) I always make sure I have sunglasses on, even if it's overcast. The strain on your eyes, especially day in, day out, can really hit you hard.

And if you're finding that you're starting to feel lathargic, drowsy, etc. Go find some air conditioning. Many times I find that I'm simply overheating, which if I don't cool off, will trigger a migraine. (And unfortunately, it is a migraine, not just a simple headache!)

The best thing you can do with the heat is just to take care of yourself...oh, and lay off the booze ;)

ETA: I drive my family crazy because I inhale so much water that I spend most of my time in the restrooms! (If you want to know where the best ones on property are...I'm your girl! :lmao:) But they also know that if I didn't do that, we'd be heading back to the hotel so I could sleep it off :( Personally, I'd rather spend that time stopping at a restroom than spending the time sleeping because I didn't take care of myself!

[Debbie-TN]

I find that sometimes I get a headache from squinting my eyes in the sun. On our last trip, I wore a visor(or you could hear a ballcap) to keep the sun off my face and it reaaly helped.

[nicolesap]

Keeping hydrated is the key, like many others have said...and avoiding caffeine. While some swear by Excedrin migraine, it has caffeine in it, and tends to be the root cause of rebound headaches. That coupled with continued dehydration, and continued use of excedrin migraine is why so many people "swear by it" and use it on an almost daily basis. If you cut it out of your life, and replace it with an equal amount of caffeine (which is a CRAZY amount!) plus hydration and the occasional tylenol, and gradually cut the caffeine out of your diet, you can wean yourself off the excedrin. Google it, or call a neurologist--they will vouch for it.

As far as while in Disney, or any other hot place for that matter, keeping cool and hydrated is the key...drink even when you think you aren't thirsty. If you notice that your mouth is dry or you are starting to get thirsty, it's too late...bring on the water--and especially avoid sodas and sugary juices, etc.

[Shagley]

I agree with all of the others...

*stay hydrated

*wear sunglasses (the polarized ones make a big difference)

*don't go too long without eating. I am not a big breakfast eater, but I have to have at least a granola bar or pop tart in the morning, or I will have a headache before lunch.

*take medication when you feel the headache starting to come on, don't wait until it is already bad.

*stay out of the sun as much as possible, and go into the shade or air conditioning periodically, before you feel overheated.

[crazelion]

I work out outside at baseball parks and drink a ton of water. I tell when I am get sick to my stomach when I have not drank enough water. All say is water water more water. That will help you the most. For the headaches get some where cool fast your body is over heating and need rest.

[Simba22]

Drink a lot of water and wear sunglasses...I also recommend wearing a hat or visor...something else to shield your eyes. I've found that I get headaches from squinting.

[brock20l]

Advil Extra Strength Liqui-Gels are my BEST FRIEND!! :cheer2: I honestly won't go anywhere without them. Besides, that, I'd say my best tip for handling migraines is to try to nip them in the bud. When you feel headache pain coming on, don't just brush it off and tell yourself "oh, I'll just wait a bit before I take something. It'll go away." :sad2: Sure, it might, but if it doesn't, the pain will increase past the point of no return, and you'll end up with a brain that feels like someone has tied an elastic around it for the whole rest of the day. When you feel just that little bit of a warning ache, get out of the sun, drink at least a half a bottle of water, and take your pain relieving medication, whatever it may be.