# I get a headache from being out in the sun - is there any solution to this? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 18, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933 "2010-05-18T20:59:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933/21 "2010-05-19T22:12:51Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > My wife gets headaches in the sun…and sunglasses didn’t help. > > However, I tried a super-dooper $160 pair for her (not sure what it was but bought at one of those outdoorsy stores) and she was amazed. She could be out a long time and no headache. I think with sunglasses, it’s less about high price than how they’re constucted. You want something that sits tight to the face (without being so tight it hurts), has fully opaque frames, and polarized lenses. My actual glasses darken for sunlight, but they don’t sit close to my face, so on really sunny days I switch to contact lenses plus sunglasses. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933/22 "2010-05-19T22:15:18Z")
Take breaks? But…I’m gardening! 🙂 I don’t sweat much, so I think I am really underestimating how much water I need to drink while working. So, bigger hat, better sunglasses, more water, more breaks - I can do that. Thanks, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933/23 "2010-05-19T22:21:11Z")
While I suspect it’s not what she’s going for, Paris Hilton’s outfit [here](http://www.celebrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/paris-hilton-maui-6-29-07.jpg) is probably a good gardening choice. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933/24 "2010-05-21T02:31:45Z")
I’m gonna jump on board with the “water, water and more water” folks. Drinking lots of water BEFORE the onset of the headache should prevent it altogether. The first time I went to Key West, I barely drank any and got a terrible migraine afterward. The next time I went, I made sure to drink water while we were out walking, and by the end of the day I was fine. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933/25 "2010-05-21T04:33:10Z")
Polarized sunglasses. Ones with very wide temples (to block extra light). The bigger the better. Sunglasses that say UVA/UVB, don’t bother. It’s just a coating, and nearly all sunglasses (and regular glasses) have it anyway. If you’re prone to outdoor headaches, try out the polarized - the lenses have a filter that cuts out glare. Makes things much easier on the eyes. Less eyestrain, less headache. Grey, dark grey, black polarized lenses - good for driving and general use (doesn’t distort color vision) Brown and amber polarized lenses - good for golf and other outdoor sports (improves depth perception a bit) ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933/26 "2010-05-21T04:55:44Z")
Don’t use the sunglasses when you are working outside. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933/27 "2010-05-22T00:21:35Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > I have the same problem, and drinking a lot of water seems to help. > > The headache I get is incurable by aspirin, Tylenol or even prescription pain killers. It can make me nauseated. I have to lay down in a dark silent room for a few hours and it goes away. It’s not unlike a migraine. > > Drinking water after the fact doesn’t seem to do anything to relieve the pain. I seem to be able to prevent it by drinking a lot of water while I’m spending time in the sun. You may very well have a sinus headache from allergies triggered by working outdoors. No amount of OTC pain killer is going to help a sinus headache because the passages have swelled shut and are filling with fluid. It is necessary to get the passages to drain to relieve the pain. It took many years for me to recognize a sinus headache. What I discovered is that they trigger tension headaches in the back of my neck. If this goes unchecked I get a migraine headache. The result is a very painful headache that will not go away for many hours. At the first sign of such a headache I take sudafed and ibuprofen with a caffeine drink and I also use nose spray depending on the severity. Note: all these things raise your blood pressure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-a-headache-from-being-out-in-the-sun-is-there-any-solution-to-this/539933.md?page=1)