Cold Weather in Terai Increases Headache Cases at Hospitals

As temperatures drop in the Terai region, hospitals have reported a rise in patients visiting with headaches. Doctors say that cold winds, changes in temperature, dehydration, sinus problems, and tight muscles in the neck and shoulder area are common causes of headaches during winter.

Dr. Roshan Khadka, senior physician at Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar, explained that cold weather directly affects the body’s temperature balance and blood circulation, leading to an increase in headache cases.

“When the body’s temperature drops in winter, blood vessels constrict, reducing blood flow to the head. Many people feel heaviness, pressure, or constant pain in the head as a result,” he said. According to Dr. Khadka, another major cause of winter headaches is dehydration.

“People tend to feel less thirsty in cold weather and drink less water, but the body still needs adequate hydration. Headache can be an early sign of water deficiency,” he added. Cold winds also affect the muscles in the neck and shoulders, causing pain that starts at the back of the head and spreads forward. People who ride motorcycles without covering their neck, sleep in the cold at night, or sit in the same position for a long time are more prone to this problem. “If ignored, this pain can gradually become chronic,” Dr. Khadka warned.

Additionally, winter often increases nasal congestion, facial heaviness, pressure around the eyes, and pain in the front part of the head. For those with sinus infections or allergies, untreated headaches can persist for a long time and sometimes lead to complications, doctors say.