One of the most common causes of headaches is dehydration, and luckily, you can easily prevent them by making sure you drink enough water! Read on to learn more about the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of dehydration headaches.
What is a dehydration headache?
Simply put, a dehydration headache is a headache caused by not drinking enough water. If you're dehydrated and consume alcohol or caffeine, your headache may get worse. A headache is your body's way of telling you that you're not getting enough water, and you need to drink a glass of water immediately!
How dehydration causes headaches
What is the relationship between water and headaches? Dehydration causes headaches because lack of water puts pressure on the blood vessels and nerves in the skull, and pain occurs when you do activities that increase blood flow, such as exercise. Before a headache occurs, you often start to feel a dry feeling or itching on your head.
Dehydration headache symptoms
The main symptoms of dehydration include:
- Headaches (especially migraines)
- Dry mouth and throat
- Dizziness
One way to tell is if the pain goes away after you drink water and rest - if so, it's likely a dehydration headache.
Causes of dehydration headaches
The main causes of dehydration headaches are heat and exercise, but as mentioned above, consuming alcohol and caffeine can make the condition worse if you're not drinking enough fluids. Here are some examples of situations that can cause dehydration and therefore a headache:
- Heat : If you are outside in the hot sun for a long time without drinking enough water, your body will start to lose fluids through sweating, which can lead to dehydration and headaches.
- Exercise : You lose fluids during exercise and not drinking enough can lead to dehydration headaches, so keep a water bottle with you!
- Vomiting : Vomiting due to food poisoning can rapidly cause the body to lose fluids.
- Diarrhea : If you have an upset stomach, it is a good idea to take an oral rehydration solution that contains electrolytes, which will help you rehydrate quickly.
How to Prevent Dehydration Headaches
This may seem obvious, but drinking plenty of fluids (2 litres for adults, 500ml for children under 6) is the most effective way to prevent headaches caused by dehydration, as your body needs a certain amount of fluid to function. Here are some other ways to prevent headaches caused by dehydration:
- Avoid caffeinated, alcoholic and sugary drinks. Drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea and soda, have a diuretic effect in large quantities and can lead to dehydration. Alcohol and sugary drinks also have a diuretic effect in large quantities and provide little nutritional value.
- Avoid strenuous exercise in the hot sun, as it increases the risk of heatstroke and stroke (especially if you are over 65 years old). When you exercise intensely, you usually release body heat through sweating, but if the temperature outside is too high, the evaporation rate of sweat increases and you are unable to release body heat. Therefore, it is recommended that you exercise during cooler times of the day. Jogging or swimming at night is a good workout that puts less strain on the body.
How long does a dehydration headache last?
Where do dehydration headaches usually occur?
Headaches don't just happen in one place. They can be all over your head or in a specific area, such as the back, front, or side of your head. They can range from a dull ache to a sharp pain. Some people experience a throbbing headache, while others experience a constant ache. Here are some headaches that can be caused by dehydration:
- Migraines - Migraines are caused by inflammation and swelling of nerve cells in the brain. They are usually triggered by visual and sensory symptoms that occur before the migraine attack begins, and can have side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
- Tension-type headaches (TTH) - These headaches are caused by stress or tension that causes the muscles around the eyes and forehead to tighten. The pain may be on one or both sides of the head, depending on the time of day. Unlike migraines, there is no nausea or vomiting.
- Cluster headaches - These are throbbing headaches around one eye that last all day. They usually subside after a few hours of sleep, but may return late at night or early in the morning. They affect approximately 1% of adults worldwide.
The best advice is to drink plenty from your water bottle before the headache hits!
summary
Dehydration is a common cause of headaches, and they can easily be prevented by staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids. If you do start to feel a bit unwell, avoid heat, stress and caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, as these can make the symptoms worse.
