A caffeine headache can be tiresome, lingering and can be related to tension or negative reactions to caffeine.
Often, those who complain about a caffeine headache find that it hits them unexpectedly and that they don’t always get headaches as a result of drinking or not drinking coffee.
Sometimes, such a headache can hit you unexpectedly. For example, you could drink plenty of coffee for 4 days running and on the 5th day, when you drink less coffee, a bad headache hits you and lingers for some time.
Cure or cause?
Scientific studies have proven that caffeine boosts the effectivess of over the counter painkillers such as ibuprofen which is often used to effectively treat pain relief from headaches. That is to say that taking a coffee or can of cola with a painkiller gets you headache relief in less time.
To understand why you may be getting persistent and recurring headaches from coffee or other caffeinated drinks it makes sense to look at the causes.
Caffeine withdrawal
When you drink caffeinated drinks, your blood vessels tend to get tighter and restrict. This is actually the reverse of what happens when you feel a migraine coming on.
A migraine is partly caused by the blood vessels in your head that dilate and cause great discomfort and pain. Reversing the process of a migraine is likely to provide you with increased relief, which explains the reason behind caffeine’s ability to boost pain relief fast with some people.
Caffeine withdrawal is when your body has got used to consuming too much caffeine. When you begin to drink less, your blood vessels no longer restrict as easily as they used to. They may even end up more dilated than normal on occasions.
This means you’re more likely to suffer from occasional headaches as a result of reducing your caffeine intake. Your headaches can still occur around the time you drink coffee bizarrely enough.
This also means you’re drinking too much coffee in general and you need to cut down.
Reduce coffee intake
Cutting down first to 2 coffees per day (one in the morning, one after lunch) is relatively easy to do. After this, cut down to one coffee per day. If you are able to, only drink coffee on occasions like when you’re tired and need to perform well.
Replace coffee and cola with tea and water when possible. Alternate between black and herbal teas (green tea). Within a week or two, your headaches should start to ease off and you’ll feel awake more naturally in the mornings with less of a need of a caffeine kick.
Caffeine dehydrates you
Being a diuretic, caffeinated drinks cause you to urinate more often. Did you notice that when you drink 2 or 3 cups of coffee, you need to go more often?
Indeed, dehydration can cause headaches.
When liquids are expelled from the body at a faster rate than normal, water is taken from parts of our bodies such as the brain.
You’ll notice that in some countries water is served with coffee in cafés. This is not only to rid the mouth of the taste of stale coffee, but also to dehydrate your body after drinking the coffee.
If you’re dehydrated you increase the risk of a headache. Make sure you drink enough water together with coffee.
Furthermore, expelling water from your body at a higher rate than normal can deplete essential nutrients from your body. This, combined with dehydration, can intensify headache pains and migraines.
This brings us to the next point.
Lack of essential vitamins & nutrients
Like what happens with a hangover, your body can become low on essential vitamins and nutrients.
When this happens, you may feel sluggish, slow and have problems concentrating. And of course, you’ll probably have a headache.
Does this sound familiar to you? Low levels of vitamin B and magnesium are known to cause headaches. In fact, migraine sufferers are strongly advised to boost their own levels of magnesium.
What can you do about this?
Taking a daily multi vitamin drink is excellent as it boosts all your essential levels of natural nutrients and energy.
In addition to this effervescent vitamin solutions ensure a better distribution of electrolytes in your body and help protect you against headaches.
Low blood sugar level
On occasions, getting a groggy, thick caffeine headache from withdrawal of caffeine is a result of having a low blood sugar level.
Combine a low blood sugar level with reduced levels of magesium and you’ll at risk of having frequent, uncomfortable caffeine headaches.
What’s the best fast solution for this? Eat a banana or two, or make yourself a banana milk shake that works to booth boost your blood sugar level and increases levels of magnesium and potassium; all important for caffeine headache prevention.
Another fast way to feel better is to drink a soothing tea to relieve a caffeine headache or a hangover, which can be combined with cinammon to improve efficiency.
Improve blood circulation
Many caffeine headaches can be relieved by simply improving blood circulation.
Even if you are fit and healthy with excellent blood circulation, you may be low on essential oils that your brain and body benefit greatly from.
Add plenty of fish such as sardines, anchovies and salmon to your diet. These are rich in essential oils.
If you’re not so keen on cooking or eating fish, then fast track yourself to health by taking Omega 3 supplements
Another great way to prevent headaches is to improve your sleeping position and invest in a great pillow!
A water pillow will support and adjust to your head’s position however you move during your sleep.
You’ll reach deeper, more restful levels of sleep and reduce circulation problems and eliminate neck pain this way.
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