Headaches are a problem that we usually all have at some point in life, the difference is that we don’t treat it the same way, there are many reasons for this discomfort. However, a large part of the population opts for the solution it considers simpler and faster to combat headaches: medication.
The curious thing about this is that in many situations, when the origin of the problem is unknown, the first recommended measure for a headache is much simpler, cheaper and quite natural: drinking water; another situation is when the headache is caused by some kind of tension or has another medical reason. In any case, nothing is lost trying to improve your hydration.
- This is because dehydration has a headache as one of the symptoms.
- So taking acetaminophen.
- Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory may not solve anything.
- In fact.
- If dehydration is causing.
- The pain may also go away when taking the medicine.
- But this is due to the water ingested and not to the pill itself.
A headache from dehydration or headache is a secondary pain caused by a lack of fluid in the body. Dehydration headaches can be relatively mild, but they can also be severe, such as a migraine.
This is because the body needs a good balance of fluids and electrolytes to function properly. The body loses water every day in different ways, for example by sweating or urinating. Therefore, a dehydration headache can occur after sweating, when the body loses its essentials. fluids to work properly, after exercise or after a lot of heat. This can also happen if the amount of fluids is not replenished.
Most of the time, the amount of fluid lost is easily balanced when you drink or eat water-rich foods; However, sometimes the body loses water very quickly and we cannot replenish the amount lost.
When the body is dehydrated, the brain can contract and shrink temporarily due to fluid loss, this mechanism causes the brain to separate from the skull, causing pain and consequently dehydration headaches, once rehydrated the brain returns to its normal size, relieving the headache.
Dehydration headache can feel like a dull headache or severe migraine, this pain can appear on the front, back, side, or throughout the head.
Unlike sinus pain (acute sinusitis), a person with dehydration headaches is unlikely to experience pain or pressure in the face, and pain is also unlikely to appear in the back of the neck, as can happen with tension headaches.
Symptoms of dehydration headache include
Some people only experience dehydration headaches when severely dehydrated, these people may develop additional symptoms, such as lack of sweating, fever, sunken eyes, wrinkled skin, among others.
Staying well hydrated is the best way to prevent dehydration headaches, if you have headaches often, this preventive measure will help you improve your quality of life, but how much water do you need to drink to stay well hydrated?The room temperature, the amount of exercise you do and your own body weight influence the amount of fluid you need to drink each day.
A good way to know how much you need and remember to drink water is through a mobile app, there are many available that are free. Look for one that calculates the amount of water you should drink based on your weight, ambient temperature, and the amount of physical activity you perform.
Another type of common headache is the type of tension, whether for poor posture, stress, among other reasons, frequent sport and relaxation exercises are two very useful options to prevent or relieve headaches, we especially recommend an option that combines the two characteristics : practicing yoga.
In any case, if the pain persists, increases, or is very severe, see a doctor to find the cause of your headache and don’t forget that whatever the reason for your headache, the most important thing is to address the root of your headache. Problem Medications generally only relieve symptoms.