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Almost all of us suffer from headaches from time to time. Some people then quickly turn to over-the-counter painkillers. In many cases, however, simple home remedies could also help. But is it true that caffeine can also help provide relief?
Does caffeine help when your head is pounding and pounding? Yes and no. In fact, there’s an argument that a little caffeine can help keep certain types of headaches at bay, explains headache specialist Dr. Emad Estemalik in a contribution from the Cleveland Clinic (USA).
Why does caffeine help with headaches?
First, let’s start with how much is a good amount: Research shows that around 100 to 150 milligrams of caffeine (which is the equivalent of a small cup of coffee) tends to help relieve or even prevent headaches.
And that’s because caffeine constricts blood vessels in the brain, says Dr. Estemalik.
“For example, when you have a migraine, the blood vessels in your brain are dilated (or more open),” he explains. “The right amount of caffeine can constrict blood vessels – so the caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor.”
Can caffeine also cause headaches?
Yes, too much caffeine can cause headaches.
“Consuming large amounts of caffeine can have the opposite effect – causing headaches and increasing the frequency of headaches,” warns Dr. Estemalik. “And it’s not just about coffee, but about any caffeinated beverage or energy drink.”
Additionally, if you stop consuming caffeine or do not maintain the same caffeine levels daily, you may experience headaches.
“If your body is used to daily caffeine consumption and you stop abruptly, you will often experience mild withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, difficulty sleeping, and headaches,” explains Dr. Estemalik. “The good news is that these symptoms usually don’t last longer than a few days.”
Another tip? Dr. Estemalik says that while it’s important to focus on how much caffeine you consume, you should also try to avoid caffeine in the late afternoon or at night. “Consuming caffeine later in the day can cause sleep problems,” he notes.
Does caffeine only help certain types of headaches?
Yes, says Dr. Estemalik. Caffeine can help with tension headaches and migraines. These headaches involve vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels. And caffeine constricts blood vessels and acts as a vasoconstrictor.
But caffeine doesn’t help with cluster headaches. And that’s because the pathophysiology, or the physical and functional changes that occur, differ from tension headaches and migraine headaches.
Although the exact causes of cluster headaches are not known, they are believed to be caused by certain chemicals released in the body.
Also important to know: Caffeine does not help against sinisitus headaches. “The pressure you feel when you have a sinus-related headache means you have a pressure imbalance in the sinuses,” explains Dr. Estemalik. “And that’s the reason for a lot of these headaches and frontal pressure in people.”
Conclusion
Headaches can disrupt your life. You may only get occasional headaches, but if you struggle with them more often, it can be frustrating.
And while the right amount of caffeine can be helpful in relieving your headaches, it shouldn’t be your only remedy.
Dr. Estemalik says if you have chronic headaches (defined as more than 15 days a month), then it’s time to talk to your doctor about a prevention strategy to reduce the frequency of your headaches.
They may recommend specific lifestyle changes, discuss triggers to avoid, or prescribe a preventative medication.
But it is important to know that excessive consumption of these drugs (more than two to three times a week) can have negative effects by increasing the frequency of headaches, explains the expert. (ad)