A hot cup of joe gets you going in the morning but what if it’s followed by a headache? Could that morning cup of coffee be triggering your headaches? Turns out caffeine can be a bit of a double-edged sword when it comes to headaches. On one hand, it helps open up your blood vessels initially, which is why it gives you an energizing jolt. But as the caffeine starts to wear off, those blood vessels can clamp back down. For some people, this rebound effect can trigger a painful headache. Let’s dig a little deeper.
Caffeine and Headaches
The link between caffeine and headaches is not straightforward. Some think caffeine triggers headaches, yet this bioactive substance may also ease headache discomfort. Caffeine appears helpful for one kind of headache – migraines. With migraines, blood vessels in the brain widen, setting off the pain. A modest amount of caffeine could dull the pain by narrowing those blood vessels.
It’s a fair question – if caffeine can relieve headaches, why do some folks feel like it gives them headaches? Well, for habitual caffeine drinkers, cutting back on coffee or soda can spur withdrawal. And one of the most common caffeine withdrawal symptoms is a dull, nagging headache.
In that case, it’s not the caffeine itself triggering pain per se. It’s the body missing its usual dose of caffeine. Folks used to getting caffeine daily can experience these withdrawal headaches if they go too long without it. Then when they drink caffeine again, the headache fades. So, in a roundabout way, caffeine may seem to cause headaches. But it’s just our dependence on it rearing its head. So, caffeine can work both ways for headaches!
Caffeine Withdrawal Can Affect Mood and Focus
Along with headaches, caffeine withdrawal can drag down your energy, mental focus, and mood. Some people get jitters or feel extra anxious too. Basically, caffeine withdrawal can make you feel crummy all around.
These withdrawal symptoms tend to last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. For those used to mega-doses of caffeine, it may even take a month before they’re back on their A-game. During that time, expect to deal with brain fog, trouble concentrating, low motivation, depression, shakiness – the works.
The good news is that caffeine withdrawal eventually passes. Our bodies adjust to functioning without all that caffeine. But there’s no doubt those weeks can be rough going. Just know the symptoms are temporary and try to take it easy on yourself. And if they get too intense, you can always taper off caffeine more gradually to minimize the misery. But once you push through, you’ll regain clear thinking and stable energy – no caffeine required.
Caffeine for Headache Relief
If you ever check the label on those over-the-counter headache pills, you’ll notice caffeine pops up often. Medications like Excedrin put it right in their formula. Now why would they do that if caffeine causes headaches?
Well, remember for migraines, caffeine can narrow swollen blood vessels to ease the pain. On top of that, when you take caffeine with pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, it helps your body absorb those meds better. So, by adding caffeine, headache drugs can pack more of a pain-fighting punch.
So, while caffeine alone may spur withdrawal headaches, turns out it’s handy for treating other types of headaches. No wonder drug companies slip it into their headache formulas – it makes their products work better! Next time you have a killer headache, check the medicine ingredients. If caffeine’s in there, you’ll know why.
There are some questions as to the validity of the theory that caffeine relieves headache pain by constricting blood vessels in the brain. More recently, scientists and neurologists have proposed another theory: migraine headaches are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which causes inflammation and sends nerve cells into spasms. In that case, it’s unclear how caffeine relieves migraine headaches.
How Do You Know Whether Caffeine is Helping or Hindering?
The best way to know how caffeine affects your headaches is to keep a headache diary and document all the caffeine you consume each day. Sometimes you must guess how much caffeine is in a particular beverage since manufacturers don’t have to list the quantity. Here are some guidelines:
- Brewed coffee – 95 milligrams
- Brewed black tea – 45 milligrams
- Brewed green tea – 30 milligrams
- Colas – 20-25 milligrams
- Energy drinks – 30 milligrams
- Energy shots – 200 milligrams
If you drink these beverages throughout the day, you can accumulate a lot of caffeine fast. If you’re in the habit of consuming several hundred milligrams of caffeine each day and suddenly stop, it can trigger a headache.
On the flip side, drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee when you have a migraine headache may be of some benefit. Be careful though. If you consume caffeine, don’t overdo it. One study found that drinking 3 or more caffeinated beverages daily increased the chance of having a migraine headache while consuming 1 or 2 servings each day did not.
Also, how adapted to caffeine your brain is makes a difference too. The study found that if you usually consume less than a serving of caffeine per day, as little as 2 servings could increase the odds of a migraine headache. So, more caffeine is not better for migraine headaches. Moderation is key.
Discovering how you personally handle caffeine can make a big difference in headaches. Keeping a journal to track your experiences is super helpful. Jot down when you drink caffeine and if you get a headache later. See if there’s any link.
For migraines, having a coffee when one hits could ease the pain by constricting blood vessels. And if you take ibuprofen or acetaminophen too, the caffeine may help your body absorb the meds faster. So, you could potentially get relief quicker but don’t take them together without talking to your doctor.
The key is paying attention to your unique reactions. See if caffeine withdrawal triggers your headaches, or if modest amounts help migraine pain. A journal helps you learn what works for you. Then you can use caffeine to your advantage instead of your detriment when it comes to headaches.
The Bottom Line
Caffeine can both help and cause headaches. If you use it to relieve a headache, only do so on occasion. If you consume caffeine regularly and then stop, it could trigger withdrawal headaches.
References:
- “If you have migraines, put down your coffee and read this ….” 25 Nov. 2019, .health.harvard.edu/blog/if-you-have-migraines-put-down-your-coffee-and-read-this-2019093017897.
- “Understanding Caffeine Headache | American Migraine Foundation.” 28 Dec. 2017, https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/caffeine-headaches/.
- “Migraine Triggers: Caffeine.” 01 Sept. 2011, https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-triggers-caffeine.
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