When you haven’t had enough to eat, you may not only hear your stomach rumble, but also feel a strong headache coming on. A hunger headache occurs when your blood sugar starts to dip lower than usual. Being hungry can also trigger migraine headaches for some people.
Headaches can be caused by many factors, and women experience headaches (especially migraines) as much as three times more than men. When you learn the most common causes of headaches, you may better be able to alleviate your pain. What About Hormones? Women, you can blame hormones — namely, estrogen — for your headache woes.
Is it bad to have a headache everyday? This type of headache usually develops in people who have an episodic headache disorder, usually migraine or tension type, and take too much pain medication. If you’re taking pain medications — even over-the-counter — more than two days a week (or nine days a month), you’re at risk of developing
Chronic headaches can also be caused by an underlying condition, such as meningitis, pinched nerves in the neck, or even a tumor. Seek help if you have any of the following symptoms: Seek help if
What to take for headaches when you are hungry?
If your daily schedule is unpredictable and you frequently experience headaches associated with hunger, consider carrying healthy snacks, like a banana and unsalted nuts, with you to hold you over.
Usually, a hunger headache will go away within 30 minutes of eating food. If not, you’ll need a plan B. “Typically, treatments are available over-the-counter, like ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen or aspirin,” says Dr. Jann.
This is true even if you’re trying to lose weight. Intentionally starving yourself to cut calories can bring on a hunger headache just as easily as unintentionally skipping a meal because you worked through lunch. Advertisement. What you eat counts, too.
As a reminder, get immediate help if a headache gets worse after taking pain medication, causes pain severe enough to wake you up, starts after a head injury or is accompanied by a rash, fever, numbness, blurred or double vision, a stiff neck or impaired speech. Advertisement.
But beware of frequently taking medication for headaches triggered by hunger because this can lead to recurring headaches. Instead of treating your hunger headache every time they occur, you’re better off taking steps to prevent them altogether. Advertisement.
How do you know if you have a hunger headache?
Some of the common symptoms include: dull pain. feeling as if there’s a tight band wrapped around your head. feeling pressure across your forehead or the sides of your head. feeling tension in your neck and shoulders.
Hunger headache symptoms tend to resolve within about 30 minutes of eating. warning.
You can usually relieve a hunger headache by eating and drinking water. If caffeine withdrawal is to blame, a cup of tea or coffee may help. Keep in mind that it can take 15 to 30 minutes for your body to adjust and re-build its blood sugar stores.
N is for nausea. You might also feel nauseated or vomit. D is for disabling. Migraine symptoms can make it hard to think clearly. You might also be extra sensitive to light, sounds, and smells. When you have a hunger-related migraine headache, eating may not be enough to relieve the pain.
Sometimes, a hunger headache can trigger a more significant headache, such as migraine. This involves chronic headaches that cause severe pain. You can check for migraine symptoms using the POUND acronym: P is for pulsating. The headache usually has a pulsating sensation in the head. O is for one-day duration.