Why We Get Hunger and Thirst headaches

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Learn From Doctor Team is made up of well-qualified doctors of different fields with brilliant academic results and professional careers. The article is written and reviewed by doctors of this specialty.

Why We Get Hunger and Thirst headaches

When we are hungry, we all feel stomach rumble. But there can be also headaches associated with hunger and thirst. Today we’ll answer the question “why we get hunger and thirst headaches”.

Let’s get started.

Symptoms of hunger and thirst headaches

  • A dull ache
  • Feeling as if you’re wearing a tight band around your head
  • Feeling pressure on the sides of your head or over your forehead
  • You’re experiencing neck and shoulder pain

They are quite similar to tension-headache.

When your blood sugar falls too low, you may experience the following symptoms:

  • A sense of nausea
  • Exhaustion
  • Stomach ache
  • Low body Temperature
  • Unsteadiness

These additional signs usually appear over time. First, you may experience nothing but a dull headache, but as you go longer without eating, you may experience other symptoms.

Read Complete Headache Chart

Causes of Hunger headache

Dehydration

The thin layers of tissue in your brain will start to tighten and push on pain receptors if you haven’t had enough to drink. Another form of headache caused by this side effect is the hangover headache.

Let us know a little more about dehydration

What is Dehydration?

Dehydration is a disease caused by the body losing too much fluid. It occurs when you lose more water than you take in, and the body is unable to function properly due to a lack of fluids.

Causes of Dehydration

  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Heavy sweating
  • Excessive urination due to any illness or drug
  • High body temperature(fever)
  • Drinking less water(less than 2L)

Symptoms of dehydration

  • Thirst(sometimes intense)
  • Dry mouth
  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • Dark-Colored and less urinating
  • Dizziness(headache)
  • Tired(weakness)

Who are at the risk of Dehydration

  • Senior citizens in their late years. Some people lose their thirst sense when they get older, and as a result, they don’t drink enough fluids.
  • Infants and small children are more susceptible to diarrhea and vomiting.
  • People who have diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or kidney disorders, which cause to urinate or sweat more often.
  • People who exercise or work outside in hot weather People who take medicines that cause them to urinate or sweat more
Why We Get Hunger and Thirst Headaches
Why We Get Hunger and Thirst Headaches

Treatment of Dehydration

Dehydration is treated by replacing the fluids and electrolytes that have been lost. You can only need to drink plenty of ORS in mild cases. Sports drinks will help if you’ve lost electrolytes. Oral rehydration products are also available for infants. All are available without a prescription.

In a hospital, serious cases may be treated with intravenous (IV) fluids containing salt and other electrolytes.

How to prevent dehydration

  • Every day, drink plenty of water. Since everyone’s needs are different, talk to your doctor about how much water you should drink each day. The average water needed by an adult is 2-3.5L.
  • Sports drinks can be beneficial if you are running in the sun and sweating a lot of minerals.
  • Sugary and caffeine-containing beverages should be avoided.
  • When the weather is hot or you are sick, drink plenty of fluids.

Read Headache From Heater 

Deficiency of Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant that the body gets used to, particularly if you drink three or four cups of coffee per day. It arises caffeine dependency. If you haven’t had caffeine in a few days, your brain’s blood vessels will enlarge, increasing blood flow and triggering a headache.

Symptoms associated with caffeine dependency

  • Exhausted
  • Insomnia
  • Weakness
  • Mood swing
  • Lack of concentration

How to reduce the effect of caffeine deficiency headache

Reducing your caffeine dependency is one way to prevent caffeine withdrawal headaches.

The most effective method is to gradually reduce the amount of food consumed. Per week, you should try to cut your intake by around 25%.

For the first week, if you normally drink four cups of coffee a day, reduce it to three cups per day. Reduce the intake until you’re down to one or two cups a day. Turn to decaf if you miss the taste of coffee.

You would want to keep a diet log to keep track of how much caffeine you consume. This will assist you in reducing your caffeine consumption from other sources such as black tea, soda, and chocolate. Noncaffeinated drinks such as herbal tea, seltzer with fruit juice, and carob can be helpful.

Lack of Calorie

Calories are a unit of measurement for energy in food. Your body requires a steady supply of energy in the form of food. Your blood sugar levels will drop if you haven’t eaten in a long time. Your body responds by releasing hormones that tell your brain you’re hungry. These same hormones can raise your blood pressure and constrict your blood vessels, resulting in a headache.

Symptoms of calorie deficiency

  • Weakness
  • Hair loss
  • Inability to get pregnant
  • Constant hunger
  • Insomnia or Hypersomnia
  • Irritability
  • Constant low body temperature
  • Constipation
  • Anxiety
Why We Get Hunger and Thirst Headaches
Why We Get Hunger and Thirst Headaches

 

Treatment of hunger and thirst headaches

A hunger headache is normally relieved by eating and drinking water. If you’re suffering from caffeine withdrawal, a cup of tea or coffee might help.

Keep in mind that your body may need 15 to 30 minutes to adapt and rebuild its blood sugar stores. If you have a history of hypoglycemia or believe your blood sugar is very low, you will need to consume something high in sugar, such as fruit juice or soda. Only make sure to eat some protein afterward.

Some home remedies for the Hunger headache you may try

  • Drink water
  • The use of magnesium citrate in the form of an oral supplement(600mg) decreased the frequency and severity of migraine headaches.
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Get adequate sleep and maintain a sleep cycle
  • Avoid high histamine-containing foods such as; cheeses, fermented food, beer, wine, smoked fish, and cured meats.
  • Take Vit-B complex
  • Apply ice pack on head
  • Drinking a cup of coffee may help
  • Relax in a quiet dark room
  • Try yoga
  • Drink ginger tea
  • Take NSAID OTC drugs

How to prevent the hunger and thirst headache

Hunger headaches, unlike other forms of headaches, are relatively simple to avoid. Avoid missing meals if at all necessary. If you don’t have time for a whole meal during the day, break it up into smaller portions.

When you go out or know you’ll be busy, have portable snacks on your hands, such as energy bars or trail mix packs. To keep your blood sugar steady, choose foods that you can consume quickly.

Throughout the day, drink plenty of water. Are you unsure if you’re getting enough water? If your urine is pale yellow, you’re most likely hydrated. If it’s dark yellow or even brownish, though, it’s time to get some water.

If you regularly experience headaches as a result of caffeine withdrawal, you may gradually reduce the coffee intake instead of instant removal.

Why We Get Hunger and Thirst Headaches
Why We Get Hunger and Thirst Headaches

Few Last Words

Thirty percent of people experience a headache when they are hungry. Having snacks on hand and eating meals at regular intervals will help if you suffer from hunger headaches.

If you’re getting hunger headaches multiple days a week, it’s worth checking in with your doctor. They might advise you to make dietary changes or monitor your blood sugar levels more regularly.

Try not to take any medication without consulting a doctor.

Learn about Migraine vs tension headache.

Learn about Headache on the top of the head.

Learn about Dizziness when waking up.

Last Updated on February 23, 2022 by Learn From Doctor Team

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