The Link Between Caffeine And Headaches

Caffeine and headaches have a complex relationship. In fact, caffeine can either relieve or cause headaches, depending on how often and in what amounts we consume it.

It stimulates the central nervous system and is a major ingredient in some soft drinks, sports drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate and others. Therefore, it is estimated that nearly 80% of all adults consume it regularly.

Caffeine can help relieve headaches.

 
The pain we experience with headaches, and migraines in particular, is usually caused by dilation of blood vessels, which increases the amount of blood flow to the brain. This change in blood flow triggers a number of complex mechanisms in the brain that can lead to headaches. Caffeine narrows these blood vessels and is known to have "vasoconstrictive" properties. This means that the substance constricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the brain, and as a result can help relieve migraine pain.

For example, a 2009 study published in the Human Brain Mapping Journal found that caffeine reduced cerebral blood flow (the blood supply to the brain) by an average of 27%. In this way, caffeine can stop the development of migraines, as well as relieve pain once it occurs.

Caffeine can also help relieve headaches by improving the effectiveness of pain medications. In fact, it is a key ingredient in headache medications because it helps us absorb the active ingredients in the medications.

A 2017 review, published in The Journal of Headache and Pain, examines the results of seven different controlled studies on patients suffering from migraine or tension-induced headaches over a period of 40 years. Researchers have found that over-the-counter pain medications containing caffeine work faster and more effectively than just pain medications.

However, not everything is clear about this close link between caffeine and headaches. Another study from 2016, published in the Journal of Headache Pain, found that when migraine patients stopped taking caffeine (after drinking it every day), drugs called triptans became more effective.

According to the American Migraine Foundation, if we suffer from occasional migraines - up to 14 headaches a month, caffeine can help, but only if we limit it to no more than 200 mg per day. Anything above increases the risk of developing more episodes of headache or migraine. And if the headache is a daily affliction, we need to completely eliminate caffeine, advise the National Headache Foundation.

Caffeine can also cause headaches.

Drinking a lot of caffeine will not help relieve the headache. For example, if we increase caffeine intake but do not increase the daily dose of water, indirectly caffeine can cause headaches and dehydration. In addition, frequent consumption of caffeine can lead to addiction.

If we suddenly stop or reduce our caffeine intake after taking it regularly - usually more than 200 mg a day for more than 2 weeks, experts say we will experience one of the main symptoms of stopping - headaches.

This is because caffeine narrows the blood vessels around the brain and dilates as it stops. This causes a significant increase in blood flow to the brain and this is exactly what can lead to migraine headaches. Therefore, caffeine needs to be reduced gradually.

According to the American Migraine Foundation, it is possible to avoid the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal by gradually reducing your intake to just 25 mg of caffeine per day.

How much caffeine should you consume to relieve a headache?

Moderate, experts add. The exact amount is less than 400 mg of caffeine per day, which is about two to four cups of coffee a day, depending on how the coffee is made and how strong it is.