Can you get headaches from dehydration

You will likely not feel facial pain or pressure, as you would with a sinus headache. Dehydration can occur because thirst is not always a reliable early indicator of your body asking for water. Since dehydration is the root cause of your headache, it is important to rehydrate as well as relieve the pain.

Therefore, to treat the dehydration you should:. To treat the pain and get fast relief, you can take over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Prevention is the best treatment for a dehydration headache. The simple act of remembering to drink enough water can allow you to avoid unpleasant headaches and any medical interventions. So plan ahead and make sure you have water with you and drink it in your everyday routine. Make sure you hydrate in advance of any sporting or active event and see if you can avoid being outside during the hottest times of the day.

Taking this proactive approach to prevention before you feel thirst is the best way to reduce the likelihood of suffering from a dehydration headache. Medical research has shown that drinking sufficiently can at least reduce the intensity and duration of dehydration headaches. Drinking water should make you feel better within about half an hour, although for some people it may take as long as three hours.

You or your companions will know your dehydration is severe if you are experiencing further symptoms, such as:. You should also talk to a doctor if you have dehydration headaches occurring more than occasionally, just to rule out other underlying causes. Did you know you can get affordable primary care with the K Health app?

Download K to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed text with a doctor in minutes. Paz has two degrees in chemistry from Harvard and earned his medical degree from Columbia University. Do not take more than recommended dose, as this may be harmful, including serious harm to your liver. If you have liver disease, talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen. You keep going despite the drought in your mouth until, suddenly, pain radiates across your forehead.

Learn more below. A dehydration headache is exactly what it sounds like: a headache caused by a lack of fluids in the body. Headaches are a common symptom of dehydration, even if it is only mild to moderate. In fact, being dehydrated can also trigger other types of headaches, including migraines. Every day, our body is stuck in a battle to retain the right balance of water and electrolytes, to make sure it can function properly. If your body does become dehydrated, you may experience a variety of different symptoms, including increased thirst, a dry mouth, dark colored urine, fatigue or dizziness — and, of course, a headache.

If you experience a dehydration headache, it is because your body has lost too much fluid. Because headaches are a common symptom of many different conditions, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out whether the pain in your head is being caused by dehydration or by something else.

Pinpointing the location of your headache pain may offer some clues. Dehydration headaches may cause pain on all sides of your head, while a migraine may only cause intense pain on one side of the head and will often be accompanied by symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or light and sound sensitivity.

Another simple way to identify a dehydration headache is to check for other common dehydration symptoms. If you suspect that you have a dehydration headache, you will likely also experience some or all of these symptoms in addition to your headache: 2.

You probably already know the laundry list of reasons why drinking water is essential for our everyday health: it helps flush out toxins, regulates our body temperature, protects important tissues and joints in the body, and much more. Yes, the first thing to do if you feel dehydration pain sweeping across your forehead is to reach for some water to help replace those lost fluids and balance electrolytes.

Many sports drinks are high in sugar or salt and will not adequately restore your electrolyte balance. In fact, some of these drinks may actually increase your dehydration. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. However, this may change depending on your body size, environment or the amount that you exercise daily.

Learn more about headache prevention techniques. Of course, the first step to getting rid of your dehydration headache is drinking water. For some, headache relief starts in 15 minutes — so you can get back to your day fast. When your head is pounding, ice is your friend.

A gel ice pack is generally the most comfortable option. You can usually buy these ice packs with a cover that straps around your forehead. You can also easily make your own. Many people find that crushed ice cubes make for a homemade ice pack that lies better on their forehead.

Put the ice in a plastic bag, place it on your head, and lie down someplace dark and quiet. How to make a cold compress ». If you know that dehydration is a headache trigger for you, try taking some of the following steps to prevent it:. A headache is pain or discomfort that occurs in or around your head, including your scalp, sinuses, or neck.

Nausea is a type of discomfort in your…. Being dehydrated can negatively affect your body and brain. Here are 7 evidence-based health benefits of drinking water. Dehydration takes place when your body loses more fluid than you drink. The most common cause of water loss from the body is excessive sweating. Is there a link between low testosterone levels and headaches in men and women? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Recognizing a Dehydration Headache. Dehydration headache symptoms.