The delicious aroma of fresh coffee tempts many a caffeine lover to begin the day with a shot of espresso, a cup of cappuccino or a "bucket of mud." Coffee's worldwide popularity—and profitability—has prompted fast food chains and cafes to expand their menus of flavorful coffee concoctions. Before you reach for your morning jolt of java, consider your body's reaction to the stimulant. Headaches are common maladies of coffee aficionados, regardless of the amount of caffeine consumed.
Coffee History
According to the National Coffee Association of U.S.A. Inc., coffee was first classified in 1753 by a Swedish botanist, Carolus Linneaus. Coffee is an angiosperm, or flowering plant, of the genus coffea within the rubiaceae family. Coffee drinkers are familiar with commercial blends prepared from two popular species: coffea arabica and coffea robusta. The origin of coffee drinking is somewhat of a mystery. Legend has it that the caffeinated beverage originated in ancient Ethiopia when a herder discovered the stimulant effect of coffee on his goats. The practice of coffee drinking spread to the Arabian peninsula, then to Europe and finally to America in the mid-1600s.
Health Benefits
These are described in a 2005 "Forbes" magazine article by Susan Yara. The author cited research studies conducted at Harvard University's School of Public Health and the University of Scranton to support claims of coffee's role in reducing type 2 diabetes and cancer. The Pennsylvania study, conducted by chemistry professor Joe Vinson gathered widespread media attention in identifying coffee as the leading dietary source of antioxidants—powerful, disease-fighting chemicals—in the United States. Yara noted other purported health benefits of coffee use: the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, gallstones, Parkinson's disease and liver cirrhosis.
The Headaches from Caffeine
Caffeine is the stimulant in coffee that keeps you awake and alert. As with other substances that alter brain chemistry, regulating the dosage to optimize its effect without causing unpleasant side effects can be difficult. Drinking too much or too little coffee can give you a headache. A "Science Daily" article reported the results of an extensive Norwegian survey comparing level of daily coffee consumption to frequency of headaches in 50,483 participants in the mid-1990s. High-level consumers claimed to have only occasional headaches, but low-level consumers complained of chronic headaches.
Caffeine's Effect on Brain Blood Flow
In May 2009, "Science Daily" investigated the relationship between caffeine withdrawal and headaches. The publication discovered a study conducted by the University of Vermont College of Medicine and John Hopkins School of Medicine in which caffeine response was measured using three instruments: electroencephalogram (EEG), ultrasound and self-report. The researchers found that sudden caffeine withdrawal increased brain blood flow and speculated that this biological change could prompt the onset of headache.
Migraine and Caffeine
The Mayo Clinic suggests that migraine headaches emanate from the trigeminal nerve and are prompted by drops in serotonin levels. Serotonin is a pain regulator produced in the brain. Although there is no scientific evidence to show how this occurs, caffeine is listed among many other triggers believed to cause the response.
Controlling Headaches
Avoidance of caffeine might help you reduce or eliminate headaches. You might find better results by using a headache diary as advocated by the Mayo clinicians. Recording such things as frequency of headaches, intensity, time of day, diet, environment and activities could offer valuable insight into what could be triggering your headaches.
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