Across the United States, 80 percent to 90 percent of adults and children consume some form of caffeine every day, according to CNN.com. This substance is found in medications, chocolate, coffee, carbonated beverages and tea, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Although it is associated with mood-lifting and stimulating the nervous system, withdrawal from caffeine can result in headaches.
Significance
Caffeine is a stimulant that activates brain receptors and dilates the blood vessels, causing a person to feel more alert, according to CNN.com. These positive effects can last anywhere from three to five hours, according to the Cleveland Clinic. After the initial high, the blood vessels begin to tighten, which causes withdrawal symptoms, including a headache because of these constricted blood vessels.
Benefits
In some instances, caffeine can be used to treat headaches, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Caffeine is a common ingredient in many headache medications and can cause medications to work 40 percent more effectively. Caffeine helps the body absorb the medication more quickly, meaning headache sufferers are able to experience relief faster.
Symptoms
Caffeine withdrawal can result in a number of adverse symptoms. A headache is one symptom, and others include feelings of fatigue, irritability, sluggishness and difficulty concentrating, according to "Science Daily." In addition to withdrawal, headaches often can come from taking too much medication that contains caffeine, according to the National Headache Foundation.
Solution
If you regularly consume caffeinated beverages or foods and/or take medications containing caffeine, ceasing the caffeine cold turkey can result in severe headaches and other symptoms. The Cleveland Clinic recommends slowly cutting back on daily caffeine intake until you can refrain from consuming caffeine completely without experiencing adverse symptoms. Replace your daily caffeine intake with non-caffeinated items to ease the transition, according to CNN.com.
Considerations
Although caffeine can cause headaches when not consumed by those who regularly do so, it is not considered an addictive or habit-forming substance in the same manner drugs or alcohol can be, according to the National Headache Council. This means caffeine cannot seriously threaten your health, but it can cause troublesome symptoms when you do not consume your regular amount.
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