Millions of people live with the pain of headaches either occasionally or on a regular basis, and there are many causes. Treatment involves identifying underlying medical conditions. In addition, for some patients it may be necessary to make lifestyle changes to reduce triggers, which can include controlling caffeine intake. The first step is to talk to a physician about what is causing the headache and any possible effect caffeine may be having on the symptoms.
Identification
Caffeine is a substance that is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and certain medicines. It stimulates the central nervous system to create feelings of alertness. Everyone's sensitivity to caffeine is different, and some people can drink two to four cups a day and have no negative effects, while others consume less and have symptoms. Ingesting any amount of caffeine can lead to restlessness, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, headaches, abnormal heart rhythms and many other symptoms, states the Medline Plus website. In addition, trying to cut back on caffeine can lead to withdrawal side effects, which can cause many of the above symptoms as well. However, there are also cases where caffeine can help manage headaches.
Benefits
According to the American Headache Society, for some patients short-term use of caffeine may stop headache pain. Caffeine is the key ingredient in many headache medications. It works in part because it increases the body's ability to absorb medication. In addition, when a headache occurs, the brain releases a substance called adenosine, which attaches to receptors on the cells, causing the sensation of pain. Caffeine can block these receptors, reducing the effectiveness of adenosine. While much more research is needed to understand how caffeine can help, it appears that it is only effective in patients who consume caffeine occasionally. Those who consume caffeine daily do not seem to benefit from this treatment. Caffeine, when used to treat headaches, should be limited to two days per week, because more can lead to dependency.
Warnings
For some patients, caffeine has the opposite effect and makes headaches worse. It can lead to sleeplessness and fatigue, which in itself can trigger a headache. Headaches are also a symptom of caffeine withdrawal. Headaches can occur within 12 to 24 hours after the last intake of caffeine, says the American Pain Foundation. As caffeine is eliminated from the body, the blood vessels within the brain can swell and contribute to a headache. Headaches can also occur in those who ingest caffeine during the week and then go all weekend without any caffeine. These types of headaches may be relieved by ingesting 100mg of caffeine or an analgesic that contains caffeine. To help reduce the risk of withdrawal headaches, it is best to slowly reduce the amount of caffeine consumed. It can take take a month or more to fully eliminate it from the diet. While withdrawal headaches are less common in those who consume less than four cups per day, when daily consumption reaches over 500mg -- or about five cups of coffee -- the risk rises.
Solution
The first step is to consult with a medical provider about using caffeine as a treatment or to learn how to eliminate caffeine without causing symptoms. When trying to cut back, the key is to do so slowly. MayoClinic.com recommends making a cup of coffee with half caffeinated coffee and half decaf. Then slowly increase the amount of decaf that is in the cup until it is completely caffeine free. Try cutting back by one cup of coffee or caffeinated soda every few days. Herbal caffeinated teas that are brewed for only half the recommended time also contain only half of the caffeine content. Be aware of foods, such as chocolate, that contain caffeine and speak to a physician about any medications being taken that have caffeine in them.
Member Comments