Headaches are---well, a real pain. An occasional headache isn't too bothersome, but if you're plagued by chronic headaches of any sort, you may be willing to try just about anything for relief. It would be nice to find a simple remedy for the throbbing, and coffee may just fit the bill.
Headaches
There are several types of headaches. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common is the tension headache, which may feel like a tight band around your head. Migraines tend to affect women more than men, and may be only occur on one side of the head; they may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light. Cluster headaches usually affect one side of the head and may also be accompanied by a runny nose, red eye or droopy eyelid on the affected side. The final kind of headache is called a rebound headache, and can occur from medication use.
Coffee and Headache
While coffee does contain other substances, the best known ingredient is caffeine, and caffeine has been studied for use in headache relief. Headaches respond differently to the various remedies available, but migraines, says the Mayo Clinic, have been found to react to small amounts of caffeine. In a Norwegian study, researchers found that people who drank more coffee tended to have headaches less frequently. They reported their results in the March 2004 issue of "The Journal of Headache and Pain." Another research study reported in the September 2000 issue of "Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics" that caffeine added to the common pain reliever ibuprofen helped relieve tension-type headaches. The combination was found to be more effective than either component alone.
When Coffee is the Problem
While coffee, and the caffeine it contains, can help with headaches, it can also cause problems. Rebound headache is a headache that occurs when caffeine-containing medications are overused for headache. Headaches can also occur from caffeine withdrawal---if you normally drink coffee and stop suddenly, you may develop a headache. The only way to resolve a rebound headache is to stop using the medication entirely, but a caffeine withdrawal headache will usually go away on its own.
Considerations and Warnings
It's important to remember that a headache can be a signal of serious medical problems. The Mayo Clinic recommends you be alert for a sudden, severe headache; headache after any sort of head injury; headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, visual problems, weakness or numbness; pain that gets worse in spite of rest and medication. If you suffer from chronic headaches, it would be wise to consult a healthcare professional.
References
- "The Journal of Headache and Pain"; High Dietary Caffeine Consumption is Associated With a Modest Increase in Headache Prevalence: Results From The Head-HUNT Study; Knut Hagen, et al.; March 2009
- The Mayo Clinic; Chronic Daily Headaches; Mayo Clinic Staff; April 2010
- "Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Ibuprofen Plus Caffeine in the Treatment of Tension-Type Headache; S. Diamond, et al.; September 2000
- Cleveland Clinic; Diseases and Conditions; Caffeine and Headaches; Cleveland Clinic Staff; April 2011
