Dehydration headache – Can lack of water cause headaches?

Human body is made of 70% up of water. Even a 1% fall in the level can leave the body severely dehydrated. Lack of water is one of the primary causes of chronic dehydration in the body. But why? The reason for this is that a lack of water leads to a reduction in humidity. When there is less humidity, it can cause your brain to overheat. This can lead to frequent dehydration headaches, and migraines if left untreated. 

 

Chronic dehydration, also known as osmotic dehydration, occurs when your cells lose water and nutrients over time, causing them to shrink and partially dry up. When this happens to your brain, it’s a chronic headache. Without enough water flowing through your body, your brain can’t process water-soluble nutrients efficiently. And because of this, your brain doesn’t receive enough essential minerals and vitamins to maintain normal nerve function and reduce pain signals. 

 

Even though a lack of water causes headaches, there are ways you can fix it without calling a professional. Read on to learn more about how a lack of water causes headaches and the natural remedies you can use at home.

 

What is a headache?

 

Headache is typically felt tight pain across the head and neck, which can be very frequent. It can be mild or severe and come in different forms. The most common type of headache is tension or migraine, which is caused mainly by stress and can be relieved with medications. There are many types of headaches, and they may occur at different times of the day or in various environments.

 

Head injury, brain inflammation, or another disorder can cause other headaches. Many reasons, including increased blood pressure, a sinus infection, low blood sugar, high blood pressure, and low oxygen levels in the brain, can cause a headache.

What is important to note is that headaches are often caused by dehydration. Lack of water in the body can lead to headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle pain. Lack of water in your body can cause a headache because the fluids in the head are essential for the brain. These fluids help to keep the brain and spinal cord moist and lubricated, which helps to protect your brain from injury.

 

Although many factors may cause them, the main reason for them is increased pressure on the cranial nerves. Generally, headaches are classified as primary headaches, normally due to a problem with the brain, and secondary headaches, which occur due to a problem with other tissues in the body.

 

What Are The Causes of Headaches? 

 

There are many reasons why you may experience frequent headaches. The most common ones are stress, intense exercise, dehydration, poor lifestyle habits, and poor sleep. 

 

Below are some of the most common causes of headaches: - 

Dehydration: This is caused due to insufficient water intake in the body. When your body does not get enough water, it starts to lose minerals and salts from the body. This causes an imbalance in the body and results in frequent headaches. 

 

Exercise: This is one of the common reasons for frequent headaches. When you exercise for a long time, your blood pressure rises. This causes increased pressure in the arteries. This causes a build-up of sodium and other minerals. 

 

Stress: This is a common cause of frequent headaches.

When you are under stress, the body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones block the production of serotonin in the brain, which is the major cause of headaches. 

 

Insomnia: Lack of proper sleep can also trigger headaches. When we sleep, our body and brain both relax and rejuvenate; however, when either of them does not get proper rest, it may hinder the regular course of life as headaches. 

 

Poor lifestyle: The world now has more virtual than physical presence. Indulging in activities like smoking, consuming alcohol, irregular sleeping patterns, inadequate water, and food intake, not sleeping early, or not eating a proper diet can irritate the body's internal system, thus leading to headaches.

 

Dehydration and headaches

 

The majority of the population in the country is not getting enough water or isn’t conscious of staying hydrated, which is why many people suffer from low blood pressure, dizziness, and headaches. Lack of water in the body can cause your blood pressure to rise, leading to frequent headaches and dizziness. 

Another reason why lack of water causes headaches is that it affects your brain’s blood flow. When there is insufficient water in the brain, your brain will send signals to your cerebrum to increase blood flow to your body’s head. When you have a headache and are dehydrated, your cerebrum will receive more blood, causing dizziness. 

The first thing you can do to prevent frequent headaches caused by a lack of water is to drink more water. You should drink eight cups of water per day to prevent headaches. If you have a headache, try drinking water before the pain disappears. You can also try drinking water with lemon or cucumber to prevent headaches.

 

Dehydration headache symptoms: 

 

A dehydration headache happens when your body is dehydrated (i.e., doesn't get enough fluids to sustain). Dehydration headaches often appear along with other symptoms of dehydration, including dizziness, extreme thirst, and a dry mouth. However, the pain usually subsides after drinking water, resting, and taking pain relief medication.

A mild case of dehydration may also cause dehydration headaches. Other symptoms can include:

• Thirst

• Dry or sticky mouth

• Not urinating much

• Dark yellow urine

• Cool, dry skin

• Muscle cramps

 

How Does a Lack of Water Cause Headaches?

 

Humidity is a measure of the amount of water in the air. When there is more humid air, it is easier to feel relaxed. On the other hand, if there is less moist air, you may feel anxious and agitated because the air is much drier. Lack of water in the body can cause headaches because it can cause an increase in your blood pressure and blood volume. When your blood volume increases, you can become dizzy and faint if your blood pressure is too high. 

 

When you live in a dry environment, it can negatively affect your health. First, it can cause frequent headaches and migraines if left untreated. Second, it can also cause harm to your skin and eyes. Most of the time, lack of water causes headaches due to the reduction in humidity. In this case, your brain gets irritated because there is less water to cool it down. This causes intense pain. This is especially dangerous when you are dehydrated. If you have a headache and are also dehydrated, you will have an increased risk of fainting. This is because the brain is most concentrated in your head, and if you become dehydrated, your blood volume will increase in this area, causing dizziness and dizziness. Lack of water in your body can also cause headaches because it can affect your brain’s blood flow. When the brain is not getting enough fluids, it will send signals to your cerebrum (where your brain is located) to increase blood flow to the rest of your body. If your head is not receiving enough water, the rest of your body will begin to feel the effects, including your head.

 

How to get rid of dehydration headaches –

 

If you are looking for natural remedies for headaches, remember that a lack of water can cause headaches. Make sure you drink enough water to prevent headaches, and try these remedies to help you. 

 

Take a warm shower. 

A warm shower is a natural remedy that can be used to increase brain blood flow and reduce headaches caused by low blood flow. You can also light a few mild-scented candles (lemongrass, lavender, rosemary) to get better results. This will help increase blood flow to your head and relieve headaches. 

 

Make herbal tea:

Drinking herbal tea is another method to increase brain blood flow. Herbal teas are made using flowers, leaves, or roots and can be added to hot water to steep. Herbal teas can prevent headaches caused by low brain blood flow. Some examples of herbal teas that can be used to prevent headaches include basil, ginger, peppermint, chamomile, clove, lavender, etc. 

 

Use turmeric:

Turmeric has been used as a medicine for thousands of years and is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. It can be added to water and consumed daily for preventative purposes. 

 

Use coconut oil:

Coconut oil is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and has been used for centuries to prevent infections and reduce pain. It can be consumed daily as a preventative measure or gently massaged on the scalp.

 

Use essential oils:

Essential oils are natural compounds extracted from plants and can be used in place of herbs. Some examples of essential oils that can be used to prevent headaches include eucalyptus, peppermint, and cinnamon. 

 

A spoonful of honey:

This natural food product has been used for centuries to treat headaches. The best thing about honey is its anti-inflammatory properties that can help you get rid of your headaches. You can take a spoonful of honey and warm it up by mixing it with a little water. Now, pour the honey water into a cup and drink it. The best time to take honey is right after a meal when your stomach is full. 

 

Eat grapes: 

Grapes are a great source of vitamins and minerals that can help you eliminate headaches. You should take grapes before bed and ensure you don’t eat any grapes immediately before going to sleep. You should take this remedy for 1-2 weeks and then slowly stop. You should also make sure to drink enough water while taking this remedy. 

 

Try flaxseed: 

This is rich in fiber and can help you get rid of headaches. You can take a spoonful of flaxseed and mix it with a cup of water. Now, drink it before bed, and you will be good to go. The best thing about this remedy is that it works fast. You can also take this remedy while on a diet.

 

Try Apple Cider Vinegar:  

It is rich in minerals and vitamins that can help you eliminate headaches. You can take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and mix it with a cup of water. Now, drink it before bed, and you will be good to go. The best thing about this remedy is that it works fast. You can also take this remedy while on a diet. 

 

Use humidity: 

Humidity can be added to your home or used in a neti pot to increase blood flow to your head. A neti pot is used to irrigate your nasal cavity with water to increase blood flow to the brain. 

Or you can also add humidifiers that can add moisture to the air in your home and increase brain blood flow.

 

 

Summary

Most people do not drink sufficient amounts of water, which can lead to frequent headaches and dizziness. If you are experiencing frequent headaches, it may be because you are dehydrated. Water is important for a healthy brain and can be used to prevent and treat headaches. If you are experiencing frequent headaches, you can try one of these remedies to increase blood flow to your head and treat your condition