Dehydration headaches: how to identify them and what you can do to relieve them and, above all, prevent them

When headaches hit, you want to do everything you can to get relief quickly. And if there is a quick and easy solution to your pain, so much the better. It turns out that doing something as simple as drinking enough water can help stave off headaches — at least when you're dealing with dehydration-related headaches. . Even though it's not a medical term, dehydration headaches are common, and doctors say they see patients who suffer from them regularly. But what is a dehydration headache and how do you know if you're experiencing one? .

And unfortunately, even mild dehydration can lead to headaches. When you are dehydrated, the brain tends to contract or shrink inside the skull. This puts considerable pressure on the cranial nerves and some tension on the meninges, which is the layer that covers the brain and has many nerves. This can lead to headaches. There is no precise level of dehydration that causes a headache, say neurologists, each person is different, but dehydration makes the whole body less resilient.

In fact, they're very common, with a headache being one of the first symptoms you can experience when you're dehydrated, apart from dry mouth and feeling thirsty. The reason is that people don't realize how little fluids they sometimes end up consuming in a day. When you drink water because you're thirsty, you already have some level of dehydration, and depending on how your body reacts to it, headaches are most likely the next sign. Every person is different. Dehydration most often leads to mild tension-type headaches, but sometimes dehydration can trigger a more severe headache, such as a migraine.

These headaches usually involve the whole head, not just a specific area. And it's also typically a dull, continuous pain that can last for hours. At a basic level, dehydration is caused by not drinking enough fluids or losing more fluids than you take in. Here are some of the most common causes of dehydration: Even though it seems like a no-brainer, experts say it's important to do everything you can to make sure you're getting optimal fluid intake. Everyone's hydration needs are different and can depend on age, activity level, and whether you're pregnant or breastfeeding, but doctors suggest you aim to reach the following goals (for the fluids you drink): But certain medications you take, .

If you notice that you tend to experience dehydration headaches after intense exercise, pay attention to how much you drink during and after your workouts. Drinks with electrolytes can help, preventing headaches caused by dehydration. Again, drinking more water should help. But if your headache is more severe, you can take paracetamol. Try to avoid drinks with a lot of sugar as they draw water from your tissues and can dehydrate you further.

And coffee is dehydrating so limit yourself to a cup or two a day to prevent dehydration and the associated headache. .