Can Dehydration Cause Headache?

Yes, dehydration can result in a headache. In fact, dehydration can cause both types of headaches – sudden or chronic.

A sudden headache due to dehydration can be caused due to any of the following reasons:

* A pressure-like headache is occasionally noticed on neglecting drinking water and more so following a physical exertion and hot weather.
* Migraine results due to headache combined with nausea and light-sensitivity. Skipping meals and drinking less or no water for a day results in Migraine.
* An intense and throbbing headache is experienced on both-sides of head in a hangover. This gets more severe in case of moving around. The other conditions that accompany a hangover are thirst, light sensitivity, diarrhea and extreme tiredness.
* Vomiting, menstrual bleeding, diarrhea, heat stroke and burns result in loss of water from the body resulting in headache.

Causes

Chronic dehydration headache can result due to various conditions like as follows:

* Insufficient drinking of water can result in chronic headache. Not drinking water can lead to dehydration even when physically inactive and cold climates.
* Excessive intake of alcohol or caffeine can lead to water loss in the body.
* Certain drugs like diuretics, calcium channel blockers and antihistamines sometimes lead to water loss.
* Chronic headache is experienced due to dehydration in diseases like diabetes, disorder in adrenal gland and kidneys.

Headache and Other Symptoms of Dehydration

Dehydration has various symptoms other than headache depending on the severity of the condition. A patient with mild dehydration shows signs like excessive thirst, dry mouth and lips, fatigue, constipation and dizziness. The patient also experiences blurry visions, dark colored urine and dry skin.

The symptoms for severe dehydration vary a little. The patient experiences increased heart beat, irritability, low blood pressure, muscle cramps and tingling in limbs. The tongue is swollen and the patient undergoes fits. In some extreme cases of severe dehydration, the patient may get unconscious or even die.

How to Prevent Dehydration Headaches?

To prevent dehydration headaches, one should avoid excess physical work especially in high temperatures. Avoiding excessive intake of caffeine and alcohol can also help. If suffering from chronic headache, maintaining a schedule for meals is necessary.

Treatment of Dehydration Headache

Dehydration headache can be cure depending on its cause. A person with no serious illnesses should try drinking a glass of water on an hourly basis. Avoiding coffee, tea, drinks containing caffeine and alcohol too reduce the headache.

Refer to a medical practitioner in case you experience dehydration headache on top of other diseases of heart and kidney u already have.