Decoding Hydration: Natural Remedies to Ward Off Headaches
Throbbing cranium, impaired concentration, and an overall feeling of discomfort - these are the dreaded signatures of the common but debilitating headache. But did you know that your intake of water could play a significant role in your frequency and resilience to these nasty intruders? Adequate hydration is an important defense against many health adversities (1). And it's true in avoiding and responding to headaches, even migraines (2). Let's dive into the connection between hydration and headaches, decode the symptoms of dehydration-induced headaches, and explore preventative strategies.
Understanding the Connection between Hydration and Headaches
Water is more than a thirst-quencher. It plays an indispensable role in carrying nutrients to cells, eliminating waste from the body, and, notably for the topic at hand, ensuring optimal brain function. A well-hydrated brain, surrounded by a cushion of fluid, helps ward off the onset of headaches. While the exact reasoning behind dehydration contributing to headaches is not known, it's believed that dehydration may cause tension on the membrane surrounding the brain (the meninges) which may contribute to a headache (15).
Indeed, scientists concur with what mothers have often advised - staying hydrated can keep the headaches away (2). Medical research illustrates that dehydration may increase the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines in many people (2). Electrolytes facilitate essential brain functions, such as transmitting nerve signals (4). Electrolyte levels moving out of the normal ranges in periods of dehydration can also contribute to the onset of a headache (4, 5).
Identifying Dehydration-Induced Headaches and Ways to Counteract
Dehydration-induced headaches can exhibit various symptoms. Typically, these headaches are characterized by a dull pain, usually felt at the front or back of the head, or over the entire head (13). They often have a telltale signature - getting worse when you move, whether that be walking, bending over, or even moving your head rapidly (13). Then, there are more familiar signs of dehydration like excessive thirst, dark-colored urine, dry mouth, scanty or infrequent urination, fatigue, and feeling dizzy or light-headed (14). The immediate remedy to quell this discomfort arising from dehydration is simple (13). Drink water - plentiful and steadily. Rehydrating your body may alleviate the headache and this is achieved by drinking a sufficient amount of water. Generally, if you're dehydrated, slowly sipping half to one liter of water will suffice for rehydration, and the body usually takes about an hour to deeply absorb a large glass of water (15).
In addition, consuming fluids rich in electrolytes, such as sports drinks or natural alternatives like coconut water, can assist in swiftly replacing lost salts and getting your system back in equilibrium (12). The volume of electrolytes your body needs per day will vary based on your diet, physical activity level, and overall health. In general terms, a healthy adult's daily requirement of essential electrolytes would be comparable to the sodium found in half a teaspoon of salt (9), the magnesium in a handful of almonds (10) and potassium eaten across a wide variety of foods to reach the daily recommended intake (2600mg for adult women and 3400mg for adult men) (11).
However, prevention certainly trumps cure. Modifying your lifestyle to incorporate adequate hydration can help control the incidence and severity of such headaches (1). But let's remember change is hard, even when it comes to small things. How does one embrace these changes with small changes to one's lifestyle?
Effective Hydration Strategies for Headache Prevention
Staying hydrated is more than merely drinking water when thirsty. It's a proactive habit we all need to nurture. Ensuring you consume enough water throughout the day is a powerful ally in preventing and reducing the severity of headaches (1). An often-heard rule of thumb is to have about 8 glasses of water every day, but like all rules of thumb, the details of the individual and their lifestyle matter, consequently listening to your body and observing the environment is extremely important (6).
But keeping your hydration levels up isn't limited to the water intake alone. Integrating a diet rich in fluid-filled foods like cucumber, melons, oranges, salads, and soups can significantly boost your hydration quota. Beverages such as decaf tea, diluted fruit juices, and milk also add to the body's hydration levels (6).
Signs of dehydration such as yellow or dark-colored urine, dry mouth or thirst, are signals for immediate replenishment of water (7). Paying attention to these warnings, making sure you hydrate sufficiently may prevent the onset of a headache or reduce its severity (1).
Certain environments or situations can expedite dehydration - scorching heat, high altitudes, strenuous exercise, or even during an illness with high fever, diarrhea, or vomiting (8). By recognizing these scenarios, and consciously increasing fluid intake during these times, one can hold the fort effectively against dehydration-induced headaches.
There is an intrinsic link between hydration and headaches (1). "Am I well hydrated?" should be on the checklist for addressing a headache and close to the top of that list. On the prevention front, be mindful of the body's dehydration signals and adopt a proactive approach to maintain our hydration levels.
The frequency of reaching for that water bottle, even when life gets busy, becomes a powerful, natural, and easy-to-follow method to maintain baseline conditions to keep headaches at bay. Drinking to health was never truer!
Disclaimer: The information provided is for general informational purposes and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual hydration needs can vary, please consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
References
1. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/the-importance-of-hydration/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32446809/
3. https://fayazneurosurgery.com/how-dehydration-affects-your-brain/
4. https://science.drinklmnt.com/electrolytes/why-your-brain-needs-electrolytes/
5. https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html
6. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-glasses-of-water-per-day
7. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/nutritional/dehydration/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK231133/
9. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sodium-per-day#recommendations
10. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/magnesium/
11. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/potassium/
12. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/electrolytes-drinks
13. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21517-dehydration-headache 14. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-rehydrate#faq
15. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/can-dehydration-cause-headaches