How much water to drink to get rid of a headache

If you're worried about your or someone else's hydration status, here are the 5 best ways to rehydrate quickly.

1. Water. ...
2. Coffee and tea. ...
3. Skim and low fat milk. ...
4. 4. Fruits and vegetables. ...
5. Oral hydration solutions.

How much is too much water?

How do you know if your headache is dehydration?

When is a headache serious?

How much water does it take to rehydrate?

It's recommended to drink at least 64 ounces of water every day. You can also receive the water you need from other beverages, fruits, and vegetables. Drinking coffee and tea in moderation can help contribute to hydration. Caffeine, however, can be extremely dehydrating.

Clinical bottom line: Water intake is a cost effective, non-invasive and low-risk intervention to reduce or prevent headache pain.

Rationale: Chronic mild dehydration may trigger headache. Increased water intake could help. A small trial shows modest benefit; however, a larger methodologically sound randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm efficacy.

Critically appraised paper: Spigt, M., Weerkamp, N., Troost, J., van Schayck, C. P., & Knottnerus, J. A. (2012). 'A randomized trial on the effects of regular water intake in patients with recurrent headaches.' Family practice, 29(4), 370-5. Doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmr112 CLINICAL SCENARIO: Patients from primary care registered as 'headache', 'tension headache' and/or 'migraine' for more than one year who suffer at least two episodes of moderately intense headache or more than four mildly intense episodes of headache per month with a daily fluid intake of less than 2.5 litres per day.

Pico (m): Patient/Problem = Headache > 1 year with 2 moderately intense or 4 mildly intense episodes per month Intervention = 1.5 litres water per day + stress control and sleep hygiene Comparison/Control = stress control and sleep hygiene Outcome = Reduce or eliminate headache Methodology = Therapy RCT Table 1: Final Search Terms TRIP Data Base: hits = 517 used filter Extended Primary research 4 found 1 paper applicable 'Water intake '[MeSH Terms] AND 'Headache '[All Fields]' Best match to PICO, (2012) RCT SELECTION CRITERION AND OVERALL RESULTS: 102 headache patients in16 primary care clinics were randomized into control (n = 50) and intervention groups (n = 52) Inclusion criteria = two > episodes of moderately intense headache or five > mildly intense headaches per month and total fluid intake > 2.5 litres per day, Follow-up @ 3 months. 79% intervention and 66% of controls completed RCT. Drinking more water resulted in a statistically significant improvement of 4.5 (confidence interval: 1.3-7.8) points on Migraine-Specific Quality of Life (MSQOL). 47% in the intervention (water) group self-reported improvement (6 > on a 10-point scale) against 25% in controls. Drinking water did not reduce headache days.

Comments: The transparency from the author of this critically appraised paper enables others to use this study as a teaching tool and to learn from the shortcomings in the trial. The study was underpowered and contains methodological shortcomings. Participants were partially un-blinded during the trial increasing the risk for bias. Only the subjective measures are statistically significant and attrition was significant. The intervention is low risk and of negligible cost. A methodologically sound RCT is recommended to evaluate if the intervention has beneficial effects.

Keywords: critical appraisal training; evidence-based medicine; headache; person-centred medicine; public health; public led online trials.

Headaches are among the most common causes of pain that can negatively affect daily life. But what are the key signs that dehydration might be the cause of the headache?

There are many different kinds of headaches. At least9 out of 10 adultswill experience one at some point in their life.

Some headaches can be easy to treat and avoid. One of those types is a dehydration headache. This article explores what a dehydration headache is, the signs that indicate a person may have one, and how they might treat or prevent it.

What is a dehydration headache?

A dehydration headache can happen when the body does not get enough fluid. Dehydration headaches can be relatively mild or as severe as a migraine headache.

How dehydration triggers headaches

The body requires a balance of fluid and electrolytes to function properly. Electrolytes are minerals such as potassium or sodium that helpregulatedifferent bodily functions. Every day, the body loses water through activities such as sweating and urinating. When this happens, the body also loses electrolytes.

Most of the time, the amount of fluid lost is easily balanced through drinking or eating fluid-rich foods. However, sometimes the body loses water faster than a person can restore the balance. During these times, the body can become dehydrated. This can lead to complications, including dehydration headaches.

When the body is dehydrated, the brain can temporarily contract from fluid loss. This causes the brain to pull away from the skull, causing pain and resulting in a dehydration headache.

Once rehydrated, the brain returns to its usual state, relieving the headache.

Symptoms

A dehydration headache can feel like a dull headache or an intense migraine headache. Pain from a dehydration headache can occur at the front, back, side, or all over the head. Moving the head may cause more pain.

Unlike a sinus headache, a person experiencing a dehydration headache will likely not feel facial pain or pressure. Pain is also unlikely to occur in the back of the neck, as it might with a tension headache.

As dehydration headaches only occur when the body has lost too much fluid, symptoms of dehydration will occur with the headache. These symptoms include:

• extreme thirst
• reduced urination
• dark-colored urine
• confusion
• dizziness
• fatigue
• dry, sticky mouth
• loss of skin elasticity
• low blood pressure
• increased heart rate

Some people may only experience a dehydration headache if they are severely dehydrated. They may experience the above symptoms as well as additional symptoms, such as:

• lack of sweating
• sunken eyes
• fever
• delirium
• unconsciousness
• shriveled skin

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Dehydration headaches only occur when the body has lost too much fluid. Even mild dehydration can cause a dehydration headache.

Dehydration happens when the body does not get enough water to meet its needs. Certain factors can prevent the body from replenishing fluids and electrolytes.

These factors increase the risk of dehydration and include:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• extreme sweating, either from heavy exercise or heat
• fever
• excess urination

Risk factors for dehydration

Anyone can experience dehydration. Most people will experience mild dehydration. However, some individuals are at higher risk, including:

• people who live at higher altitudes
• infants and young children
• elderly people
• people with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and kidney disease
• people who take medications that increase urine output
• endurance athletes or people engaging in strenuous physical activity
• people who live in hot climates

These groups of people should take special care to stay properly hydrated.

Treating a dehydration headache

The best way to relieve a dehydration headache is to address both the pain and the loss of fluid.

If a person has a dehydration headache, they should:

• Increase fluid intake by drinking water or other healthy fluids.
• Suck on ice cubes.
• Replace lost electrolytes with a sports drink.
• Temporarily decrease physical activity and avoid heat to reduce sweating.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.

While the above measures may treat dehydration, it can take a while for this type of headache to go away.

A person may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help manage the pain.

Treating severe dehydration

In certain situations, such as ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, home remedies may not be enough to avoidsevere dehydration. A person may need to go to the hospital for intravenous fluid and salt replacement.

People should seek medical care immediately to prevent serious complications,such as:

• renal failure
• hypotension
• hypokalemia or hyperkalemia
• metabolic acidosis or alkalosis

Preventing a dehydration headache

The best way to prevent a dehydration headache is to avoid dehydration. A person can take the following steps to keep their fluid and electrolyte levels in balance:

• Drink enough fluid: Most people need at least 8 cups of water per day, though some individuals may need more.
• Eat fluid-rich foods: Foods such as cucumbers, other vegetables, and fruits have a high water content.
• Get enough fluid throughout the day: Spreading out the amount of fluid consumed rather than drinking it all at once helps keep the body hydrated.
• Hydrate more during exercise or exposure to hot weather: During times of heavy sweating, such as during heavy exercise or exposure to hot weather, increase water intake. Drinking more water during these times will replenish the extra fluids lost through sweat.
• Treat underlying causes of dehydration: Fevers and infections can cause the body to lose more fluid than usual. Addressing the causes of dehydration while increasing fluid intake can help prevent dehydration.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol: Caffeine and alcohol can both increase urine output, leading to a higher risk of dehydration.
• Reduce strenuous activity during heat or if feeling unwell: Heat and illness can both increase the body’s need for fluids. Heavy exercise can cause extra fluid loss through sweat, which can be dangerous in these situations.

Following these steps should help prevent dehydration headaches.

If a person experiences more than the occasional dehydration headache, they should talk with a healthcare professional to rule out other underlying causes.

Summary

A dehydration headache occurs when the body loses too much fluid and electrolytes.

A person can avoid dehydration by drinking enough water, avoiding dehydrating drinks such as coffee and alcoholic beverages, and staying away from excessive heat.

To treat a dehydration headache involves treating the dehydration by replenishing fluids in the body. In some cases, dehydration can be severe and may require hospitalization.

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