Does caffeine help relieve headaches?

According to the BBC, in small, carefully controlled doses, caffeine can help painkillers work more effectively.

Caffeine is a pain reliever, meaning it can enhance the effects of headache medication - Photo: FREEPIK

However, the prerequisite is that you should not consume too much caffeine each day.

Headaches are something almost everyone experiences at some point. The pain can last from a few minutes to several days – from throbbing, dull, throbbing, sometimes radiating from the head to the scalp, face, or even neck.

Katy Munro, a general practitioner and specialist at the National Migraine Centre in the UK, says headaches are rarely a sign of a serious illness. However, if it's "your first or worst headache ever, see a doctor for a checkup."

According to Dr. Munro, caffeine is a pain reliever, meaning it can enhance the effects of headache medication.

But she advised avoiding use in the afternoon and evening so as not to disrupt sleep.

Additionally, you should also consider your overall caffeine intake. Drinking too much caffeine daily can cause caffeine abuse headaches. If you stop abruptly, you may experience caffeine withdrawal headaches.

She warned that you should avoid "any medications containing codeine" because they can make headaches more frequent and worsen symptoms like nausea. "Pain relievers can be very effective, but that depends on how severe the headache is."

If headaches become more frequent or severe, consult a doctor for a check-up and find a more suitable medication. Avoid using painkillers more than two days a week, which can reduce the risk of headaches caused by overuse.

Understanding your own headaches is crucial, as these headaches often don't have a single cause. Keeping a headache journal can help identify recurring patterns and triggers.

When experiencing a headache, keep a record of what you were doing when the headache started, what you ate or drank, whether you slept well, and what the weather was like at the time. For women, track your menstrual cycle, as headaches can be related to hormonal changes.

However, you don't need to take excessive notes. Instead, keep it simple and rate it on a scale of one to ten to summarize how much the headache is affecting you.

You can also record the number of days with absolutely no headaches, not just the bad ones. Your doctor can review this data to help identify recurring conditions.

DAWN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/caffeine-giup-giam-dau-dau-20251107225610938.htm