Having a headache after eating something is a relatively common complaint which many people suffer from. There are many reasons for having a headache after eating, some of them serious and some of them much less so.
There are plenty of causes for a headache after eating and here are just some of the possible causes of headaches after eating:
Food Triggers
There are many food triggers which could be the cause of headache after eating. If you eat sweets, there is a huge likelihood you’ll get a headache. Foods which trigger headaches include anything which contains the chemical tyramine such as cheeses, processed meat, nuts and red wine.
Additive Triggers
If you eat foods that are high in additives chances are you are going to have a painful headache after eating them. You may get a headache after eating sweets as the additives cause increased blood flow to the brain and for some people, this results in a headache
“Brain Freeze”
The feeling known as “brain freeze” is a headache caused by eating cold foods or drinking cold drinks. As you ingest these items, the blood flow to your brain is cooled giving you a short painful headache that feels like “brain freeze”.
Medical condition
You may be diagnosed with a condition called Trigeminal neuralgia. This condition is characterized by extreme head and face pain when you are eating. You cannot treat this condition over the counter so if you are experiencing these symptoms please contact your doctor. The headaches you experience with Trigeminal neuralgia may be accompanied by headache eye pain.
If you are a diabetes sufferer there is a chance you may experience specific headaches after eating. Diabetes headache after eating can be due to eating too much and your blood sugars rising too high, too quickly. If you are somebody who has diabetes you need to watch what you eat and avoid too much starch. It’s the starch that actually causes the headaches in people with diabetes but it’s nearly impossible to avoid all starch as it is in most foods.
Obviously, if you’re experiencing headaches you want to find a cure. How to treat a headache is dependent on many things. There are many different treatments from headaches and they can be split into three groups: over the counter, home remedies and prescriptions:
Over the counter: there are many medications you can buy over the counter for headaches including paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen. There are stronger strength painkillers for which you will need to consult your pharmacist personally.
Prescriptions: If you are having headaches which are considered serious enough to be called migraines you may be able to get help from your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe a range of treatments including anti-inflammatory medication and anti-sickness medication as these headaches are often accompanied by dizziness or sickness. Consult your doctor for more advice
Home remedies: there are many home remedies for headaches. These include aromatherapy, exercise, massage and both hot and cold compress packs. If you avoid the foods which trigger headaches you’ve also got a chance of avoiding the pain.
Headaches after eating are really common problem and we have discussed their causes as well as their treatment. However, please remember if your symptoms are severe always consult your doctor if you have a headache behind eyes or a headache behind eye.