Stress during office hours is considered to be a major and popular reason which office goers think leads to a headache. Well that may be the case but is definitely not the only reason which causes headache. We at times forget very simple things like our water intake which can also lead to a headache. Yes, it is called “Dehydration Headache”.
What is dehydration headache?
We require a minimum amount of daily water intake for our body to perform its daily functions. A proper balance of fluids and electrolytes is required for body to function properly. Also, we can’t forget that body loses water continuously through daily activities whether it’s climbing stairs, urinating, sweating due to various reasons etc.
When the rate of loss of body water exceeds the intake than it creates a starting base for dehydration. And if the person is not able to balance the loss of water by drinking enough water, the body gets dehydrated. When dehydration happens, the brain temporarily contract or say shrink due to fluid loss and this whole mechanism causes the brain to pull away from the skull, causing pain and resulting in a dehydration headache.
Dehydration headache can be felt at any part of the head whether front, back, side or overall and it at times feels like sinus a migraine too.
How to make sure it’s a dehydration headache?
Well, I can provide you tips to diagnose dehydration but remember we cannot be a doctor ourselves. So, if you experience that headache is recurring and not residing away even after proper nutrition and water management, you must consult a doctor.
If you experience symptoms like dry throat, extreme thirst, reduced number of urination or dark colored urine, fatigue, dizziness, loss of skin conditioning than it’s because of dehydration. And if following symptoms comes with a headache than you can be pretty sure it’s because of dehydration. Some people may only experience a headache when they are severely dehydrated and for some that may not be the case.
How to manage dehydration headache?
For getting relief from a dehydration headache one needs to prevent dehydration or reverse that condition and help body regain normalcy. In order to manage dehydration headache, one need to take care of following pointer:
- Increase your water intake and drink water immediately if you experience dehydration. Apart from this make sure, you aim to drink 4-5 liters of water daily.
- Manage or replace lost electrolytes due to water loss by taking electrolyte drink such as ORS or sports drink.
- Sit in a cool environment for sometime to avoid excess sweating.
- Avoid excess physical activity for the time being you don’t get the relief. It will help to avoid excess sweating.
- Focus on eating fluid rich foods such as fruits, vegetables that have good water content. Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol as that will only help dehydration process.
Having said that, it’s always advisable to get a diagnose done by a physician/expert if you are not getting relief from the symptoms. Stay healthy, stay active!
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