You get up in the morning, prepare breakfast, make the beds, take your children to school, rush to work and when you arrive your boss gives you a very important task that you have to deliver urgently that same day… With so much hustle and bustle, Lunchtime approaches and you completely forget that you have to eat something to be able to continue performing and fulfilling your obligations.
Hours go by and your stomach is still completely empty. After a while your gut starts to growl and a strong headache overwhelms you completely. “Hunger headache? Is it possible?” you ask. In this article we solve your question. She remains very attentive!
Why does my head hurt when im hungry?
Yes, yes it is possible. Believe it or not, sometimes it can be your head and not your stomach that warns you that it’s time to eat something. Skipping or delaying meals, following unhealthy eating patterns, or going to bed later than usual can cause your blood sugar to drop and your muscles to contract, causing a tension headache.
When the level of sugar in the blood is reduced, the body is in charge of releasing some hormones to counteract those low glucose levels, which can end up leading to a severe headache. This type of migraine does not go away by taking medication, but by giving your body what it asks for: food. Hunger headache medicines will provide temporary relief, but in the long run they will lead to rebound or recurring pain.
How to identify and prevent hunger headache
Symptoms of a hunger-induced tension headache include pain on both sides of the head, pressure in the forehead, discomfort originating in the temples and neck, and tension in the shoulders and face. In addition, headaches caused by low blood sugar are often accompanied by other associated symptoms such as sweating, weakness, fatigue, confusion, dizziness, and/or tremors.
To prevent and reduce your risk of hunger-related headaches, you should establish a regular eating schedule. Avoid skipping that schedule and plan a healthy, balanced diet that is made up mostly of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
In addition, you should try to stay hydrated and limit the consumption of sugar in both drinks and food. If your hunger headaches are very frequent, consider eating several small meals a day instead of three large meals. Another option is to prepare a small healthy snack (not to exceed 100 or 200 calories) and take it between meals.
Very frequent headaches can be a sign that your body is suffering from a more serious health problem. Do not hesitate to consult a doctor if your discomfort worsens and, especially, if it is accompanied by a rash, fever, numbness, blurred or double vision, neck stiffness or speech disturbance. You should also make an appointment to see your doctor if the headaches occur two or more times a week.