Eli5 how does caffeine help relieve migraine/headaches?
In: Biology
The exact mechanism that causes migraines is not known but what is known is many of the symptoms and pain are caused by vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels in the brain.
This increase of blood flow is what causes the visual and auditory auras and sensitivity associated with migraines. Essentially your brain is working overtime.
Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, it shrinks your arteries and reduces blood flow. It’s not nearly as powerful as the prescription medication you can get for Migraines, but it works faster.
So consuming caffeine can help take the edge off a headache and migraine, and lessen the impact until another medication can kick in.
The counter argument is that caffeine is addictive, and caffeine withdrawal can trigger headaches in the first place.
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