Why does not eating, or being really hungry, cause headaches?
In: Biology
Hunger headaches are normally attributed to either:
– a low blood sugar or/and
– a muscle tension
Depending on a person effects of hunger may vary drastically (not everyone will even have a headache, affecting factor are vast and diverse).
A l*ow blood sugar* (or rather a quick fall of a blood sugar level as a result of hunger) sometimes cause significant changes in a function of brain blood vessels, which cause a headache.
*A muscle tension* is known to be sometimes causing by a low glucose levels in blood. A severe hunger, may cause a muscle tension in any acting muscle, including face muscles, muscles in the forehead and other parts of the head, which can be sometimes recognized by us as types headaches.
Thats based on the individual. Some people experience this, others don’t. You can always try to condition yourself to get used to it if thats something you want to do.
You might also be more dehydrated than hungry.
When your blood sugar is low, your body will signal you to eat by causing ‘hunger pangs’ and other non-pleasant symptoms
Your body releases hormones that signal hunger. They also constrict blood vessels and raise blood pressure, which causes a headache
I’m now eating right with a calorie deficit and losing weight after going full alcoholic at the beginning of the lockdown. Whoops.
It was suggested I try a diet Gatorade electrolyte drink to help and it did for me. Try one and see if it helps you as well.
For a long time, after playing sports I would get real bad headaches. I only recently found out it was because I wasn’t hydrating properly. Now I hydrate every day.
Now my new problem is, I get headaches and sometimes uncontrollable hand shakes when I don’t eat. I hate it
We get about 20% of our water intake from food, so dehydration is a factor. Dehydration causes the brian tissue to shrink and pull away from the skull, making the meninges (membranes around your skull) sort of stretch.
It might have to do with an electrolyte imbalance (ratio of water and salts in your body). I know not drinking enough water can give you a headache, and drinking WAY too much water can cause the same.
Migraines can make you ravenous or make food seem unappealing so it could be the other way around.
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