11 like 1 dislike
in General Factchecking by Newbie (440 points)
Caffeine can cause headaches. Caffeine also is something that relieves headaches, which is why it is in a lot of pain medication. the caffeine helps to reduce inflammation, and in headaches the caffeine narrows the blood vessels, which decreases pain. even the withdrawl of caffeine causes headaches because when you stop drinking caffeine after a while, your blood vessels then start to expand again, causing the headache.
by Newbie (440 points)
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Have you experienced this phenomenon in your own personal life?
by Novice (590 points)
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I appreciate this fact checks personal touch and experience. However, I wonder if you could include more scientific data about whether or not the statement is true. Such as scientific studies or reports.
by Newbie (390 points)
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Im glad you compared both sides of the situation but I do wish your article dove into how caffeine causes the headaches instead of the lack of it causing the headaches.
by Newbie (300 points)
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This is accurate! Caffeine can both trigger and relieve headaches. When caffeine is consumed, it can narrow blood vessels around the brain, which may alleviate headache pain, making it a common ingredient in pain relief medications. It helps reduce inflammation and enhances the effectiveness of certain painkillers. However, regular caffeine use can lead to dependency, and if intake suddenly stops, withdrawal symptoms may kick in, including headaches. This happens because blood vessels that have been constricted by regular caffeine use start to expand again, which can trigger pain.
https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/triggers-caffeine
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/caffeine-can-help-treat-and-trigger-headaches-2020010318580
ago by Novice (530 points)
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I appreciate how you described not only what happens to your body when you drink coffee, but also when you don't. I feel like that's important information to know to fully grasp the topic.

17 Answers

1 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
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Best answer
This claim is true, caffeine can cause headaches in multiple ways. First, overconsumption of caffeine can directly lead to headaches. The daily recommended limit for caffeine consumption is 400 mg and exceeding this limit can cause severe headaches among other symptoms. Secondly, caffeine withdrawal can lead to severe headaches. Frequent consumers of caffeine (not necessarily large amounts) can experience headaches and other physical withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop usage. The listed sources are from peer-reviewed public medical journals with reputable authors.

https://academic.oup.com/ije/article-abstract/14/2/239/711881

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11916-008-0052-z

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/8/2259
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by Apprentice (1.4k points)
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I really like how your response was straight to the point and you found multiple sources to support it. I found this article from UCLA that supports your findings that caffeine withdrawals can cause headaches. In the article it says that in some headache cases blood vessels dilate, and drinking caffeine narrows the vessels which relieves the headache, however, when someone stops drinking caffeine headaches can also occur.
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/caffeine-connection-between-coffee-and-headaches#:~:text=Caffeine%20also%20narrows%20blood%20vessels,surrounding%20tissues%2C%20which%20triggers%20pain.
by Newbie (390 points)
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This was a great answer to the question and actually addresses how headaches directly cause headaches.
by Newbie (300 points)
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I agree with this factcheck, it is backed up by factual sources, and how caffeine can cause headaches especially if you exceed the daily limit. It is straight to the point and supports the main argument.
ago by Novice (580 points)
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Your response effectively outlines the many ways the consumption of caffeine can cause headaches. I like how you also discussed the topic of withdrawal and the impact caffeine can have on your body. Your fact check was credible due to the many sources you utilized.
ago by Newbie (310 points)
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This fact-check is really good! It provides a strong foundation by clearly stating that the claim is true and outlining the ways caffeine can cause headaches. It effectively explains two key points: overconsumption and withdrawal as causes of caffeine-related headaches, while including a reference to the recommended daily limit of 400 mg, which adds specificity and clarity. Good job!
ago by Novice (700 points)
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I like that you specifically adressed the ways caffeine can cause headaches in a scientific manner. I'm impressed by how many sources you used to back up your claims and it's even better that they are from  multiple platforms and provide several perspectives. Not many people have included studies in their responses but I think it is a great contribution to support your claim.
ago by Newbie (220 points)
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This was a good deep dive into the question. I like how you sighted three different sources, and went into depth on the information provided in each article.
0 like 0 dislike
by Novice (650 points)
If you exeed your limit of 400 mil a grams a day of caffeine you could have hear and liver problems if you exeed the limit and if you take it everyday and you stop is really bad but don't drink too much

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/caffeine-connection-between-coffee-and-headaches#:~:text=As%20caffeine%20revs%20up%20the,is%20its%20link%20to%20headache.
by Novice (520 points)
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I felt like you should have added more information about the topic and summarize more about the article that you attached. I didn't see anything about 400 mil grams of coffee causes problems in your health in the article. I did do my own research about that and found this article. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559835/  It mentions that caffeine is unlikely to affect your liver. But caffeine does affect other parts of your body like anxiety, fatigue and etc.  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-side-effects#fatigue Here's : An article explaining the side affects of drinking to much caffeine.
by Novice (980 points)
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I agree with the previous comment that there needs to be more information about the topic and a summary of the credible source you found to back up this claim. The source that you found is actually a good, reliable source from UCLA but just stating a random piece of data isn't a strong enough fact-check. There needs to be credible sources, clear examples of studies done, etc. It's also important to talk about the source that was used in the original claim, explaining if it's credible or not. All of these things will make your fact check stronger.
by Newbie (400 points)
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I feel like you could have said more about the actual question, you mentioned liver problems related to caffeine. I read through the source you provided, and didn't see anything about caffeine related to your liver. But I would say to just expand on the original question.
by Newbie (280 points)
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This fact check was definitely to short to provide a reliable answer. You could have answered the question more and elaborated on the liver problems related to caffeine. I read through the source you gave, and didn't see anything about 400 milli grams of coffee causes problems in your health in the article. I looked up the liver effects caffeine can have and found an article that gave more information on the topic.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559835/
by Newbie (390 points)
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This is a pretty big factor that applies to the side effects of caffiene; however, I do think a but more information about headaches related to the topic of the claim would support your answer.
ago by Newbie (220 points)
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This fact check was very forward and easy to read.  Although it was short it was informative and makes you want to visit the article and read more. Good Job!
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

Caffeine causes blood arteries in the brain to contract, delaying blood flow, which is the explanation given by "Baptist Health" for caffeine-related headaches. According to experts, when you quit drinking it, your blood vessels widen, blood flow quickens, and the increased pressure causes a headache from caffeine withdrawal. This indicates that avoiding coffee has a stronger correlation with headaches. rather than the headache being brought on by caffeine.

https://www.baptisthealth.com/blog/health-and-wellness/how-to-manage-caffeine-withdrawal#:~:text=Caffeine%20causes%20blood%20vessels%20in,you%20a%20caffeine%20withdrawal%20headache 

ago by Novice (580 points)
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I like how you used a credible source to back up your view on the claim. The evidence you included is relevant and does a great job of explaining the link between caffeine and headaches. Overall, the response is clear and easy to follow.
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (400 points)

 Caffeine can cause headaches.  According to "Baptist Health Caffeine causes blood arteries in the brain to contract, delaying blood flow, causing headaches. Caffeine also narrows blood vessels that surround the brain. In some types of headaches, the blood vessels in the brain dilate, or expand into the surrounding tissues, which triggers pain. Ironically Caffeine can also reduce headaches. According to “UCLA health”.

https://www.uclahealth.org/

https://www.baptisthealth.com

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0 like 0 dislike
by Novice (790 points)
This claim is from a WebMD article, which used a variety of sources, some notable ones include the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Headache Foundation. The sources used to form this claim are reputable, and many are government ran.
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by Newbie (360 points)
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Where do these places get their research from? or what was the research? did they do experiments? I know it is easy to trust government sources but maybe add more on what these institutes and foundations do.
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

The claim that caffeine can lead to headaches is accurate and supported by scientific research. There are two primary ways caffeine can cause headaches. First, consuming too much caffeine can directly trigger headaches. The recommended daily limit for caffeine intake is 400 mg, and exceeding this amount can result in headaches, along with other symptoms like increased heart rate and nervousness. Second, caffeine withdrawal is another common cause of headaches. People who regularly consume caffeine may experience withdrawal headaches when they reduce or stop their intake. Both of these explanations are backed by reliable sources, including the FDA’s guidelines on daily caffeine consumption. Overall, both overconsumption and withdrawal are recognized causes of headaches in the medical community. 

Source - https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much#:~:text=For%20most%20adults%2C%20the%20FDA,generally%20associated%20with%20negative%20effects.

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0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (390 points)
It looks like the effects of caffeine has two very different sides to it. While caffeine does have effects that reduce headaches, and is used in many medications for this reason, there are a lot of cases where caffeine can cause headaches. The recommended dose of caffeine per day is around 400mg and if that number is exceeded, it can be hard for the body to process and handle that much strain and can cause headaches in the user. The same goes for if caffeine is of regular use for you. If you constantly rely on caffeine, the lack of it can cause headaches. So, because of the caffeine and what it does to your body, it can cause headaches. In a study as well, it is shown that many people with migraines get triggered headaches from caffeine.

 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10385675/#:~:text=Caffeine%20was%20a%20headache%20trigger,a%20migraine%20attack%20%5B39%5D.
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0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (200 points)
Yes, this claim is true, consumption of caffeine can cause headaches in a number of ways. The National Institute for Health (NIH) says "daily doses of caffeine in excess of 200 mg/day may provoke headaches." Likewise UCLA Health says that caffeine withdrawal can possibly lead to headaches as well.

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/caffeine-connection-between-coffee-and-headaches

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10385675/#:~:text=Patients%20should%20also%20be%20informed,in%20some%20patients%20%5B79%5D.
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

The claim that caffeine can cause headaches is accurate but a bit more nuanced. Caffeine can cause headaches, especially when consumed in large amounts or if you suddenly stop after regular consumption, leading to caffeine withdrawal headaches. According to the Mayo Clinic, because caffeine narrows the blood vessels that surround the brain, when consumption is stopped, the blood vessels enlarge. However, caffeine is also a common ingredient in many pain relievers because it helps constrict and narrow blood vessels and reduce inflammation, alleviating headache pain. So, while caffeine can be both a cause and a remedy for headaches, its effects vary depending on individual consumption patterns and sensitivity. 

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/does-caffeine-treat-or-trigger-headaches

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0 like 0 dislike
by Novice (710 points)

This claim states that caffeine can cause headaches. After further review I believe this to be both correct and incorrect. After looking through the source provided, I learned that caffeine can be used to relieve headaches, as well as cause them. The relief is described as the blood vessels opening for a headache and increasing pressure but the caffeine narrows the vessels, easing the pressure. There is actually caffeine in a lot of pain medications for this exact reason. The headache you can get from caffeine is actually from not drinking it. Since caffeine narrows these blood vessels, when you stop drinking it and they open back up it causes a headache. To make sure this information was accurate I checked it with another article from UCLA health, which backed up these claims. 


https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/caffeine-connection-between-coffee-and-headaches

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