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in General Factchecking by Newbie (430 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.
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by Newbie (300 points)
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Good explanation! But I think there’s more to it, caffeine can help headaches in the short term, but if you use it too often, it can actually cause more headaches over time. This is called "rebound headaches," and it happens when your body gets used to caffeine and then reacts when you don’t have it. Your source is good, but adding one that talks about long-term effects could make your fact-check even stronger!
by Newbie (350 points)
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This article does a good job of supporting your claim. An overconsumption of caffeine can definitely cause a headache but it is accurate that caffeine is in a lot of medicines. Many researchers suggest that caffeine can constrict blood vessels, while alleviates pain during a headache. Plus, regular caffeine consumption can reduce the frequency of certain headaches over time, so in that case a withdrawal of caffeine may trigger headaches for people due to the body’s adjustment to the lack of caffeine.
by (100 points)
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This claim is true. There are many causes for headaches and caffeine has proved to be one of them. Drinking too much caffeine can constrict the blood vessels in the brain which creates headaches. Dependency on the effects of caffeine in the brain can also create headaches from the withdrawal. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/does-caffeine-treat-or-trigger-headaches
by Newbie (320 points)
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I also have personal experience with caffeine headaches, but just because it happens to you doesn't mean it's a universal issue. I would recommend finding a reliable source to back this claim up.
by (150 points)
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Great fact-check! You covered the key points well. One thing to consider: while caffeine withdrawal is a well-documented cause of headaches, the idea that caffeine itself causes dehydration-induced headaches is debated. Research suggests that caffeine’s diuretic effect isn’t strong enough to cause dehydration in regular users. Also, caffeine metabolism varies by individual, which explains why some people are more prone to headaches from it than others. The claim that caffeine helps with headaches is solid, especially since it's included in pain relievers to boost effectiveness. However, overuse can lead to medication rebound headaches, which is an important nuance. Overall, this is a well-supported claim, but adding sources or discussing individual variability could make the fact-check even stronger. Nice work!

80 Answers

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by Novice (700 points)
Long-term consumption of caffeine in migraine patients triggers a cascade of physiological processes that can result in three different clinical situations: worsening of the original headache, headaches associated with caffeine withdrawal (e.g., weekend migraine attacks) and headaches caused by overuse of painkillers containing caffeine. Caffeine can both relieve and trigger migraine attacks. Habitual caffeine consumption is associated with migraine and the development of chronic daily headaches

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10385675/#sec3-nutrients-15-03170
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by Newbie (420 points)
Caffeine can cause headaches. Although it can help with pain relief and boost medication, certain caffeine habits and intake can trigger headaches. Causes of headaches related to caffeine include caffeine withdrawal, overconsumption of caffeine, dehydration, and lack of sleep. According to UCLA Health, moderation in caffeine intake can decrease risk of headaches from sudden withdrawals.

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/caffeine-connection-between-coffee-and-headaches
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by Novice (530 points)
The statement "Drinking Caffeine Causes Headaches" is, in fact, true. Drinking caffeine can cause headaches, and there are a few ways it can happen. If you have a high intake of caffeine, meaning over 400 mg of caffeine, it can lead to mild to extreme headaches. Another point is that headaches can be caused by caffeine sensitivity, meaning the smallest amount of caffeine can trigger a migraine or headache, this can happen from not being used to caffeine. Caffeine can also narrow the blood vessels that surround the brain, and when you stop drinking caffeine, it enlarges. Causing caffeine withdraw headaches.

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

https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/advise-me/what-is-the-link-between-caffeine-and-headaches

https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/long-caffeine-withdrawal-headaches-3554936/
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by Novice (860 points)

This is a very decent fact check. First of all, the title concluded a fact that most people are aware of or heard about. When the attention was then drawn to the details of the claim, the statement of "caffeine can help with headache" showed up. As you simply explained what your source talked about, the language and claim was clear and reasonable. The source was written by WebMD Editorial Contributors, which include writers, editors, and medical and wellness professionals and reviewed by a dermatologist skilled in diagnosing and treating a variety of skin conditions. This is the part that made me question if the source holds enough authority since it was written by unknown authors and reviewed by someone who's more specialized in skin health. The article also lack mentioning and referencing statistics or quotes from doctors. This claim would be better if you used another or multiple sources. But the claim was indeed true, according to UCLA Health, "For people who consume it regularly, its absence can trigger a headache. And because of the way the body responds to caffeine, its presence can sometimes relieve one. It’s possible that both of these things are occurring in your case". Also, from National Library of Medicine, "Caffeine can both relieve and trigger headaches". These two sources were not only from bigger names such as UCLA and a governmental library, but also written and reviewed by professional doctors and professors.

sources:

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

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10385675/

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by Newbie (390 points)
Sources check out claims made uses sources well.
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by Newbie (360 points)

While moderate caffeine consumption can offer benefits like increased alertness, it can also trigger headaches in some individuals. Caffeine causes the blood vessels in the brain to constrict, and when you don’t consume it at your usual level, they can expand and lead to headache pain. 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20045678

Can't be true or false (Opinion, poem, etc.)
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by Newbie (490 points)

Doing a deeper dive into this source and the claim of whether caffeine causes headaches, I found that WEBMD (the source cited) is one of the most popular sources for health information. It has a high accuracy rating and is most likely one of the first cites to show up when you are researching a health-related issue. This research led me to look at another source in order to provide a backup source to confirm the validity of the claim. I found an article written by the Mayo Clinic which I deemed from my own knowledge and research that it is a very credible source since it is a highly regarded medical research facility. In this article it explains that while caffeine can cause headaches, it can also provide relief for them meaning that this claim is neither true nor false but rather one end of the spectrum. It is demonstrated that drinking caffeine can have good and bad side effects so it’s up to the consumer to regulate how much they are drinking to ensure that they are upholding healthy habits while drinking it. Overall, when fact-checking this claim I believe that it is a true claim, but there is also a missing segment to this statement in order to encapsulate the entire scientific background of what caffeine can/ cannot do.

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

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by Novice (590 points)

The source used is WebMB, which is not a peer-reviewed or scholarly source. However, a more reputable source, the Mayo Clinic, does have similar findings. They said that caffeine does cause headaches because “when caffeine is consumed regularly, the body becomes dependent on its effects. And because caffeine narrows the blood vessels that surround the brain, when consumption is stopped, the blood vessels enlarge.” That is similar to the claims in the article you provided, which say that caffeine withdrawals can cause headaches. 

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by Newbie (270 points)

You did a great job presenting your claim and supporting it with a trusted source. Caffeine can cause headaches for a variety of reasons, depending on the person. Some people may be more sensitive to caffeine, and if they’re not drinking enough water while consuming it, dehydration can also be a factor. These points were all explained well in the article you referenced! 

Good Job!!

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by Apprentice (1.2k points)
This claim is true! While caffeine is generally able to cure a headache, it is well known that it can cause them as well. When headaches occur, it is common for blood vessels to swell, increasing blood flow around the brain and increasing the flow of pain signals to your brain receptors. Caffeine, in turn, narrows blood vessels and restricts flow in order to relieve the pain. This being said, when one regularly consumes caffeine, the body will become dependent on its effects, much like regular use of Melatonin. When consumption of caffeine ceases, the blood vessels enlarge again and trigger a new headache. The National Institute of Health has also linked caffeine usage (or its absence) to migraine attacks, as symptoms of the prodromal phase of a migraine attack are similar to that of caffeine withdrawal syndrome. Alongside this, caffeine is known, of course, to have effects that impact one's ability to sleep and may lead to sleep disorders- sleep disorders such as these are also known to trigger migraine attacks, further suggesting that the consumption of caffeine may lead to migraines.

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

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10385675/ [Section 3]
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