drinking caffeine can cause headaches.

Question

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.

Comments

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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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!

Answer 1

This claim is true. Caffeine can cause headaches as well as reduce or relieve headaches. When consuming about 150 to 200 milliliters of caffeine (about a cup of coffee) it is shown to reduce and even prevent headaches. Although, when consuming too much caffeine, it can often do the opposite and cause headaches. Similarly, if you consume caffeine every day and then take a day off, the withdrawals can be another cause of headaches. The links below are trusted sources backing up this claim.

Does Caffeine Help Headaches?

Understanding Headache Causes, Treatment & Prevention | TYLENOL®

Answer 2

This claim is true, it was studied by doctors at UCLA health that the main link between caffeine and headaches is that it narrows blood vessels that surround the brain. It is a stimulant that is easily absorbed by the body and can last up to 12 hours. It revs up the central nervous system, gives you a boost of energy and can leave you feeling more awake and alert. The initial claim is from a WebMD article which has a variety of sources from places including National Headache Foundation. It was written by editorial contributors and medically reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD. There are is also government research backing the claim made by the National Library of Medicine, along with the American Migraine Foundation. 

https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/caffeine-headaches/

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

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

Answer 3

I agree with the claim that caffeine can cause headaches, but I think it differs on the person's habits and other health factors. There are many reliable and trustworthy medial websites that explain that caffeine can trigger headaches. The American Migraine Foundation explains that it can be a trigger, however it can also cause relief for those who experience migraines. According to WebMD, caffeine can lead to dehydration which in turn can trigger a headache. The National Institutes of Health, which is a government website, describes that habitual caffeine consumption is associated with the development of chronic headaches. Therefore, in moderation I think that coffee doesn't always cause headaches but it can definitely be a trigger especially if combined with other genetic factors. 

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

https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/triggers-caffeine

https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/caffeine-headaches/

Answer 4

This can be both true and false, as caffeine has been found to cause headaches as well as help relieve them. According to a mayo clinic article, caffeine can help to aid headaches by restricting the blood flow in the brain by narrowing blood vessels. This is also true in the opposite, as when caffeine is consumed regularly, the blood vessels in the brain get used to being narrowed. When one stops drinking caffeine, blood flow enlarges, potentially causing headaches. This means that if one does not drink caffeine normally, it could cause a headache, while a regular caffeine consumer would find that it would calm the pain and bring their blood vessels to their normal state. This can cause a strange balance where one begins to need caffeine on a daily basis to defend against painful headaches. The article recommends trying various amounts of caffeine to find the right balance for yourself.

Caffeine's effect on headaches - Mayo Clinic Health System

Answer 5

I have found this claim to be both true and false at the same time. On one hand, studies do show that caffeine can cause headaches especially if a regular caffeine drinker suddenly stops drinking it. The sudden cutback has been tied to promote headaches. However, on the other hand, I did not see the article mention that caffeine can also help with headaches. Studies show that drinking caffeine reduces blood vessels which in turn can relieve pressure from the brain. 

NIH confirms the article's claim that caffeine can eventually lead to sudden migraine-like headaches but also confirms that caffeine can have beneficial effects for headaches. 

Article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38327229/

Answer 6

Yes, I do find caffeine to be one of the main causes to headaches. While caffeine is addicting it can/is affecting your health when you may never know. I agree with this claim stating that it can also relive headaches which is why I feel like people decide to drink coffee and energy drinks as they are supposed to be a supplement creating you to gain energy from it. According to this article, caffeine is a "mild supplement that is easily absorbed by the body" and depending on the individual it can stay in your body for up to 12 hours. As we all know, caffeine is know to make you feel more alert and awake but also stating "caffeine also narrows blood vessels that surround the brain, that is link to headaches." Last thing I would like the point out is that they mentioned that doctors tend to find the reason for morning headaches is little or too much sleep which is triggered by the assumption of caffeine that one could let into their body which again keeps them alerted and awake causing less or more sleep depending on how much the consumption. 

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

Answer 7

Caffeine can cause and reduce headaches. It is shown that frequent caffeine consumption can cause for caffeine withdrawal headaches. Your body becomes dependent on caffeine when you have it frequently enough so you could get headaches from not having caffeine on a regular basis. Headaches are very complex though so there is no way to pinpoint the factors that go into causing them. But it can be inferred that frequent caffeine consumption can cause withdrawal headaches that can happen from not having your morning coffee or occur when you wake up before you've had your coffee. 

sources:

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

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

Answer 8

While I was reading UCLA's report on caffeine it was super interesting to find the reasons for these headaches. It can either be due to the withdrawal of caffeine or even the symptoms of the caffeine in your system. It speeds up your nervous system and gives you a boost of energy but also takes the blood vessels that surround your brain. Caffeine is an addiction and the best way is to slowly and gradually drink less each day to try and avoid these headaches.

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

Answer 9

The claim is that caffeine causes headaches, according to the website attached this is true but a bit misleading. The way caffeine causes headaches isn't by ingesting it but more so by not injesting caffeine. In fact the article says that when someone has a headache, caffeine can help cure it as it reduces inflammation for the blood vessels in your brain. However, the article says that when someone drinks caffeine regularly and suddenly stops you will get a headache due to caffeine withdraw for up to 12-24 hours or until you drink caffeine. 

According to other articles it is found that caffeine withdraw is a real thing and backs up the statements made by the attached website. The claim is true but worded poorly and may mislead readers as the consumption of caffeine will not directly cause a headache. But consuming caffeine everyday then suddenly stopping will result in headaches and migraines. 

https://www.verywellhealth.com/skipping-coffee-can-lead-to-a-headache-1719606

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/8/2259

Answer 10

Yes, drinking caffeine can cause headaches. According to a study by UCLA medical professionals, a headache can be caused by blood vessels in the brain dilating or swelling. Caffeine is a mild stimulant that narrows blood vessels around the brain while giving you a burst of energy. In this case, consuming caffeine can cause a headache. On the other hand, if your body develops a dependence on caffeine and then experiences withdrawal, you can also experience a headache. Withdrawal can trigger the blood vessels in your brain to dilate, causing a headache. In this sense, while the caffeine may not be directly causing a headache, the habit of drinking caffeine is. While it is unclear whether the claim is referencing the single time or habitual use of caffeine, it does not matter as both appear true in eventually having the ability to cause a headache. 

The discourse surrounding caffeines ability to cause headaches from UCLA proves to hold true as similar sources from other medical professionals support their thinking. Professionals from The Medical University of Warsaw, in the National Library of Medicine, also state that caffeine can both relieve and trigger headaches. The findings in this study conclude that caffeine has the ability to trigger a migraine attack, caffeine withdrawal can provoke headache, and caffeine can cause chronic headaches. While it is not proven that drinking caffeine always causes headaches, it appears that caffeine does have the ability to cause a headache. So yes, the claim “caffeine can cause headaches” is true.

Sources:

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

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