People prone to migraines may experience more headaches after coffee consumption (perhaps by effects on serotonin or brain electrical activity), but coffee itself, or the caffeine it contains, is not considered the actual cause of migraines. In addition, chemical messengers within the brain, such as serotonin, may also play a central role in the development of migraines, though the mechanisms remain uncertain. Migraines tend to run in families, so genetic factors are likely important. Why this begins in the first place is unknown. Now, the thinking is that migraines are due to waves of electrical activity spreading across the outer portions of the brain, leading to inflammation and overreactive nerve cells that send inappropriate pain signals. Then, when the blood vessels open up, the rush of incoming blood flow leads to the actual headache. Until recently, the going theory was that blood vessels around the brain go into spasm, temporarily constricting and limiting blood flow. Yet, the cause has long been a mystery - and it still is. Migraine headaches are quite common: more than a billion people reportedly suffer from migraines worldwide. How can this be? Migraine headaches: Still mysterious after all these years So, to review: the caffeine in coffee, tea, and other foods or drinks can help prevent a headache, treat a headache, and also trigger a headache. The caffeine is supposed to make the other drugs in these combination remedies (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) work better and, of course, it might be quite effective for caffeine-withdrawal headaches.īut then I learned that for people with migraine headaches, certain drugs, foods, and drinks should be avoided, as they can trigger migraines.
Later in my neurology rotation, I learned that caffeine is a major ingredient in many headache remedies, from over-the-counter medicines such as Excedrin and Anacin, to powerful prescription treatments such as Fioricet. And considering how many daily coffee drinkers there are (an estimated 158 million in the US alone), it's likely that coffee withdrawal is among the most common causes of headaches. His point was that for people who regularly drink coffee, missing an early morning cup, or even just having your first cup later than usual, can trigger a caffeine withdrawal headache. That was news to me! But it made more sense when he clarified that he meant lack of coffee. During medical school, a neurologist taught me that the number one cause of headaches in the US was coffee.
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