Table of Contents
Introduction
Find out why you are getting headaches immediately after eating and how you can ease headaches after eating.
Getting a headache immediately after eating is not uncommon, but it’s not something you can ignore. Its symptoms are unbearable as they can stop you from doing what you love. Experiencing this type of pain creates pressure between your eyes. Also, you may feel a throbbing pain on the left or right part of your head. Or, the pressure may come with a tight sensation on your forehead.
A headache immediately after eating can be a sign of an underlying health issue. In most cases, you can get nausea and headache after eating, which requires proper treatment. Also, you must visit your doctor if you get a headache immediately after eating almost every day. It can result in stress, sleeping issues, and depression if left untreated.
At times, you may experience a headache because of sweets or salty foods. But, your problem is not always triggered by the food alone. Sometimes, the pain is caused by the combination of the underlying health issue and food.
Causes Of Headaches After Eating
If you get a headache immediately after eating, you must not jump to a conclusion about its cause. The problem is usually associated with what you eat, but the food itself is not always the culprit.
The following are some possible causes of a headache immediately after eating:
- Hypertension
- Food Allergy
- Food Intolerance
- Diabetes
- Migraines
- Gastric Reflux
- Medical Condition
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a typical health issue that you may incur at any age. A high intake of salt can cause a headache, especially if you suffer from high blood pressure. The excess salt will draw the water into your bloodstream, resulting in increased blood volume and hypertension.
Food allergy
At times, your immune system sees the foods you ate as a threat to your body. When it happens, your body will release histamine in your blood. It’s your body’s allergic response that will lead to hives, inflammation or a headache.
Food intolerance
Food allergies are not the same as food intolerance. Food tolerance is a condition wherein your body can’t tolerate food substances like gluten and lactose. Your body’s sensitivity to these food substances can lead to diarrhoea, stomach pain, or a headache.
Diabetes
You may get a headache immediately after eating if you have diabetes and you eat sweets. Foods that are rich in sugar can trigger a sudden increase in your blood glucose that results in insulin production. Insulin is a substance that increases the sugar absorption in your cells, causing hypoglycemia. Sugar crash triggers the blood vessels in your brain to dilate, resulting in a headache.
Migraines
Foods with tyramine like yogurt, sour cream and buttermilk can also cause a headache immediately after eating. Some foods typically cause migraines, such as cured meats, chocolate, citrus fruits, and soy sauce.
Gastric reflux
Acid reflux is a condition wherein the acid in your gut goes up to your esophagus and reaches your throat. Acid reflux happens when you eat spicy or fried foods. The acid in your stomach will increase if you eat such foods, resulting in a reflux. Gastric reflux is often accompanied by a headache.
Medical condition
Usually, you think that food was the cause of your headache. However, your problem can be a result of a more complicated issue. There are some health issues like trigeminal neuralgia that can make you get a headache after eating. Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful headache that you can experience after eating if you have diabetes. Moreover, a brain tumor becomes a cause of a headache after eating in rare cases.
How To Relieve Headache After Eating
Synthetic medicines like anti-inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers, and antidepressants are enough to kill the pain. However, there are natural treatments for a headache immediately after eating. If you want a good treatment without side effects, try any of these natural remedies for a headache after eating.
Read also: What Causes Headaches In The Evening And How to Prevent It
Natural remedies for a headache after eating are:
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Neck stretches
- Aerobics
- Cold compress
- Meditation
- Lavender oil
Acupressure
These are the most effective acupressure points for headaches. A therapist inserts the needles underneath the skin to enhance the flow of your energy. Studies reveal that acupuncture is effective in dealing with acute migraines.
Neck stretches
Muscle tension makes a headache worse. Stretching the muscles around your neck is helpful if the symptoms begin to appear.
Aerobics
Swimming, cycling and brisk walking are great activities as they lessen the severity and frequency of your headache. If you’re a woman, you’ll become more prone to a headache after eating when you’re pregnant. In this case, aerobics is a good, safe remedy for the pain.
Cold compress
Apply a cold compress to the painful part of your head to relieve a throbbing headache.
Meditation and yoga
Meditation and yoga level off the blood pressure, so it relieves a terrible headache.
Read also: The Amazing Health Benefits Of Legs Up The Wall Pose
Lavender oil
Lavender has a soothing effect and relief for the pain. Mix a few drops of the lavender essential oil with boiling water, and inhale the vapor. Or, you can apply the oil straight to your forehead.
When to Consult Your Doctor?
You should visit your physician when home remedies or painkillers don’t relieve the pain. Seek medical advice right away if the problem persists. Also, you must watch out for other kinds of pain that you experience when you get a headache after eating.
Keep in mind that medical help is necessary if you experience any of the following:
- Changes in speech and vision
- Muscle weakness
- Confusion
- Fainting
- Numbness on the left or right side of your body
- Nausea and vomiting
- Trouble walking
- High fever
It can be hard to manage your condition if you suffer from a headache immediately after eating almost every day. The pain may not disappear immediately, so you must be patient when dealing with a throbbing headache after eating. There’s no magical pill that you can take to get rid of the pain fast. While there are several treatment choices available, not all of them will work for you. Thus, you’re bound to try all these treatment options first until you find what’s best for you.
