mountain dew for a headache

[nickel]

my brother's wife, who has a stressful college administrative job, often gets headaches, not painful migraine type, but just a touch of a headache.

she says if she drinks a mountain dew it takes care of it.
so effectively, does sugar/caffiene do the trick for minor headaches or is she just experiencing caffiene withdrawl in the first place?

[MikeD]

my brother's wife, who has a stressful college administrative job, often gets headaches, not painful migraine type, but just a touch of a headache.

she says if she drinks a mountain dew it takes care of it.
so effectively, does sugar/caffiene do the trick for minor headaches or is she just experiencing caffiene withdrawl in the first place?

Could be both. The caffeine withdrawal is a definite possibility. If she's craving it, having a Dew would certainly hit the spot.

However, if I'm correct doesn't caffeine stimulate blood flow? That could help the headache as well.

BTW, learn to spell Nick. :)

[cheapie]

and CAPITALIZE dammit! ;)



yeah....it works for me but i'm never sure if it's because i'm having caffeieeieine withdrawl or not.

[MikeD]

caffeieeieine

Awww, enough already! Like Ben said, it's making my head hurt...

Wait, someone grab me a Dew. That should take care of it. :)

[PrObLy]

Caffeine is known to help reduce tension headaches, that's why Excedrin is loaded with it

[nickel]

Could be both. The caffeine withdrawal is a definite possibility. If she's craving it, having a Dew would certainly hit the spot.

However, if I'm correct doesn't caffeine stimulate blood flow? That could help the headache as well.

BTW, learn to spell Nick. :)
caffeine gets me every time... cursed word.

it should be "i" before "e" except after "c" :P

[johnnymk]

It's definitely satsifying her need for caffeine. If I recall, except for Jolt, Mountain Dew has the most caffeine of all soft drinks.

I went off of caffeine nearly two years ago, and it took about a week of headaches to get off of the stuff.

[DarkFury]

Caffeine is known to help reduce tension headaches, that's why Excedrin is loaded with it
:stupid:

My vote is for the caffeine assisting with the headache as well. Opening up those restricted blood vessels.

[nickel]

Caffeine is known to help reduce tension headaches, that's why Excedrin is loaded with it
yeh, it acts as a potentiator to increase the strength of the acetaminophen and aspirin.

just checked
Mountain Dew has 55mg caffeine/can
Extra Strength Excedrin has 65mg caffeine/tablet

[avlena]

yeh, it acts as a potentiator to increase the strength of the acetaminophen and aspirin.

just checked
Mountain Dew has 55mg caffeine/can
Extra Strength Excedrin has 65mg caffeine/tablet

one of my HS science teachers would take an asprin and follow it with a can of soda for this reason.

[johnnymk]

yeh, it acts as a potentiator to increase the strength of the acetaminophen and aspirin.

just checked
Mountain Dew has 55mg caffeine/can
Extra Strength Excedrin has 65mg caffeine/tablet

That is ridiculous. 65 mg in one small tablet. They should just call it Extra Strength Caffeine.

[zippyjuan]

For some people caffene can cause headaches. A lot of headaches actually come from dehydration so the liquid could be just as beneficial. But cafeene is a diuretic meaning it reduces the amount of water in your body. Low blood sugar can sometimes be contributory as well.

[sourdough]

I guess then it's a good thing I don't get headaches! Caffeinated bread just sounds wrong...

[Airencracken]

Now I want a Mt. Dew code red and I'm in bed in my boxers dammit!

[attgig]

yup, dehydration can cause headaches. as well as caffeine withdrawl. but from the description in the original post, the 'stressful' part suggests that nickel's explanation of "yeh, it acts as a potentiator to increase the strength of the acetaminophen and aspirin" is what's helping your friend. so, you've effectively answered your own question. =)

[riskykougra]

Some headaches can be caused by stomach upset and the carbon in the soda can help relieve any pent up gas which would then alleviate the headache as well.

[Houdini]

Some headaches can be caused by stomach upset and the carbon in the soda can help relieve any pent up gas which would then alleviate the headache as well.

Huh?

[riskykougra]

Huh?

I swear it works. Sometimes if you have an upset stomach it also causes headaches with it and the carbon makes you belch, releasing the gas and you feel better. It may not be a proven medical fact but I know people it has worked on. Usually with coca cola though.

[nickel]

I swear it works. Sometimes if you have an upset stomach it also causes headaches with it and the carbon makes you belch, releasing the gas and you feel better. It may not be a proven medical fact but I know people it has worked on. Usually with coca cola though.
my mom always gave us ginger ale when we had an upset stomach.

[riskykougra]

my mom always gave us ginger ale when we had an upset stomach.
Well sometimes my mother gets really bad headaches when she eats certain foods or doesnt feel like she has digested properly and carbon always makes both the stomach and headache better...but then again...she crazy!:nuts:

[Sirrich3]

I'll have to try it!

[Houdini]

The caffeine jolt from the MD may help headaches somewhat, especially in people who missed their morning coffee that day. And people are right that caffeine is often added to headache preparations for a few reasons.

[riskykougra]

Ok since we are on the subject of headaches I have a question...Does anyone else get headaches that can last 3 or 4 days and are so bad you want to vomit but are definately not migranes cause doctors told you they werent. Cause I get them alot and Im just wondering if thats normal. I only mention it cause Im on day 3 of a real boomer...:umm:

[ialsohaveadream]

I only mention it cause Im on day 3 of a real boner...:umm:
"Erections lasting 4 or more hours, while rare, require immediate medical attention."
http://images.pgatour.com/u/photos/misc/2003/dec/cialis_13.gif

[johnnymk]

Ok since we are on the subject of headaches I have a question...Does anyone else get headaches that can last 3 or 4 days and are so bad you want to vomit but are definately not migranes cause doctors told you they werent. Cause I get them alot and Im just wondering if thats normal. I only mention it cause Im on day 3 of a real boomer...:umm:

It may be chronic sinusitis. Are you a smoker or are you exposed to cigarette smoke or other allergens constantly?

[nickel]

"Erections lasting 4 or more hours, while rare, require immediate medical attention."
http://images.pgatour.com/u/photos/misc/2003/dec/cialis_13.gif
:laugh:

not funny :|

[nickel]

Ok since we are on the subject of headaches I have a question...Does anyone else get headaches that can last 3 or 4 days and are so bad you want to vomit but are definately not migranes cause doctors told you they werent. Cause I get them alot and Im just wondering if thats normal. I only mention it cause Im on day 3 of a real boomer...:umm:
sounds like migraine :shrug:
can your doc prescribe something to ease the pain?

[riskykougra]

It may be chronic sinusitis. Are you a smoker or are you exposed to cigarette smoke or other allergens constantly?
Nope to all of those.:disa:
And to IAHAD :bonk: you made me go back and look to make sure I didnt have a typo:heh:
And apparently they arent migranes because they had me on migrane medication and it didnt do anything to prevent them so the doctor said well then they arent migraines, stop taking it, goodbye....but I do take Tylenol ones for them....but on a good note I woke up this morning and it seems to be gone. :woohoo:

[zero2dash]

It may have been a sinus headache; I get those every day almost all year round. (Hell, I've got one right now. *sigh*)

I used to think they were migraines; now I'm not so sure anymore which is which because when I get this headache, it hurts as bad as a migraine but only goes away with sinus headache medicine (which can either be Excedrin Sinus Headache, or with Sudafed and Advil, or with Advil Sinus/Tylenol Sinus etc.)

Basically (from what I've figured out), sinus pressure gives you a headache. You need a decongestant (pseudoephedrine or one of its newfangled "clones" now on the market being used more to deter 'meth heads') to relieve the sinus pressure and the pain killer helps the current headache pain go away.

Next time you get one, try to take a decongestant and a pain killer (whether it's one pill of each or a combo)...it works for me. :)

[riskykougra]

[QUOTE=zero2dash]It may have been a sinus headache; I get those every day almost all year round. (Hell, I've got one right now. *sigh*)

I dont think its that either because my sinus's are clear. I think it comes from my neck and spine...they always hurt....but Im not sure.

[ialsohaveadream]

And to IAHAD :bonk: you made me go back and look to make sure I didnt have a typo:heh:
And apparently they arent migranes because they had me on migrane medication and it didnt do anything to prevent them so the doctor said well then they arent migraines, stop taking it, goodbye....
I'm funny. :)

Just because a migraine medication didn't do anything doesn't mean you don't have migraines. I dated a girl who used to get migraines, and she'd tried about 5 or 6 different prescriptions until she finally found something that helped.

[zero2dash]

I used to get headaches from my computer monitor also...if you've used the computer heavily the last few days (if you have a CRT at least; this doesn't apply to LCD users), that could be it.

My old monitor...I dunno if it was because it was crappy in general or because the refresh rate was too low or something, but once I finally got the monitor I have now (a 21" Dell P1110 CRT - bought it about 6 years ago and still goin' strong) my headaches disappeared.

[riskykougra]

Hmm... Maybe I should ask my new doc about them...but then again Id like to say its just cause Im old and broken but Ive always had them...so maybe Ive just always been broken:laugh:

[johnnymk]

[QUOTE=zero2dash]It may have been a sinus headache; I get those every day almost all year round. (Hell, I've got one right now. *sigh*)

I dont think its that either because my sinus's are clear. I think it comes from my neck and spine...they always hurt....but Im not sure.

If number one or number two vertebrae in your neck is pinching a nerve, that can cause headaches too. You may need an MRI.

Number three, four and five in my neck are herniated and I occasionally get mild headaches from number three.

[Houdini]

Nope to all of those.:disa:
And to IAHAD :bonk: you made me go back and look to make sure I didnt have a typo:heh:
And apparently they arent migranes because they had me on migrane medication and it didnt do anything to prevent them so the doctor said well then they arent migraines, stop taking it, goodbye....but I do take Tylenol ones for them....but on a good note I woke up this morning and it seems to be gone. :woohoo:

See a good neurologist. If one med doesn't work to prevent the headache, that does not rule out migraine.

[Houdini]

[QUOTE=zero2dash]It may have been a sinus headache; I get those every day almost all year round. (Hell, I've got one right now. *sigh*)

I dont think its that either because my sinus's are clear. I think it comes from my neck and spine...they always hurt....but Im not sure.

Sounds more like a tension headache. They can be prodromal to migraine, though. What have you taken for them?

[Houdini]

[QUOTE=riskykougra]

If number one or number two vertebrae in your neck is pinching a nerve, that can cause headaches too. You may need an MRI.

Number three, four and five in my neck are herniated and I occasionally get mild headaches from number three.

If anything, I'd shoot for a head MRI, not necessarily the neck. There are a few, albeit non-specific markers that may show up on such imaging in those with migraine.

[riskykougra]

[QUOTE=riskykougra]

Sounds more like a tension headache. They can be prodromal to migraine, though. What have you taken for them?
I used to take some kind of migraine pills long ago..till my old doctor just said Ok they dont work stop taking them...and that was it. Now when I get a headache I usually have to take 4 tylenol ones every 5 hrs just so I can function until it is gone...and on that note...I woke up with another one...yay...:toxic:

[riskykougra]

Update...apparently not going to the gym for a week when you are used to going everyday can make your body rebel and make you feel sick...which seems to be what happened because now we are going to the gym again and I feel much better. I still get headaches but not like last week.