Is there a connection between headache and fatigue?

Do you often feel tired lately? Do you often have headaches? If you have been experiencing unbearable headaches lately or fatigue is already disrupting your daily routine, the best thing you can do is consult a doctor.

Headaches and fatigue are common symptoms of several health conditions and studies show a direct link between them. There may be a possible link between headaches and fatigue, and in this article I will break the link between these two conditions.

I will also discuss simple tips that can help you deal with constant headaches and fatigue. You will also learn about emergencies that require a visit to the doctor.

Diving in the connection between headache and fatigue

What is considered a headache?

Headache is a common phenomenon and does not often indicate a serious illness. Headaches arise from the transmission of signals between the brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. Nerves are activated and affect blood vessels and send pain signals to your brain.

The main symptom of a headache is pain in the head or face. This pain can vary from individual to individual and can be dull, sharp, throbbing and constant.

Common triggers for headaches include:

There are several types of headaches, but the three main types are as follows:

1. Tension headache

Tension headaches range from mild to moderate and are usually throbbing and dull pain. They come and go on both sides of your head. It can last for hours and can get worse over time, where you may also experience neck pain.

Common causes of tension headaches are stress, fatigue and muscle tension.

2. Cluster headache

Cluster headache is a sudden, intense, and episodic headache that usually lasts less than three hours and can occur up to several times a day. Mood swings and sensation changes, including stiff neck, often precede it.

Cluster headache occurs on one side of the head and is concentrated around the eyes and temples. You may also experience redness of the eyes, drooping eyelids, runny nose and blockage.

3. Migraine

Migraine is another common type of neurological headache of moderate to severe intensity. It is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound and odors. You will also experience neck pain that occurs at about the same time as the headache.

Migraine attacks can last for a day or more. It usually appears on one side and focuses around the eyes, temples and back of the head. Common causes of migraines include stress, poor eating patterns, certain foods, dehydration and sunlight.

Migraine begins in childhood to middle age. In women, this is more common after puberty and is less common during pregnancy and old age.

We usually treat headaches with some effective stress and lifestyle management techniques and medications if needed.

What is the difference between fatigue and tiredness?

We often associate fatigue with fatigue, and that’s where the problem lies. Being tired and tired can seem to mean the same thing, and most people use them interchangeably. But there is a small difference.

Fatigue

Fatigue, although a common problem, is difficult to diagnose even in the medical community. Feeling tired does not mean falling asleep immediately.

You may feel tired after working out in the gym, and you may reach a point where you can no longer exercise. You may need an energy drink or coffee to cheer up, but you are not yet ready to go to bed and sleep.

Fatigue is usually temporary and can cope with simple lifestyle changes.

fatigue

On the other hand, feeling tired means being more than tired. This is when you are very tired and this exhaustion can prevent you from waking up and doing your daily activities.

You will experience several symptoms, such as yawning, tired eyes, tired joints, stiff and sore muscles, anxiety and boredom, a tendency to “nod” and other sleep signals that indicate impending sleep. When you are tired, you do not wake up refreshed, even after sleeping enough.

This can mean physical fatigue, in which you can’t do any activity, or mental fatigue, in which you can’t concentrate and concentrate, have memory problems, lack energy and interest, and are emotionally unstable.

Fatigue can be related to headaches, medical and psychiatric conditions, bad life habits or an unknown cause.

When should you see a doctor?

If you experience fatigue that lasts for more than six months, it is chronic fatigue that is different from a condition called chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a condition in which fatigue lasts for at least six months, accompanied by flu-like symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, poor sleep quality and migraines.

If you have constant tiredness or fatigue, then it’s time to see a doctor, especially when you are accompanied by severe headaches and unusual bleeding, such as rectal bleeding or vomiting of blood.

The connection between headache and fatigue

It is difficult to determine whether headaches and fatigue affect each other directly or whether headaches cause fatigue and vice versa. Fatigue often precedes migraine headaches and is an indicator. You may also feel tired after a migraine attack.

Those who suffer from chronic fatigue may have a basic medical condition such as headache, migraine or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Headache and fatigue have some connection and both are common symptoms of several health conditions.

Here is a list of some common causes of both headaches and fatigue:

• migraine
• Dehydration
• depression
• Pregnancy
• menstruation
• anemia
• Hypothyroidism
• Liver and kidney problems
• Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
• Sleep disorders such as insomnia, restless legs syndrome, bruxism, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea
• Flu and the common cold
• Fibromyalgia
• Medicines such as diuretics and for blood pressure
• caffeine
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• hangover

How to deal with constant headaches and fatigue

Here are some simple steps you can take today to keep your headaches and tiredness going.

1. Keep a diary

Keep a diary or diary to identify, track and monitor your triggers and record your sleep time, lifestyle and food choices.

You may notice something you missed after writing them down. There may be some missing links that can help you find solutions to your headaches and fatigue.

Maybe you don’t drink enough water, you’re too tired, you don’t get enough sleep, or drinking coffee causes headaches.

Maybe your medication is causing headaches and fatigue. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) recommends not using over-the-counter pain medications more than two or three times a week, as this can lead to recurrent headaches.

2. Get enough sleep and rest

If you don’t get enough sleep, then it’s time to adopt good sleep habits that include:

• Sleep and wake at the same time every day
• Limit your daily nap to no more than 20 to 30 minutes
• Sleep in a dark, quiet room at optimum temperature
• Turn off all electronic devices at least 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime
• Perform a bedtime relaxation ritual, such as a hot bath, reading, thanking, or applying an ice pack to your forehead
• Avoid heavy meals and alcohol before bed

3. Follow a healthy diet

Never miss meals, as they are a vital source of your energy. Eat small meals every three to four hours during the day to balance your blood sugar drops and maintain your energy levels.

Eat foods with a low glycemic index (GI), as sugars are absorbed slowly and give you lasting energy. Low GI foods include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and olive oil.

Limit or eliminate sugar, processed foods, caffeine and alcohol. Alcohol is a sedative and therefore avoid it when you need to be productive during the day. It can also affect the quality of your sleep, so avoid it before bed.

Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and plenty of fluids. Fatigue is the first thing that strikes you when your body is short of fluids. You can take caffeine, provided you consume it wisely, as it can affect your sleep and cause headaches and fatigue the next day.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends staying away from caffeine for a while to see if you feel less tired without it. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks and even some medicines. You may get a headache and feel tired when you stop taking caffeine, but keep going until the withdrawal symptoms go away.

4. Exercise

Being overweight can be exhausting, as it puts extra strain on your heart, making you tired. Losing weight can stop you from a spiral of constant fatigue and headaches.

In addition to a healthy diet, maintaining activity and regular exercise can help you maintain an ideal weight.

Take regular breaks from work and move every hour. Try to get some fresh air by going outside. As you walk, speed up and increase your heart rate to gain additional health benefits.

In addition to maintaining an optimal weight, exercise helps you become more energetic, as it increases dopamine and helps you sleep better at night.

No matter how busy your schedule is and you don’t think you have time to exercise, try to include it. Even 10 to 15 minutes of exercise done regularly can improve your mood and make you more energetic.

You can start doing light exercises for short periods and upgrade them gradually over weeks and months. Aim to train daily for at least 30 minutes in the long run and include stretches to reduce tension in the neck and upper body.

You can also switch between different forms of exercise to make it a fun and challenging activity.

5. Manage stress

A common cause of headaches and fatigue is overwork and stress. Reduce the strain on your personal and professional front so you can take care of your health.

Plan and prioritize “mandatory” activities and delegate or eliminate tasks that are less important.

Overcome stress with some relaxation options, such as:

• Yoga and meditation
• tai chi
• I’m training
• Listening to music
• Dancing
• Reading
• Writing
• Communicate with friends and family

Talking to a trusted group of family and friends or joining a support group can help relieve stress and anxiety. If that doesn’t help relieve your anxiety, then it’s time to talk to a healthcare professional.

Last thoughts

If you have noticed your triggers and you have changed your lifestyle, but you do not see a significant change, then it is time to visit your doctor.

See your doctor if severe, persistent, unexplained headaches and fatigue interfere with your daily routine and you are unable to keep up with your personal and professional life.

Your doctor will offer you a personalized treatment plan for long-term treatment and may ask you to change the medicines or their dosage.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience a sudden, severe headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, vomiting, changes in vision, numbness or difficulty speaking.

Presented photo credit: Nick Shulyakhin via unsplash.com