Q My headache seems to get worse when I skip meals or drink too little water. Is there a connection?
A Yes, dehydration and an empty stomach are classic triggers for tension headaches. Low blood sugar and blood concentration constrict the cranial vessels and add to muscle fatigue.
Detailed Answer
When you are dehydrated, blood viscosity rises, cerebral blood flow decreases, and a headache is triggered. Skipping meals causes a sharp drop in blood sugar, reducing the supply of glucose to the brain and bringing on a headache. For adults, drinking 1.5 to 2 L of water per day and eating regular meals (every 3 to 4 hours) is the basis of tension headache prevention.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, irregular eating damages the Spleen and Stomach (bi-wi), reducing the production of Qi and blood and creating a state of Qi-and-blood deficiency in which there is not enough energy to nourish the head. Drinking warm, lukewarm water regularly and keeping to regular meals is the most important self-care, even for busy office workers in Dong-gu, Incheon. For those with Qi-and-blood deficiency, we prescribe herbal medicine that tonifies Qi and blood to replenish them at the root.
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