Do you have frequent headaches? If you do, you’re not alone. Nearly 1 in 20 people have a headache every day or nearly every day. If you suffer from frequent headaches, it’s likely that one of the below causes is the reason for it. Receiving treatment for your headaches is the best way to stop experiencing them as frequently.

1. Dehydration
If you’re not drinking enough water throughout the day, or you exercise without replenishing your lost water supply, expect to experience a dehydration headache. If you notice your urine is more yellow than usual, you experience dry mouth of feel excessively thirsty, try drinking more water and eating foods high in water content like watermelon, celery, and tomatoes. You can also include drinks with added electrolytes for extra hydration. Women should consume approximately 2.7 liters of water per day while men should consume 3.7 liters of water per day.
2. Hormonal Issues
Whether it’s your time of the month, you’re going through menopause, using hormonal birth control, or are pregnant; changes in hormones can cause frequent headaches. Try to track your headaches to see if there’s a correlation between your cycle and when the headaches occur. Consult with your doctor if you find a correlation so you can explore your options.
3. Sinus Infection
If you have a severe headache with phlegm, fever, or yellow or green discharge coming from your nose, it’s likely a sinus infection is to blame. You will need to visit your doctor for antibiotics to clear the infection up.
4. Chronic Disease
Chronic diseases like diabetes, lupus, and fibromyalgia can also cause frequent headaches. If you’re not already diagnosed with these conditions, you will likely extra other symptoms too like fatigue, skin lesions, and joint pain. If you notice any of these symptoms, visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
5. Drinking Too Much Caffeine
Maybe you shouldn’t have that extra cup of coffee today. When you drink too much caffeine, it causes your blood vessels to constrict which makes them narrower. Your body eventually gets used to this feeling if you drink caffeine too frequently. If you happen to skip a day without caffeine, your blood vessels don’t constrict which then causes your head to hurt. To avoid the caffeine withdrawal headache, it’s best to not drink more than two small caffeinated beverages in a day.
6. Stress & TMJ
If you live a particularly stressful life, this may be the cause of your frequent headaches. When you become stressed, this causes strain on your neck and jaw muscles, which can tense up and cause headaches. Stress is also a leading cause of TMJ, a joint disorder that affects the jaw joint and also causes frequent headaches. Once you treat TMJ, you will experience fewer headaches. The treatment works by relieving the excess pressure that takes place on your jaw.
If you suffer from frequent headaches, TMJ might be to blame. Please call (509) 927-2273 to visit our Spokane Valley dental office for an evaluation. We will create a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief from frequent headaches.