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Caffeine and Headache Sufferers: Friend or Foe?

May 24, 2016

Is there any doubt that we’re a caffeinated country? More than 85 percent of Americans consume caffeine each day and more than half of American adults drink coffee every day.

A healthy adult can safely consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. (That Iced Caramel Macchiato in your hand, by the way, contains 150 milligrams. An energy drink can contain up to 500 milligrams and an alarming amount of sugar.)

Taste aside, coffee’s primary attraction is the power of the world’s most widely used psychostimulant drug – that would be caffeine — to reduce physical fatigue and increase alertness.

Some caffeinated considerations for headache sufferers:

>> Caffeine can cure, and cause, a headache.

A migraine is often preceded by visual disturbances, dizziness, nausea or vomiting. Some avoid a full-blown migraine with a strong cup of coffee. But avoid drinking too much coffee.

“If someone uses caffeine excessively, it can cause a rebound headache, making existing headaches worse,”says Dr. Brian Grosberg, medical director of the new Hartford HealthCare Headache Center, in an interview with FoxNews.com.

>> In a controlled study, caffeine was as effective as acetaminophen at relieving tension headaches.

“Caffeine can restrict blood vessels, it can lessen pain —  it’s a constituent of some pain over-the-counter pain medicines,” says Grosberg. “But it can also trigger headaches for some people.”

Caffeine does not show up on The Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels, required by the Food and Drug Administration to include recommended dietary information for nutrients. But caffeine is a natural chemical, not a nutrient. If caffeine is added to a food, however, it must be included in the listing of ingredients required on food product labels.

For more information, visit Hartford HealthCare’s Headache Center.