Sometimes a simple headache can derail your entire day. It slows down your work, causes you issues etc. When that happens, the easiest way to get rid of it is by taking medicine. However, did you know, you may be able to avoid taking the medicine by doing a simple check before? Sometimes, the cause isn't a lack of medicine—it's a lack of hydration. Dehydration is a very common cause of headaches, and it's often overlooked. In a post, Suzanne Soliman, a US board certified pharmacist, explained that your headache may be a simple issue, that may not need medicine. Before you grab a pain reliever, try this simple trick: Drink a full glass of water with a small pinch of salt. The salt helps your body absorb the water better. But how does salt water help you get rid of headaches? Is there medical backing to this or is it a placebo trick that helps some people?Also Read: This 24-Year-Old Was Suffering With Frequent Migraines: Neurologist Shares This Simple Trick That Helped Can Salt Water Treat a Migraine? For some people, drinking salt water can help relieve a migraine, but it depends on the cause. Here are a couple of reasons why it might work: You're dehydrated If you've been sweating a lot, you lose both water and salt. Rehydrating with a glass of water and a pinch of salt can restore your body's balance and ease the headache. You're on a low-salt diet Several studies, like a 2021 study published in the Medical Science journal, suggest that if your body is used to a high-salt diet (like the average American diet), suddenly reducing your sodium intake can trigger a "withdrawal" headache. In this case, eating or drinking something salty might help.However, the evidence isn't clear, and drinking too much salt water can make you feel sick. If you want to try this, only add a tiny pinch of salt to a full glass of water. A better way to get more salt might be through salty snacks or a sports drink with electrolytes., Can Eating Salt Prevent or Worsen a Migraine? There's a complex link between salt and migraines. Some people who eat a lot of salt regularly report fewer migraine symptoms, possibly because their bodies are used to a high-sodium diet. According to the 2021 study, the relief people feel when they eat salty foods during a migraine isn't a cure, but rather a temporary relief from withdrawal symptoms. This might help explain why some studies have found that people who eat more salt tend to have fewer migraines—their bodies are simply getting the high amount of salt they're used to. Can Too Much Salt Trigger Migraine? On the other hand, consuming too much salt can also be a migraine trigger. Eating too much salt can increase your blood pressure, which is a known cause of headaches and migraines. Studies have shown that for some people, a high-salt diet can actually make a migraine episode last longer.Also Read: Frank Grillo On Steroid Use: 'I’m Not Cheating At Anything Except Aging' A 2023 study published in JAMA included 213 people with a median age of 61. The group was 65% female and 64% Black. Each person followed three different diets: their usual diet, a high-salt diet, and a low-salt diet. If your headaches are related to high blood pressure, a low-salt diet may be more beneficial Salt's effect on migraines is different for everyone. It might help if your headache is caused by dehydration or a sudden drop in sodium, but it could also trigger a migraine or make it worse if you have high blood pressure or are sensitive to salt. Always talk to your doctor to figure out what's best for you and your symptoms. Salt's effect on migraines is different for everyone. It might help if your headache is caused by dehydration or a sudden drop in sodium, but it could also trigger a migraine or make it worse if you have high blood pressure or are sensitive to salt. Always talk to your doctor to figure out what's best for you and your symptoms.
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