Crying is a universal human expression of emotion, a normal response to pain, sadness, or even joy. There’s actually something soothing about a good cry session, it lets us move our repressed feelings and process sentiments. According to Harvard Health, American women cry an average of 3.5 times every month, while American men cry an average of about 1.9 times each month.
However, non-emotional or positive tears don’t trigger migraine. Yet for many of us, the emotional tears are followed shortly by an undesirable physical companion: a headache. The pulsating pain, pressure, and discomfort that accompany it can debilitate and leave us depleted, vulnerable, and muddled about how to alleviate the anxiety. While crying is a great purge, even taking a nap after crying can sometimes worsen headache symptoms as a result of changes in sleep quality.
Understanding the dynamics underlying headaches after crying is significant to break this painful cycle. Let’s try and find out as we analyze the physiological and emotional reasons associated with headaches from crying while discussing some handy tips on how to handle and avoid such distressing episodes.
Does your Head Hurt When you Cry? Let’s Explore Why it Happens!
As indicated by Natasha Bhuyan, MD, at One Medical, “Researchers are not yet aware of exactly why people sometimes develop a headache from crying.” However, several factors are believed to contribute to this phenomenon.
1. Hormonal Changes
Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol cause contraction of facial and scalp muscles, putting too much pressure on the skull top, which may lead to tension headaches. According to Dr. Javeed Siddiqui, chief medical officer at TeleMed2U, “Crying is a physiological stress response, that makes the body release stress hormones like cortisol, which promote headaches and other physical symptoms.”
2. Muscle Tension
The physical act of crying involves significant muscle tension, particularly in the facial and neck regions, leading to discomfort and tension headache. Prolonged crying can cause muscle fatigue, inflammation, and nerve irritation, resulting in a dull aching pain.
3. Dehydration
Crying can eventually lead to dehydration, especially if it persists over time. One must remember that tears are a product of water and electrolytes, meaning both the water and electrolytes become depleted with a lot of crying. What’s more, skipping your meals or eating food without water will just add to your headaches because lowering blood sugar levels creates even more headache pain from dehydration and low sugar effects. Drinking salt water can also relieve headaches by restoring electrolyte balance. Consuming electrolytes can help treat migraine symptoms caused by dehydration and low sodium levels.
4. Oxygen Levels
Crying often leads to fast breathing that changes blood oxygen levels. Thus, it can act as a headache stimulus in many individuals, notably the ones who suffer from depression or stress.
Types of Headaches After Crying: How to Identify?
Headaches resulting after crying can be of various types:
1. Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common types of headache from crying. These include a mild, aching pain on both sides of the head, with neck and shoulder tension often accompanying it. Tension headaches are not a symptom but an effect of muscular tension and stress due to prolonged discomfort arising from crying.
2. Migraines
A migraine is a severe kind of headache that may be elicited by strong experiences such as crying. Researchers found that 80% of people suffering from migraine reported that stress was among the common stimulants.
Migraines are described as a throbbing type of pain across the head and face, usually worsening with activity, and are associated with nausea, vomiting, light, sound, or even sensitivity to smell. Influencing 15% of Americans, migraines are frequently misdiagnosed as sinus cerebral pains because of similar symptoms.
3. Sinus Headaches
There is an astonishing linkage of emotions with sinuses. More than 20% of chronic sinus sufferers report depression possibly linked to inflammation that might interfere with sleep and cause headaches.
Moreover, the excess of tears discharge through the nasal passage and combine with mucus, which produces pressure. The pressure may result in headaches from the sinuses. The pain and pressure are felt across the forehead, the cheeks, and the eyes.
Wondering How to Get Rid of Headache After Crying? Let’s Find Out!
Here are 5 practical ways to treat headaches caused by crying:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water at least 8-10 glasses to help regain lost fluids and electrolytes. Try to use salt water also to mitigate headache symptoms.
- Practice Relaxation: Participate in stress-reducing activities like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to oversee strain. Stay away from things that cause emotional tears, instead keep yourself happy by focusing on the things you are grateful for in life. Beside, gentle massage of the neck and shoulders can also reduce muscle pressure and headache intensity.
- Apply Heat or Cold: Utilize a warm or cold compress on the forehead, neck, or shoulders to relax muscles and improve blood stream.
- Over-the-Counter Pain Relief: Pain-relieving medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be used, but only within the recommended dosage.
- Rest: Permit yourself to take a time-out and retreat so that you can rest as emotional exhaustion enhances headaches. Lying down in a quiet and dark place can help relieve headache symptoms since sleep deprivation can be a contributing factor. Consider adding green noise to your relaxing space, as the constant, soothing sound may overpower other distracting noises and foster deeper relaxation.
Additional tips include:
- Take some time off from screens and electronic devices, and even substitute the annoying blue light of these devices with soothing green light therapy that makes headaches less severe.
- Try natural remedies like herbal teas such as peppermint, chamomile, or ginger to soothe and calm.
Remember, these actions can at best help to alleviate headache symptoms. On the other hand, if you suffer frequent, strong, or constant headaches, only a healthcare professional will be able to make the proper diagnosis and give treatment.
Conclusion
Headaches from crying are a common phenomenon, often including tension, hormonal changes, and dehydration. By understanding the relationship between headaches and crying, you’ll be able to take measures to avoid further distress and prevent any future occurrences. Remember to practice self-care; drink plenty of water, and learn to let go during emotional moments, which will eventually release your body from emotional and physical pain.
About the Author: Muhammad Arslan
