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What Causes Headache When Skipped Breakfast?

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Posted on Tue, 3 May 2016
Question: Headech start when i delay my breakfast, or when i feel hunger and then can't do anything except sleep. Please help
doctor
Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Classical triggers of Migraine

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thank you for posting the query.

When you delay the breakfast or whenever you feel hungry your blood levels of glucose are dropping down triggering headache. These kind of triggers are typical of migraine or simple headache as well. You should avoid such triggers in the first place. Maintain a schedule or carry some simple munch so that even if you delay the meal your blood sugar levels are maintained with munch / bars.

You can take a double dose of TYLENOL/MOTRIN and sleep in a quiet, dark and probably cool room.
Similary dehydration also triggers such attacks so it is important to maintain water and glucose levels to the brain. Brain can take up only glucose for its function unlike other vital organs of the body.

It does make sense for an evaluation by a primary doctor. If the triggers are too often disrupting the normal life you may consider a migraine prophylaxis while keeping the above tips in mind and practice.

Hope this answers well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (7 hours later)
Can i avoid from this situation?


I mean can i avoid this headache even after i do not eat on time?
Sometimes i have to do fasting due to religion reasons.
doctor
Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Difficult situation and unspecified

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I am sorry, if you are tendency for migraine then you cannot avoid it if you fast or not on time.
However you can try if migraine prophylaxis works for you to tide away those situations.
Sometimes if you have presymptoms before headache (aura) you can take simple over the counter pain killer like Acetaminophen instantly, this can help. You can try this before you take the migraine prophylaxis. Sometimes people get to know the attack before hand and the moment they sense them, they can take a tablet of Acetaminophen.

Let me know if it works.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina
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Answered by
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Dr. V. N. S. Parinam

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 1727 Questions

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What Causes Headache When Skipped Breakfast?

Brief Answer: Classical triggers of Migraine Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for posting the query. When you delay the breakfast or whenever you feel hungry your blood levels of glucose are dropping down triggering headache. These kind of triggers are typical of migraine or simple headache as well. You should avoid such triggers in the first place. Maintain a schedule or carry some simple munch so that even if you delay the meal your blood sugar levels are maintained with munch / bars. You can take a double dose of TYLENOL/MOTRIN and sleep in a quiet, dark and probably cool room. Similary dehydration also triggers such attacks so it is important to maintain water and glucose levels to the brain. Brain can take up only glucose for its function unlike other vital organs of the body. It does make sense for an evaluation by a primary doctor. If the triggers are too often disrupting the normal life you may consider a migraine prophylaxis while keeping the above tips in mind and practice. Hope this answers well.