13 Causes & Triggers of Tension Headache You Shouldn’t Ignore (List)

Not Drinking Enough Water

Not drinking enough water can cause tension headaches, the most common type of headache. Tension headaches are often not as bad as migraines, but they can still be uncomfortable. There are a few reasons why not drinking enough water can cause tension headache symptoms.

Tension headaches can be caused by dehydration from not drinking enough water. When you don’t drink enough water, your body becomes dehydrated, which may cause headaches. In addition, the muscles in your face and head may tense up and become stiff and painful when you don’t drink enough water. 

Also, when you don’t drink enough water, the fluid in your brain is decreased, causing your blood vessels to constrict or tighten up, which leads to inflammation and pressure on the nerves around the brain. Lack of sufficient water can also trigger an increase in blood sugar levels and a decrease in blood volume, which may result in increased pressure on the nerves that supply blood to the muscles of the forehead and scalp.

Tension headaches can be triggered by dehydration from not drinking enough water because it causes muscle spasms—the muscles in your face, neck, and shoulders tend to tighten up when you’re dehydrated. Dehydration may also cause a decrease in blood volume due to less fluid circulating throughout the body, which can cause the brain to press against the skull and trigger a headache.