If you get headaches after eating, this is called a postprandial headache. Below are a few possible reasons why you may suffer from postprandial headaches.
1. Postprandial Hypoglycemia
This kind of headache hits four hours after eating. It is triggered by a drop in blood sugar levels. Some underlying causes may be diabetes, digestive tumors, or abnormal hormone levels.
2. Food Allergy or Intolerance
Headaches may be an allergic reaction to certain kinds of food. Be careful about what kinds of food you are eating, and whether or not they may be affecting your headaches.
3. TMJ Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects the portion of your skull in front of your ear lobe to your lower jaw. This affects your chewing ability, and often produces pain if you are trying to eat. It is often accompanied by a popping or clicking sound, or tight feeling in your jaw when it closes or opens.
4. Cold Stimulus
This is commonly known as the brain freeze, where your head hurts because you just ate something really cold. This is due to changes in blood vessels around certain nerves that respond to the cold.
If you find yourself experiencing any headaches after eating, we encourage you to reach out with questions so we can better help you understand the cause of your pain. We want to see you get better! We now offer virtual and in-person dietitian services along with our standard headache and migraine treatments.