Why Do I Get a Headache When I Haven’t Had My Coffee?

Why Do I Get a Headache When I Haven’t Had My Coffee?
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Caffeine is our favourite drug. But if we miss out on our fix, it can be a real headache, in more ways than one.

Caffeine is a stimulant. It quickly enters our brain and blocks the (adenosine) receptors that are responsible for dulling brain activity. By blocking the dulling of our brain, we feel a sense of invigoration, focus and subtle euphoria. These feelings can also enhance our performance of certain focused tasks, like driving or staying awake through the whole lecture.

Merlin Thomas
Merlin Thomas
Author
Professor of Medicine, Monash University
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