Why does crying give me a headache

You should also talk to your doctor if you cry often or you regularly feel down. This could be the result of an underlying condition like depression.

Other signs of depression include:. Antidepressant drugs and therapy can help relieve your depression — and with it, your crying bouts. If your eyes are swollen from crying, there are several things you can do to quickly relieve any redness, puffiness, or dryness.

In most cases, puffy eyes are only a cosmetic issue and not a sign of a more serious problem. There are a lot of reasons…. Find out what's causing your early morning headaches. Learn 12 causes of ringing in ears, dizziness, and pressure in head as well as what to do next and whether you can treat at home or require medical…. Have you had that unpleasant feeling commonly referred to as brain freeze, ice cream brain, or an ice cream headache?

Learn why it happens and how to…. Ophthalmoplegic migraine, now called recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy RPON , is a rare, painful nerve condition that causes headaches.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. This is because migraine headaches can cause congestion and swelling of the sinuses. True sinus headaches are rare. Migraine headaches are intense, pounding headaches.

These headaches often occur on only one side of the head. The stress that the body releases, which causes crying, can also trigger a migraine headache to occur in a person prone to them. Interestingly, people who cry from nonemotional reasons, such as from cutting onions , do not experience migraine headaches.

Only emotional crying can trigger them. It is often possible to treat crying-induced headaches at home with a combination of home remedies and medications. People who experience migraine, tension, or sinus headaches chronically should speak to their doctor and follow their recommended treatment plan.

Most of the time, a headache that occurs as a result of emotional crying is not a major cause for concern. With some home treatment and rest, a person will usually start to feel physically better within a few hours. However, if a person experiences migraine headaches, tension headaches, or sinus headaches frequently, they should speak to their doctor. They may have an underlying condition that is causing them to occur. For example, headaches may be a sign of depression.

Also, if crying is a new trigger for headaches, a doctor may be able to recommend a different strategy to help prevent the headache from occuring in the future. The most effective way to prevent chronic migraine, tension, and sinus headaches is to follow a treatment plan from a doctor.

However, it is important to note that stress is a trigger for both migraine and tension headaches, so it may not always be possible to avoid these headaches following emotional crying. There are lots of reasons that can lead to a good old-fashion cryfest.

While those tears may help release built-up emotions, they can also lead to a range of post-cry symptoms including puffy eyes, runny nose, red face, and worst of all, a pounding headache after crying. While you may feel better after a long, hard cry, there's a good chance that your head won't. It's not unusual to end a cry session with a pounding headache. The exact reasons why you can get a headache after crying aren't totally clear, says Fiona Gupta MD, assistant professor of neurology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

But, there are a few speculated causes. Another reason you may get a headache after crying is related to the type of tears you release. Your body produces three types of tears: basal tears which keep your eyes moist , reflex tears which pop up as a reaction to irritants like onions or smoke and emotional tears which are caused when your cerebrum triggers your body to release hormones to the eyes causing tears.

Also, if the tears stem from a more long-term sadness - the death of a loved one or ongoing relationship troubles rather than just a sad movie - there is also a chance that you might not be adequately caring for your body by not properly sleeping, exercising, or eating well, which could also trigger a headache, says Gupta.

Many kids cry when they feel uncomfortable due to uncomfortable symptoms. But if they get a headache afterward, opt for non-aspirin solutions. You might also consider having your child rest in a calm, non-stimulating environment. Have them lie down for a nap in their bedroom with the blinds closed, and many of their headache symptoms can start to vanish. Therefore, a calm environment could help to relieve sinus headaches. It may also help with tension headaches.

As your child rests in a calm area, their body will naturally relax, lowering the tension they might feel around their head and neck. If your child takes a nap, all the better — naps are great for relieving headaches both for kids and adults.

There are plenty of commercially available hot and cold patches you can purchase at your local drugstore. These are great solutions for both tension and sinus headaches as the heat and cold can soothe irritated or inflamed tissues, plus help your child take a nap as their headache subsides.

Just remember to refresh the water regularly so it keeps working. Parents might also want to try giving their children a massage, especially if the child in question has a tension headache. Even a short massage around the head or neck can do wonders to relieve tense muscles that are causing discomfort. Best of all, the soothing touch of a parent can frequently help a child to stop crying.