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There’s no question about it: experiencing a headache can be a grueling experience.
It’s a familiar sensation: you either start to crash and feel light-headed or tensed up. In severe cases, a throbbing sensation can be felt in specific regions of your brain.
More often than not, these aches can be cured by taking a few headache-reducing pills like Aspirin. That said, that’s rarely a solution for frequent chronic headaches, as these may be a sign of something more sinister happening in your body.
Studies have shown that estrogen and progesterone in females are clearly correlated with chronic headaches due to the menstrual cycle.
You may then wonder if the sample applies to men, particularly: can low testosterone cause headaches? The answer is rather complex; there’s indeed a relationship between the two phenomena, but one doesn’t exactly lead to the other.
You may be wondering what the connection between these two phenomena is. In this article, we’ll discuss how connected low testosterone levels and chronic headaches truly are, and how you can keep these aches at bay.
Signs of Low Testosterone Levels
Testosterone is a hormone generated by the testes that influence physical attributes and sexual maturation, triggers sex drive and sperm production, and promotes the growth of muscle and bone mass. As one ages, testosterone production typically declines.
If your testosterone levels fall sharply, you may experience various symptoms:
- Changes in mood
- A decline in sex drive
- Decreased muscle and bone mass
- Fatigue
- Hard to achieve and maintain an erection
- Hot flashes
- Increase in body fat
- Loss of hair
- Low blood count
- Memory loss
Roughly 40% of males aged 45 and above have low testosterone. While it’s common, it’s not normal. It’s essential to get in touch with a doctor to assess your condition.
The Connection Between Low Testosterone and Chronic Headaches
Medical professionals have acknowledged that there might be a relationship between hormones and headaches, and recent research has established a correlation between testosterone and chronic migraine in men.
Men with low levels of testosterone are more prone to migraine headaches, implying that low testosterone levels may heighten men’s susceptibility to chronic headaches.
To provide a clearer picture, headaches are caused by problems in the blood vessels and nerves in the body. Testosterone serves as a neuroprotective agent, fortifying these vital passageways and reducing the risk of chronic headaches.
Furthermore, testosterone supplementation has also been proven to increase the serum and total testosterone levels in the body.
While direct studies establishing how testosterone and headaches interact are limited, there’s indeed a correlation between increased testosterone levels in the body and lower rates of headaches.
4 Ways to Treat Chronic Migraines Caused By Low Testosterone
To cure cluster headaches, or any type of primary headache disorder, there are a variety of treatment plans men with chronic migraine disorders can consider.
Here are some ways to treat episodic cluster headache disorders:
1. Acupuncture
First practiced in China about 2,000 years ago, acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that uses thin needles to penetrate the skin onto specific points of the body called pressure points.
While there may be much skepticism regarding acupuncture, especially in the Western world, studies have shown that acupuncture was effective in alleviating chronic headaches, together with several other physical conditions.
2. Altering Your Diet
As the adage goes, “You are what you eat”. And this statement can’t be any more true when it comes to managing your health. Altering your diet can help alleviate chronic headaches.
Here are some of the food that you should consider eating more of:
- Avocados
- Dark leafy vegetables
- Tuna
- Mackerel
- Legumes
- Seeds
- Chamomile tea
Also, here are some of the food and compounds that you should avoid:
- Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose
- Caffeine
- Dairy products
- Foods rich in nitrate
- Gluten
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Phenylethylamine
- Tyramine
3. Medication
Chronic headaches can also be managed by consuming the right pain-relief medications.
Paracetamol, NSAIDs, and aspirin are great for relieving tension headaches. Triptans, on the other hand, are also effective in treating migraines and cluster headaches.
Consult a medical professional prior to beginning any new medications to determine the appropriate treatment plan for your unique medical history and diagnosis.
4. Quit Smoking and Drinking
When smokers smoke cigarettes, they inhale nicotine and other toxic compounds, which get transported to and cause chemical imbalances in the brain, leading to headaches.
Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol, which causes you to lose more water and become dehydrated, causing headaches. They also induce the production of more histamine, causing more inflammation in your body.
As such, quitting smoking and drinking would help to significantly ease your chronic headaches.
4 Ways to Treat Low Testosterone Levels
If your testosterone count causes other problems, you’ll need to get that checked too. Here are some ways to treat low testosterone.
1. Exercise Frequently
Engaging in physical activity, particularly resistance training, helps increase your overall testosterone levels. Fitness professionals advise engaging in 30 minutes of exercise per day.
Exercise enhances emotional well-being by triggering brain chemicals that contribute to a happier and more self-assured demeanor. Additionally, exercise increases energy and stamina, and promotes better sleep.
2. Get Sufficient Rest
Getting a good night’s sleep is a natural way to maintain healthy testosterone levels in young men. Research has shown that even a week of reduced sleep can significantly lower testosterone levels, especially in the afternoons and evenings on days with less sleep.
Participants in the study also reported feeling weaker as their testosterone levels decreased. The amount of sleep needed varies among individuals, but most adults need an optimal of seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
3. Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy can help boost testosterone levels in the body, which can help minimize the symptoms of low testosterone.
Testosterone therapy entails the administration of various remedies such as testosterone skin gels, intramuscular injections, testosterone patches, testosterone pellet implants, buccal testosterone tablets, testosterone nasal gel, and oral testosterone.
4. More Zinc, Less Sugar
Zinc is vital in the regulation of testosterone in men, and zinc supplements aren’t just the only way for men to have sufficient zinc intake. Food like beans, crabs, lobsters, nuts, oysters, and whole grains all contain zinc.
On top of that, sugar is a key factor in causing low testosterone levels, which is evident in men with diabetes. As such, men should reduce their sugar intake.
Improve Your Sexual Wellness at the Top Men’s Clinic in Tampa, Florida
Low testosterone and chronic headaches often go hand in hand. And if your low testosterone is becoming too debilitating, it’s vital to keep that in check to live a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Need further assistance? If you’re experiencing frequent headaches and symptoms of low testosterone, consult with one of our doctors at the leading men’s clinic in Tampa, Prestige Men’s Medical Center.
We are one of the most sought-after clinics in Tampa, Florida, offering a catalog of health-boosting clinical treatments such as erectile dysfunction treatment, low testosterone treatment, adrenal fatigue treatment, and more.
