Common causes of dry mouth and headaches include dehydration, migraines, negative moods, and certain medications. Depending on the cause, other symptoms may also appear; for example, dehydration causes a characteristic set of symptoms that can include dizziness and fatigue. The cause is usually temporary, but someone who often has a dry mouth and headache may benefit from professional medical advice.
Dry mouth is caused by reduced saliva flow, and almost everyone will experience it at one time or another. It is not a disease in itself, but it can be a symptom of disease. Headache is another commonly reported complaint and can be a symptom of illness or an ailment on its own.
Dehydration
One of the most common causes of this combination of symptoms is dehydration, making drinking water a good first step for someone experiencing them. Other symptoms that can occur with dehydration include decreased urine output, tiredness, dizziness, and negative moods, such as irritability. Dehydration is common after physical activity, alcohol consumption, exposure to hot or dry environments, and episodes of diarrhea or vomiting. Additional causes and risk factors include high blood sugar levels, rapid weight loss, and an electrolyte imbalance.
Untreated dehydration is a serious medical condition. Symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and breathing, high body temperature, wrinkled skin, extreme lethargy, fainting, seizures, and delirium are typical signs of severe dehydration. A person with these symptoms requires immediate medical treatment to prevent consequences that can include permanent brain damage and death.
heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion develops when the body overheats, and can occur with or without dehydration. Children and the elderly, as well as those with heart disease or high blood pressure, are at higher risk for this condition. In addition to dry mouth and headache, symptoms can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, fainting, and muscle cramps. Home treatments, such as a cool shower or bath, cold non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages, or applying ice to the neck, may help relieve symptoms. As with dehydration, this disease is life-threatening. Someone with heat exhaustion should seek medical treatment if they do not improve within 30 minutes of home treatment.
Medicines
A wide variety of medications, including those prescribed to treat pain, depression, insomnia, anxiety, allergies, and colds, cause headaches and dry mouth in some people. The drugs that cause this problem do so because they affect the salivary glands and reduce their production. Headache is a less common symptom, but dry mouth and headache sometimes occur together. People who have this reaction can often find relief by drinking water often, sucking on ice cubes or chips, chewing gum, and cutting back on caffeine.
Causes related to mood
Stress and anxiety can cause many physical symptoms. Muscle tension, digestive problems, rapid breathing and heart rate, dizziness, tremors, and fatigue can accompany the combination of dry mouth and headache. For most people, these physical effects occur only during times of extreme stress, but for some, they are symptoms of a mental illness such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia, and constantly interfere with a person's ability to to function normally. People with these types of disorders usually benefit from medication and therapy, which can help relieve physical and mental symptoms.
migraines
A migraine is a particular type of headache characterized by moderate to severe throbbing pain that can occur on one or both sides of the head. Light sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, and a visual phenomenon called an aura are associated with this condition. For some people, dry mouth is a common feature of this type of headache, either before, during, or after. Migraines are a chronic condition for which there is no cure, but many people who experience them can get relief with pain medications and medications that reduce the frequency of episodes.
persistent symptoms
With the exception of some migraines, most headaches can be treated with over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen; however, long-term use can make the problem worse. Rebound headaches are frequently the result of overuse of headache medications, which can lead to physical dependency to keep the pain at bay. Therefore, a person who uses these medications more than two or three times a week might benefit more from learning what caused the original symptoms so that the triggering circumstances can be avoided.
Persistent symptoms can sometimes be prevented with medication or lifestyle changes. For example, episodes of dehydration can often be avoided by increasing water intake at vulnerable times, while a person who is susceptible to migraines might reduce the frequency and severity of attacks by avoiding known triggers. A person who is taking medication to treat a mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety, may find that a health professional can suggest alternatives that do not cause these side effects.