Common causes of a dry mouth and headache include dehydration, migraines, negative moods, and certain medications. Depending on the cause, other symptoms might occur as well; for example, dehydration causes a characteristic set of symptoms that can include dizziness and fatigue to. The cause is usually temporary, but someone who often has a dry mouth and headache might 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 can be a symptom of illness. Headache is another commonly-reported complaint and can be a symptom of a disease or an ailment on its own.
Dehydration
One of the most frequent causes of this combination of symptoms is dehydration, making water consumption a good first step for a person who experiences 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, 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 it can occur with or without dehydration. Children and older people, as well as those with heart disease or hypertension, have an increased risk of this condition. In addition to dry mouth and headache, symptoms can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, fainting, and muscle cramps. At-home treatments, such as a cold shower or bath, cold non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated drinks, or the application of ice on the neck, can help alleviate the symptoms. As with dehydration, this illness is potentially fatal. Someone with heat exhaustion should seek medical treatment if there is no improvement within 30 minutes of at-home treatment.
Medications
A wide variety of medications, including those prescribed for treating pain, depression, insomnia, anxiety, allergies, and colds, cause a headache and dry mouth in some people. Drugs that cause this problem do so because they affect the salivary glands and reduce their output. Headache is a less common symptom, but dry mouth and headache do sometimes occur together. Individuals who have this reaction can often find some relief by sipping water frequently, sucking on ice cubes or chips, chewing gum, and cutting down on caffeine.
Mood-Related Causes
Stress and anxiety can cause many physical symptoms. Muscle tension, digestive problems, rapid breathing and heart rate, dizziness, shaking, and fatigue can all accompany the dry mouth and headache combination. For most people, these physical effects occur only in moments of extreme stress, but for some, they are symptoms of a mental illness such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia, and consistently interfere with a person’s ability to function normally. People with these types of disorders typically benefit from medication and therapy, both of which can help alleviate the 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. Sensitivity to light, nausea, vomiting, and a visual phenomenon called an aura are associated with this condition. For some people, a dry mouth is a common feature of this type of headache, either before, during, or afterwards. Migraines are a chronic condition for which there is no cure, but many people who experience them can gain relief with pain medication and drugs that reduce the frequency of episodes.
Persistent Symptoms
With the exception of some migraines, most headaches can be treated with over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen; however, long-term use can actually make the problem worse. Rebound headaches are frequently the result of overuse of headache medication, potentially leading to physical dependence to keep pain at bay. A person who is using these drugs more than two to three times a week might therefore benefit more from learning what caused the original symptoms, so that he or she might avoid the triggering circumstances.
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 be able to 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, might find that a healthcare professional can suggest alternatives that do not cause these side effects.