# Headache relieved by pooping - why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747 "2014-01-26T13:28:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/1 "2014-01-26T13:28:24Z")
I have often found that: [ul] [li]Constipation is accompanied by severe headache - and when the former is relieved, the latter goes away.[/li] [li]If I’m in a situation where I have to delay defecation (for example, a long meeting or journey), I will most likely develop a headache.[/li] [li]If I already have a headache, it feels abruptly better after a routine visit to the toilet for number 2’s.[/li][/ul] Why is this? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/2 "2014-01-26T14:17:15Z")
Never heard of this but I wonder if it’s related to blood pressure. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/3 "2014-01-26T14:28:11Z")
Or a response by the colon’s stretch receptors? I’ve never had a bowel related headache, but apparently it is a thing some experience. When my daughter was a toddler she recognized that her headaches would go away after she shat. There were some odd discussions. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/4 "2014-01-26T14:32:57Z")
Dont know the why but maybe if you get on a routine bowel schedule and poop before you go to work it will be easier on you. The usual suspects: getting up early enough to allow bathroom time after breakfast, hi fiber, adequate liquid intake, adequate exercise, magnesium supplement like [“Natural Calm”](http://www.vitacost.com/natural-vitality-natural-calm-raspberry-lemon) works well too. HTH ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/5 "2014-01-26T16:53:21Z")
They don’t call it “taking a load off your mind” for nothing. Exercise, even just going for a walk, and a magnesium supplement works great as mentioned. As for your question, I’ll leave it to a doctor to explain why. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/6 "2014-01-26T17:17:12Z")
[“gasotransmitters”](http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2008/10/25/flatulence_stink_linked_to_low/) may have something to blood pressure control. My next fortune will be in marketing the hydrochlorothiazide breakfast burrito. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/7 "2014-01-26T17:23:43Z")
Dehydration causing both headache and constipation? When you’re rehydrated enough to go, the headache goes away as well. (in my experience anyway) ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/8 "2014-01-26T18:19:57Z")
If you’re clenching muscles to not go, you might not realise that you are clenching all sorts of muscles up your back, neck and even in your face. This can then cause a [tension headache](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tension_headache). So really, the same reason bad posture or sleeping in a funny position sometimes causes a headache. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/9 "2014-01-26T23:10:10Z")
When it happens, it’s the same kind of slightly dizzy headache that I would associate with a hangover (often with some distortion of vision - blurring or haloes), and it goes away within a minute or two of defecation. Is it possible that some bacterial fermentation process in the bowel could be producing a byproduct to which I am sensitive? ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/10 "2014-01-26T23:14:37Z")
> [@GreenElf](#): > > They don’t call it “taking a load off your mind” for nothing. Am I the only one who’s NEVER heard it called this? ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/11 "2014-01-27T09:05:48Z")
Kidney stones cause headaches. Kidney stones can lead to high blood pressure. The organ’s internal pressure increases, squashing down on arteries in the kidney and restricting the blood flow, and the heart insists it keeps on flowing… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/12 "2014-01-27T09:11:35Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#): > > magnesium supplement like [“Natural Calm”](http://www.vitacost.com/natural-vitality-natural-calm-raspberry-lemon) works well too. HTH That’s a laxative, yeah I expect it will work. It shouldn’t be used constantly, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/13 "2014-01-27T13:11:30Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Kidney stones cause headaches. > > Kidney stones can lead to high blood pressure. > The organ’s internal pressure increases, squashing down on arteries in the kidney and restricting the blood flow, and the heart insists it keeps on flowing… This is interesting, but how can it be relevant? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/14 "2014-01-27T14:17:31Z")
The postulate in the OP would’ve made for an entertaining TV commercial. “When taking a large steaming dump doesn’t relieve your headache, try two Anacin!” ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-relieved-by-pooping-why/679747/15 "2014-01-27T15:13:46Z")
Sorry, I have to do this: Because you’re a shithead?