http://www.livestrong.com/article/470669-potassium-sodium-headaches/
Potassium, Sodium & Headaches
Last Updated: Jun 14, 2011 | By Stephanie Chandler
Inappropriate amounts of sodium and potassium can cause hypertension-related headaches.
Sodium and potassium are essential minerals, which means that your body cannot function properly without enough of these minerals. Getting too much or too little of either of these minerals can cause physical symptoms, but neither is directly associated with headaches. Sodium and potassium levels do affect your blood pressure.however, and high blood pressure, a medical condition known as hypertension, can cause headache.
Sodium, Potassium and Hypertension
Sodium and potassium are electrolytes, which transmit tiny electrical impulses, making them important in normal nerve and muscle function. They also balance the amount of fluid in the body. You consume the majority of sodium in your diet in the form sodium chloride, or table salt. Sodium attracts water, so as the amount of sodium in your blood increases, your volume of blood also increases. To compensate for the increased blood volume, your blood pressure increases to keep the blood flowing. Potassium helps to counteract the effects of sodium. Excessive sodium intake with a potassium deficiency can cause hypertension.
Hypertension and Headaches
Headaches affect approximately 90 percent of the people in the United States. Most headaches are not serious, although some headaches can be a result of a more serious medical condition. High blood pressure, often referred to as the silent killer, can cause headaches, according to the National Headache Foundation. Hypertension does not usually cause recurring headaches, but it can cause an occasional headache due to increased pressure in the blood vessels in the head. The majority of hypertension-related headaches occur when blood pressure reaches levels of at least 200 mmHg over 110 mmHg.
Anonymous wrote:OP, how many times did this happen. Just wondering if your sample size is large enough.
Anonymous wrote:if it's MSG, then the OP presumably gets the same reaction with Chinese food (assuming s/he eats that)?
Anonymous wrote:Do you know your blood pressure?
Anonymous wrote:Sour cream? If I eat it, instant migraine.
Anonymous wrote:Order one without meat and beans to eliminate MSG as a potential cause
Anonymous wrote:if it's MSG, then the OP presumably gets the same reaction with Chinese food (assuming s/he eats that)?