Headaches After Sailing (Medical Question)

MoodySabre said:
I find that wearing a cap ....usually prevents it.
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I find a cap gives me a headache so only wear a wolly hat when cold.

As a Scout Leader says every year on summer camp - if it isn't coming out then not enough is going in. I sail singlehanded and make a 2 litre bottle of waterery squash & keep it in the cockpit with a bucket.

I often think more is coming out than going in but over the course of a day sailing I drink it all with the odd cup of tea as well.
 
Headaches after sailing

I too reckon that dehydration is part of the cause.
I believe that it is the way we individually sail our boat.
As a former regular dinghy sailor I constantly watch the luffs of main and jib and the wind indicator at the top of the mast. This gives me a crick in the neck and a headache at the end of the days sailing. After a shower and hot compress on the neck muscles it usually eases off. Good advice to check with the Doc anyway though.


iianat182
 
I agree with all that has been said,one small point further.
I found continually looking at the burgee / wool telltales / sail thingygummies caused an almighty crick in the neck and consequently an headache.
I lowered the telltales but glare is the worst
 
ianat182 said:
Good advice to check with the Doc anyway though.
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Suppose we had to pay £10 to £20 to see the doc? The doctor should charge at least £200 per hour including overheads if the NHS was not paying. I am digressing, but is that what has gone wrong with the NHS? Is it too 'easy' to consult the doctor? I really don't know but it needs thinking about.
 
I also get sinus issues after sailing (I suspect it dates back to when I did a lot of surfing and had loads of sinusitis infections). I use clarityn to try and prevent it and sudafed as a decogestant if it kicks in.
 
For the sake of a short visit to the doc' to give you peace of mind I would suggest it's worth it.
I too have had sinus problems but these were brought to a head (apopogies) when I did a great deal of work on my boat in the severe cold 2 winters ago. I was bending forward for hours and days on end and working physically hard getting more and more congested with eventually severe pain and smell from my sinus. A minor opp' was eventually required after weeks of antibiotics failed to clear things up. A bad smell with discomfort seems to indicate an infection.

Otherwise, all the reasons mentioned by others seem to apply.....
It seems so easy when aboard to go for hours without drinking or passing water.
Urine needs to be a clear colour on the way out with no strong smell.

Some form of protection for the eyes I find important. I wear specs and I've recently damaged my sunglasses with the prescriptive lenses. I find I often have a 'muzzy' head by the end of the day with my standard lenses.
 
As the originator of this thread four year's ago, I have only just found the answer for the headaches.

Might be useful to others.

Thanks for all of the responses . I have tried all suggestions and I definitely felt myself that it would be one of them.

i.e. Dehydration, glare, sun etc even the stress of sailing.

Like mechanical faults , these headaches were not consistent which was part of the problem. Sometimes I would get them and sometimes I wouldn't . They tended to start during during sleep on the first or second night at sea. I even tried analysing evening meals diet etc.

Often they were so severe that I could not sail much the following day because of the intensity.

Well, I have found the answer. Caffeine..........................

As a single hander, I like the sachet cappuccinos where you just add hot water. Quick and convenient. I do also drink normal tea but that is hit and miss. It would appear that on occasions I buy the box of decaffeinated brand and sometimes caffeinated .

When not sailing I love going to coffee shops and usually have the double and even triple shots of coffee. I also have normal tea and normal instant coffee.

Depending on what time of day I leave home and go sailing, plus the decaffeinated coffee, I can now tie down and understand what has been happening.

It is definitely caffeine withdrawal. In my case, if I go a day without caffeine, or very little I get a splitter during the first night of sleep around half way through the night. This is not just a headache but is best described by those poor souls that have migraines.

I am absolutely thrilled that I have found the answer.

Thought I would pass the info on.

Regards,
 
Caffeine Dependence

Caffeine withdrawal is common and rarely dangerous. Withdrawal usually starts between 12 and 48 hours of the last intake of caffeine and lasts between two and nine days. The most frequent symptom of caffeine withdrawal is moderate to severe headaches, but other common symptoms include sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, or stiffness. Advise the individual about the expected symptoms of withdrawal and the duration of symptoms. If discomfort persists beyond two weeks, this may be due to a different disorder. Be aware that treatment may unmask other conditions.
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From a page about caffeine " Effects of Caffeine on Cognition and Mood" http://www.ceusource.com/texts/effects_of_caffeine.html
Probably best not reading it.....
 
nigelmercier said:
But what is the answer? Wean yourself off caffeine, or drink more on board?
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A good point and a valid question. In the short term I am drinking more caffeinated drinks on board.

I am a bit confused with caffeine . There does not seem to be much difference in the taste but the brain clearly is sending a message. The difference between Caliber beer and real beer is massive. Clearly, the alcohol is the difference. Non nicotine cigarettes are another example.

It seems to be well known that anything that takes time to acquire a taste for is a warning sign from our natural response system - don't do it. i.e. smoking/coughing, booze/foul_taste, tea and coffee/foul_ taste, . Convention seems to say carry on regardless. Finally, after many warnings, the brain then adapts and tells us when to fill up . Animals do not seem to fall for this one.

When I first tasted a light ale, I thought, have I really got to drink this. Looking back, tea and coffee for youngsters is either not drunk but many sugars/milk are added to hide the taste.

Just booze and caffeine left for me now. I think I will try and give up caffeine when the sailing season ends. Still intend to doss about drinking decaffeinated coffee though.
 
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Wish I'd spotted this thread first time around, could have helped then.

Used to happen to me in the '80's going from working in an office where there was always good fresh coffee available to racing at the weekend when there was no or rubbish instant coffee aboard. Then found the same staying with in-laws who were not coffee people. Worked out it was caffeine, and changed to de-caff. Not had a problem since.

Beware, if you're trying to shake a caffeine habit, that some analgesics contain caffeine, so if you take a pill to help with the headache/migraine, you might be setting yourself back.
 
My advice..... if you like your coffee, have/take/indulge with just one good quality black coffee early a.m.... help get things

moving in all senses of the word, then no more all the rest of the day or night.

Then a warm milky chocolate drink an hour before bedtime and .....zzzzzzzzz.


If your sailing and want to stay awake overnight for your watch, I really don't recommend having coffee. Your rota may only

have you on deck for a couple of hours or three and you will not get a good nights sleep having had coffee a few hours

earlier.
 
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