Why Do You Get a Headache After Crying?

By Your Health Magazine

Crying is a natural emotional response — but for many people, it’s followed by something far less cathartic: a headache. Whether it’s a dull ache behind your eyes or a full-blown migraine, a headache after crying can make an already difficult moment even more uncomfortable.

In some cases, this pain may overlap with symptoms of other neurological conditions. That’s why it’s important to know how to test for concussion, especially if headaches become frequent, severe, or are accompanied by confusion, sensitivity to light, or nausea.

So, why does crying sometimes make your head hurt? And what can you do to ease the discomfort? Let’s break it down.

What Causes a Headache After Crying?

Crying triggers a chain reaction in your body, emotionally and physically. Tears may provide emotional relief, but the process behind them can create real physical tension that leads to discomfort afterward.

When you cry, your facial muscles contract repeatedly. Your breathing often becomes irregular or shallow, and blood vessels in your head and face may dilate. This combination of muscle tension, altered breathing, and blood flow changes can all contribute to developing a headache after crying.

In addition, crying may cause congestion in your sinuses, especially after extended episodes. Swollen nasal passages and sinus pressure can make your head feel heavy or throbbing. And if you’re already prone to tension or migraine headaches, crying can act as a trigger that sets one off.

For some people, even a short burst of intense emotion can result in a lingering headache. If your crying gives you a headache regularly, it’s likely a combination of muscular strain, stress response, and disrupted oxygen flow to the brain.

Types of Headaches Linked to Crying

Not all crying-related headaches feel the same, and that’s because there’s more than one type. From pressure behind the eyes to sharp, throbbing pain, your symptoms can help identify what kind of headache you’re dealing with.

Tension Headache After Crying

Tension headaches are the most common type linked to emotional stress and crying. They typically feel like a tight band around your head or pressure at your temples. Muscle tension in your neck, jaw, and forehead during crying can trigger this response. If crying gives you a headache that feels dull, tight, or spreading, tension is likely the cause.

Sinus Headache After Crying

Crying can cause nasal swelling and fluid buildup in your sinuses, especially if you cry heavily or for a prolonged time. This can lead to facial pressure, congestion, and a headache from crying too much. While crying doesn’t cause a sinus infection, it can mimic some symptoms temporarily.

Migraine From Crying

For those who are migraine-prone, crying can act as a trigger. The shift in hormones, disrupted sleep, and heightened emotion may contribute to the onset. If your headache after crying includes light sensitivity, nausea, or a pulsing pain, it may be a migraine.

Can Crying Dehydrate You — And Cause a Headache?

You may not associate a few tears with fluid loss, but if you’ve cried heavily or for a long period, you might feel drained — literally. So, can crying dehydrate you? Technically, yes — but not in the way intense sweating or vomiting might.

Tears contain water and electrolytes, and extended crying can contribute to minor fluid loss. More importantly, crying is often accompanied by fast breathing, mouth breathing, and skipping meals or water intake — all of which can worsen dehydration symptoms.

Does crying dehydrate you enough to cause a headache? For some people, yes. Dehydration headaches often feel like a dull ache or throbbing pressure, especially if you’re also emotionally and physically tense. If you’re wondering, “Why does my head hurt after crying?”, subtle dehydration may be part of the answer.

To help, drink water slowly, especially if you’re also feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Rehydration can reduce headache intensity and support your recovery after a cry-heavy day.

Why Does Your Face or Head Hurt After Crying?

Face hurts after crying? It’s usually due to muscle tension. Crying contracts facial muscles — especially around the eyes, jaw, and forehead — which can leave your head hurting after crying, even hours later.

Fluid buildup from tears may add pressure to the face and sinuses. That’s why your head hurts after crying a lot, or your face hurts from crying during an intense emotional release.

The pain is typically harmless, but if it happens often or feels severe, it may signal tension patterns or even trigger headaches like migraines.

How to Get Rid of a Headache After Crying

If crying gives you a headache, a few simple steps can help ease the discomfort:

Cool your face: Apply a cold compress to the forehead or eyes.
Hydrate: Drink water slowly to counter mild dehydration.
Relax your muscles: Stretch your neck, jaw, and shoulders.
Find calm: Rest in a dark, quiet space to reduce sensory overload.

Whether it’s tension, sinus pressure, or migraine, these strategies can help you get rid of a headache after crying and support faster recovery.

When to See a Doctor About “Crying Headaches”

Occasional headaches from crying are common, but if they’re intense, frequent, or come with other symptoms, it may be time to speak with a healthcare provider.

See a doctor if:

You experience a splitting headache after crying or visual disturbances
Headaches come with nausea, confusion, or dizziness
You feel sick, weak, or overly fatigued the next day

In rare cases, what feels like a headache from crying too much could be masking other neurological issues. If you’re unsure, speak to a provider or learn how to test for concussion, especially if symptoms last or worsen over time.