Health Conditions A-Z Neurological Disorders Headache Can Eating Spicy Food Give You a Thunderclap Headache? By Amanda MacMillan Amanda MacMillan Amanda MacMillan is a health and science writer and editor. Her work appears across brands like Health, Prevention, SELF, O Magazine, Travel + Leisure, Time Out New York, and National Geographic's The Green Guide. health's editorial guidelines Updated on July 20, 2024 Medically reviewed by Isabel Casimiro, MD, PhD Medically reviewed by Isabel Casimiro, MD, PhD Isabel Casimiro, MD, PhD, is an endocrinologist at the University of Chicago in Illinois. As a physician-scientist in molecular biology, she uses her research on diabetes, lipid disorders, cardiovascular function, and more to provide comprehensive care to her patients. Her research findings have been published in several scientific and medical journals, including Cell Metabolism and the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Dr. Casimiro also has extensive experience providing gender-affirming hormone therapy and improving education regarding transgender medicine for endocrinology fellows. Her work with transgender patients has been published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society and Transgender Health. Dr. Casimiro also serves on graduate and medical school program committees and is a clinical instructor at the University of Chicago. Dr. Casimiro received her PhD in biomedical research from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and her medical degree from the University of Washington. She completed her internal medicine residency and endocrinology fellowship through the Physician Scientist Development Program at the University of Chicago. She is board-certified in internal medicine. learn more Close Tzido/Getty Images Research has shown that spicy food might cause thunderclap headaches. A case report published in 2018 described a 34-year-old man who developed severe headaches after eating the world's hottest chili pepper. The man consumed one Carolina Reaper pepper, which holds the Guinness World Record for the highest number of Scoville Heat Units. Scoville heat units are a measurement of chemical compounds called capsaicinoids that give the pepper its spice. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed that several arteries in the man's brain were narrower than they should be. This prompted healthcare providers to diagnose him with "thunderclap headaches," which cause severe pain. These headaches are typically a result of a sudden change in blood flow to the brain. Why can spicy food cause these headaches, and how can you prevent them? Read on to learn more about why you might get a headache after eating spicy food. Why You Get Period Headaches and How to Prevent Them What Is a Thunderclap Headache? Thunderclap headaches come on very suddenly and usually last less than five minutes. They typically reach their maximum intensity within less than one minute. Some thunderclap headaches happen without a known cause and are considered benign. They can also signal an increase or decrease in blood flow to the brain. A thunderclap headache can occur as the result of the following conditions: Hemorrhage following a head injury Ruptured brain aneurysm, or condition in which the wall of an artery bulges Stroke Sudden change in blood pressure Causes The 2018 case report found that the man's headaches were due to reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). This temporary condition causes the blood vessels to spasm and become narrow, limiting blood flow to the brain. Some people's brains may be naturally prone to RCVS. Some people get thunderclap headaches with no apparent underlying health problem. Other people may get these headaches from triggers like: Illicit drugs like cocaine and other stimulants Marijuana Some medications Can Spicy Food Trigger a Thunderclap Headache? The study authors noted that they couldn't be sure that eating a Carolina Reaper caused these changes in the man's blood vessels and his subsequent headaches. They stated that this was the first case in scientific literature to link spicy food with problems such as these. Eating capsaicin, or the chemical responsible for a pepper's heat, has been linked to heart attacks and sudden constriction of the coronary artery. The compound had been shown to affect blood vessels, so it's possible it could cause thunderclap headaches. It's possible that some people are more at risk for blood vessel constriction after eating spicy food. A similar case report published in 2020 described a 15-year-old boy who had also ingested a Carolina Reaper and gotten an RCVS diagnosis. Prevention It's possible that spicy food could trigger a stress response that worsens certain conditions, such as heart or blood vessel problems. Eating spicy food can also cause an upset stomach and breathing difficulties. Your stomach acid can also damage the esophagus if you vomit it up. Consume spicy food in moderation to prevent thunderclap headaches. You can also try identifying whether spicy food triggers your headaches. Eliminate spicy food from your diet and then slowly reintroduce it. Make a note if spicy food triggers head pain, and see a healthcare provider right away if you have thunderclap headaches. They can help identify and treat any underlying causes. What Causes a Headache on Top of Your Head? A Quick Review A thunderclap headache causes severe pain, usually within minutes. It's typically the result of a sudden change in blood flow to the brain and can be triggered by eating spicy food. Other common triggers include the use of certain medications and stimulants. You can prevent a headache from spicy food by eating it in moderation. A healthcare provider may also instruct you to eliminate spicy food from your diet and then slowly introduce it. This elimination diet can show whether spicy food is triggering your symptoms. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 6 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Boddhula SK, Boddhula S, Gunasekaran K, et al. An unusual cause of thunderclap headache after eating the hottest pepper in the world - "The Carolina Reaper". BMJ Case Rep. 2018;2018:bcr2017224085. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-224085 American Migraine Foundation. Thunderclap headaches. MedlinePlus. Aneurysms. Taylor CS, Kelly BM, Nichols TA. Fear the reaper: Reversible cerebrovascular vasoconstriction syndrome after hot pepper ingestion. Radiol Case Rep. 2020;15(6):641-643. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2020.02.025 Chang A, Rosani A, Quick J. Capsaicin. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024. MedlinePlus. Esophagitis