Why do I get headaches on weekends?

Your head keeps weekday time even when you do not. Weekend headaches usually come from the schedule change itself, and the NHS's own advice fingers the biggest one: do not sleep more than you usually would - it can make the headache worse. A two-hour lie-in shifts your whole rhythm. Next is caffeine: MedlinePlus lists headache as a leading caffeine withdrawal symptom, so the 7am weekday coffee that arrives at 11am on Saturday leaves a four-hour withdrawal window your head fills. The NHS adds the rest of the weekend set: not eating regular meals, not drinking enough fluids, drinking too much alcohol, and stress. The stress connection deserves respect, because it works in reverse - tension headaches relate to stress per MedlinePlus, and the come-down after a high-pressure week is its own trigger, which is why the headache lands on the relaxed day, not the frantic one. The fix is boring and effective: keep weekend wake time within an hour of weekday time, take your coffee at the usual hour, eat breakfast on schedule, pre-load water, and pace Friday drinks. A headache diary for a month (the NHS suggests one) will show you which trigger is yours. One line overrides the pattern-spotting: a headache that starts suddenly and is extremely painful, or comes with numbness, weakness, or trouble speaking, is a 911 emergency - not a weekend quirk. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you map your triggers.