Re: Can whales get a headache

Date: Thu May 3 12:36:46 2001
Posted By: Rob Campbell, Ph.D Candidate, Oceanography, University of British Columbia
Area of science: Zoology
ID: 988828999.Zo

Message:

Hi Johnny:

Whales may very well get headaches- I did a quick search of the web (here) to find out what causes headaches in humans. A non-exhaustive list of various causes of headaches includes:

weather (barometric pressure)

alcohol

caffine

altitude

chronic fatigue

emotional stress

hormonal fluctuations

disease

diet

Many of those don't apply to whales, but I think you'll agree that the last three certainly might. Whether or not whales actually do get headaches is kind of intangible- whales are generally not very accessible to us, and not able to communicate (to humans, at least) what they are feeling at any given moment. So, the answer to your question is, unfortunately, "maybe".

Hope that helps!
Rob Campbell, MAD Scientist

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