Another thing that remains unclear is whether the type of alcohol you drink determines whether or not you will get a migraine headache. Some studies found that red wine is a main trigger in migraine with aura and cluster type migraine, but they also note that all alcohol could have the same effect. Many people have experienced a headache after drinking alcohol — especially after drinking too much.
Earplugs for Migraine Attacks: 5 Features To Look For
One hypothesis is that red wine causes migraine due to high levels of certain compounds called flavonols, particularly quercetin. This compound might inhibit the body’s ability to break down alcohol, leading to the buildup of a substance called acetaldehyde, which could result in headaches. Alcohol increases urination, which can lead to dehydration, and people who drink alcohol may not drink as much water, intensifying the water loss. It may also trigger headaches related to headache disorders, such as migraine. In many cases, researchers say it’s more a matter of individual triggers or other factors that coincide with your alcohol consumption, like stress. Alcohol is identified as an occasional trigger in about a third of people who experience migraine headaches, but it’s only a consistent trigger in about 10 percent of migraine sufferers.
- “I can usually handle one or two, but that is it,” they wrote.
- Alcohol consumption causes a range of different physical symptoms.
- When mixed with alcohol, the common migraine medication Topamax (topiramate) can cause dizziness, problems with memory, sleepiness, and even depression.
- Then again, in some groups, alcohol appears to have protective effects against headaches.
Hangover headache
It has been proved that self-reported alcohol consumption by patients can be underestimated; therefore, more reliable methods such as toxicological hair analysis may help to provide stronger evidence 91. Of the studies included in our analysis, 19 were based only on questionnaires while five included interviews with patients. However, these limitations are to some extent discounted by the number of studies included and the cultural diversity of participants. In addition to red wine, other alcoholic beverages, including beer, white wine, and liqueur, have also been reported as headache triggers. Many studies in different countries show that alcohol is a headache trigger in high percentage of migraine subjects, both in the general population 15–17 and headache clinic population 18–22. About one-third of the patients (mean 34%) report alcohol as a trigger (Fig. 1).
Alcohol and migraine: trigger factor, consumption, mechanisms. A review
It aims to help you recognize your pains and aches way before they become a serious illness. There have been several proposed explanations for how alcohol causes headaches. As long as you don’t eat meals containing other triggers, this is one of the best things you can do.
- This is especially true for people prone to headaches or migraine without alcohol.
- The length of alcohol-induced headaches varies from person to person and depends on these factors.
- So it’s best to make alcohol the single, isolated factor and journal what triggers each migraine.
- The stomach lining may become irritated, increasing nausea and the chance of bleeding.
- This work considered the alcoholic drinks and other triggering factors taken the day before onset of headache.
However, the type of alcoholic beverage that triggers these headaches is not clear. Vasodilation may trigger migraine attacks in certain individuals. This is especially true for people prone to headaches or migraine without alcohol. In most patients with delayed headache and also sometimes with immediate headache, the headache fulfilled IHS diagnostic criteria for migraine 43, 44. Histamine intolerance, which results from a disequilibrium of accumulated histamine and the capacity for histamine degradation, has been recently reviewed 41. Many foods are considered to have the capacity to release https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-alcohol-can-affect-relationships/ histamine from tissue mast cells, even if they themselves contain only small amounts of histamine.
- Alcohol-induced headaches are common after having a drink or two.
- Hence, papers that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded.
Alcohol-Related Neurologic Disease
If you frequently suffer from alcohol-related headaches, and are struggling to cut back, there are also new solutions. Ria Health’s online program can help you cut back or quit without having to put your life on hold. Get access to anti-craving medications, regular coaching meetings, expert medical advice, digital tools, and more—all from an app on your smartphone. There is some evidence that certain distilled spirits may cause fewer headaches. This is because beer and wine often contain more toxic byproducts from fermentation, such as aldehydes.
When to consult a doctor?
In fact, low doses of alcohol can have a beneficial effect on patients such as migraineurs, who were reported to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The meta-analysis showed a 1.5-lower risk of migraine in people who consume alcohol. However, migraine patients consume less alcohol for various reasons. Therefore, patients with primary headache need to determine for themselves the association between alcohol and headache without any myths and influences.
Results
Because your body views alcohol as a toxic substance, it’s perfectly normal to experience a headache from drinking alcohol. Alcohol’s effects on your body include dehydration, inflammation, reduced sleep quality, and the buildup of toxic substances—all of which can give you a headache. Drinking even a small amount of alcohol can trigger alcohol and headaches headache symptoms in certain individuals. These symptoms may begin within minutes or hours of drinking and vary widely in severity.
Association between alcohol intake and migraine attack
Without a consistent cause-and-effect situation, though, it could be a number of factors — not just alcohol — that are triggering your migraine headache. If you do notice a pattern, especially with particular types of alcohol over others, you may choose to avoid the offending drinks. If drinking alcohol appears to be a potent headache trigger for you, then, by all means, abstain from it.