Quantity is definitely a factor in whether drinking alcohol will trigger a headache, and the quality of alcohol probably plays a role as well. We do not know for sure, though, how any specific type of alcoholic beverage will affect people with migraine. A 2019 study recognized alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger factor for people with migraine. It is clear that quantity can play a role in triggering headaches, and quality probably plays a role, but we do not know for sure how any type of wine or alcohol will affect people with migraine or who are prone to headaches. Like food triggers, the likelihood of a particular type of alcohol triggering a headache is probably different from person to person.

Associated Data

Moreover, 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. Yawning and fatigue are typical symptoms of prodrome, the first phase of a migraine attack. Other symptoms can include food cravings and difficulty concentrating. If you think you may have migraine, these answers to common questions can help you further investigate this possibility with a doctor.

When an Alcohol-Induced Headache Strikes

Chemicals called congeners are also a component of alcoholic drinks. These chemicals may also trigger migraine headaches in certain people. A small study from 2001 found that 16 people with wine intolerance who took antihistamines (anti-allergy meds) before drinking red wine had no notable improvements from the treatment. The researchers concluded that there’s no correlation between wine sensitivity/intolerance and the drink’s histamine content. It may be a surprise to find that certain common foods can trigger migraine headaches in people who are susceptible to them.

These 3 Supplements Reduce Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease, Research Says

• For help finding a healthcare provider, check out our Find a Doctor tool.
• People who get hangovers that trigger a migraine may wish to avoid alcohol with high levels of congeners.
• Certainly, some headache patients cannot tolerate some alcoholic drinks, although not frequently, and perhaps only in combination in the presence of other trigger factors (stress, for example).
• With some attention to detail, you should be able to narrow down which foods are best left off your plate.
• About 1/3 of people with migraine say dehydration is a trigger, and for some, even the slightest hint of dehydration can be the fast track to debilitating head pain.
• A 2016 review notes that alcohol may trigger a tension headache, especially if a person also has migraine.

We know that if we treat the underlying cause, we can make great strides in helping migraine patients live pain-free. People who get hangovers that trigger a migraine may wish to avoid alcohol with high levels of congeners. These are substances that the alcohol manufacturing process produces. Some research suggests that congeners play a role in hangovers, although factors such as inflammation also contribute. A tendency toward migraine may also play a role in hangovers, especially hangovers that cause migraine-like headaches. A 2014 survey of 692 students, 95 of whom had migraine, found that those with migraine were more likely to experience migraine-like symptoms during a hangover.

• However, the study author also cautions that no single factor causes all hangover headaches.
• Don’t feel embarrassed when talking to your doctor or headache specialist about your triggers—it will help them give you a proper diagnosis and start the best treatment plan for your symptoms.
• Alcohol is broken down in the liver by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase.
• 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.
• This article will explore the relationship between alcohol and headache and consider why some people develop an alcohol headache after one drink.

In this study we focused on the role of alcohol as a potential trigger of migraine attacks within 24–48 h after consumption. This delayed effect of alcohol on migraine attack onset may be more difficult to ascertain by an individual compared to an immediate effect. Consumption varies greatly between cultures, regions, and between individuals, a fact which may explain why different studies have found opposing results. The exact can alcohol cause migraines mechanism behind this observation may indicate that migraine leads to alcohol-avoidance, rather than alcohol having any protective role against migraine. However, further studies related to primary headaches and alcohol consumption with low risk of bias are required. Additionally, patients and physicians should consider the latest medical data, in order to avoid the myths about alcohol consumption and primary headaches.

What effects can alcohol have on attacks?

„Certain compounds in alcohol, such as congeners or histamine, may be to blame. Alcohol is also a diuretic, which can lead to dehydration, which is another common migraine trigger.” Cocktail might feel relaxing, it could actually contribute to the tension of a migraine. The Association of Migraine Disorders lists alcohol as one of the most common dietary triggers. Rarely, severe pain after drinking alcohol is a sign of a more serious disorder, such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Alcohol intolerance can cause immediate, uncomfortable reactions after you drink alcohol. The most common signs and symptoms are stuffy nose and skin flushing.

International Patients

Seven articles used International Headache Society (IHS) criteria from 1988 [46, 47, 50, 51, 56, 59, 60]. Figure 2 shows data on two individuals selected at random among those who tracked more than 600 days. In each case, individual predicted probabilities are compared to the population predictions (in purple) after updating Model 2 to account for all available tracked data for each individual (not only the first 90 tracked days). Table 3 shows the distribution of daily alcoholic beverage consumption.

Keep a record of any symptoms that occur after consuming alcohol and discuss them with your doctor. Identifying your specific food and drink triggers is a key part of any migraine prevention and treatment plan. Opting for top-shelf brands, sticking to one type of alcohol, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ alternating with water and food, and knowing your limits are all strategies that can help minimize the chances of developing a headache. Additionally, keeping a diary to track your triggers and being mindful of other factors like stress can also be helpful.

Medical Professionals

In females with migraine, there was a significantly higher percentage of nonconsumers of alcohol than that reported in national studies on the population, using the same parameters, in females of the same region [35] (Fig. 2). Of the 58 nonconsumer patients, 16 were abstainers but the others have consumed some type of alcoholic drinks during their life without the development of headache. In this study, six subjects of the consumer group identified white wine as a trigger, while two subjects reported red wine and two both the types of wine in the nonconsumer group (Table 3). This was an observational prospective cohort study among individuals with migraine who registered to use a digital health platform for headache. Eligible individuals were aged ≥18 years with EM who consumed alcohol and had tracked their headache symptoms and alcohol intake for ≥90 days.

Is alcohol per se or another component of alcoholic drinks the headache trigger?

Alcoholic drinks are a migraine trigger in about one third of patients with migraine in retrospective studies on trigger factors. Many population studies show that patients with migraine consume alcohol in a smaller percentage than the general population. Moreover, research has shown a decreased prevalence of headache with increasing number of alcohol units consumed. The classification criteria of alcohol-related headaches remain problematic. We discuss the role and mechanism of action of alcohol or other components of alcoholic drinks in relation to alcohol-induced headache.