Alcohol & Migraines: Can Drinking Cause a Migraine Headache?
A cocktail headache is a headache that occurs within as little as three hours after drinking alcohol. It’s not the same as a hangover headache, which occurs the morning after drinking too much. A cocktail headache develops the same evening, and even a tiny amount of alcohol can trigger it.
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- The body converts the ethanol in alcohol that we drink to a chemical that can trigger headaches.
- Consequently, it seems likely that people with migraine to some extent avoid alcohol, which would be one interpretation of our results.
- If there seems to be a connection between alcohol and your migraine, you’re not alone.
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There are also the side effects of drinking that might be to blame. If you feel an attack coming on when you’ve had alcohol, stop drinking straight away. Drink plenty of water and take your usual rescue medication such as triptans or pain relief. It’s important to always check the leaflet that comes with your medication just in case it says that you should not mix it with alcohol, or ask your doctor about it when they prescribe it.
Does drinking alcohol trigger migraines?
According to Aurora, however, alcohol consumption isn’t just a question of what’s considered a safe amount. It also depends on whether or not you’re likely to develop headaches. “Some patients with migraine are particularly susceptible to dehydration,” she says. Opting for top-shelf brands, sticking to one type of alcohol, alternating with water how hallucinogens affect the body 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. Alcohol-related headaches can be a frustrating experience, especially for those who live with migraine.
Types of headaches
It has been noted in some studies that in less than 30 percent of people, red wine triggers headache no matter the number of drinks consumed. White wine and sparkling wines have not been shown to have the same effect on headache. Wine, in particular, has been linked to headaches dating back to antiquity. Despite this common belief, there is little scientific evidence to suggest that wine is more likely to trigger a headache from drinking than another type of alcohol.
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The tables below group alcohol types by the amount of these additives. This leads to excessive urination and dehydration, which may cause a headache after a small amount of alcohol. Individuals addiction as a brain disease revised with lower body weights cannot process as much alcohol as individuals at higher weights. Individuals from different ethnic backgrounds may have variable sensitivity to alcohol.
Histamine has been known to cause headaches for almost 100 years.² When it enters the bloodstream it dilates blood vessels, which leads to headaches. While all alcohol contains high levels of histamines, red wines have a significantly higher amount alcohol abuse articles than other beverages, and therefore may lead to more severe headaches. Sulphites are often blamed for causing headaches too (though not migraines specifically),9 and white wine usually contains higher levels of sulphites than red wine.
People who consume greater quantities of alcohol report more alcohol-related headaches, according to several studies. Then again, in some groups, alcohol appears to have protective effects against headaches. The number of drinks you have, what you are drinking, and what’s going on in your life may be the primary culprits, rather than alcohol itself. Segil noted that people with increased life stress would be expected to produce more acid as a stress response, which is what he sees in clinical practice. People who take acid-reducing drugs to help their stomach might be increasing their risk of severe headaches. Approximately 20% of migraine sufferers report chocolate as a trigger.
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.
We asked these experts what a person who struggles with migraine would expect if they stopped drinking, and the answers were varied. Overall, physicians state that stopping drinking certain types of alcohol, like those with tannins, may lead to fewer migraine headaches. Savage-Edwards advises that if alcohol is found to be a trigger, then it’s best to avoid it. If you’ve had a tough day at work or a stressful interaction with someone, drinking alcohol might not be the best way of coping. In fact, drinking alcohol to calm yourself down can elevate your risk of triggering a migraine attack or an alcohol-induced headache. Exercise, laughter, or meditation might be better ways to blow off steam.
