Alcohol and Migraine: Your Guide
In a 2018 study involving 2,197 people with migraine, 25% of the participants who stopped or always avoided drinking did so because alcohol triggered migraine attacks. More than a third of the participants said that alcohol had this effect, with about 78% naming red wine as the most common alcohol trigger. Although any type of alcohol can trigger a migraine, people who experience regular migraine attacks cite red wine as the most frequent culprit. If you experience migraine headaches after drinking alcohol, it may be best to avoid alcohol. Talk with a doctor about ways to identify alcohol and headaches your migraine triggers and what to do if you develop these headaches.
Why Does Alcohol Consumption Cause Headaches?
- A 2019 study recognized alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger factor for people with migraine.
- Hence, papers that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded.
- Sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity accounts for the tremors, sweating, and tachycardia observed in both hangover and AW syndrome.
- In other words, the best treatment for a cocktail headache is actually preventing one in the first place.
- Considering the possibility of food contamination and individual food sensitivities as contributing factors, individuals can also take precautions to avoid these triggers.
It has been suggested that a tendency to experience alcohol-induced headaches could be genetic. Migraines in general have been linked to variations in genes, especially those that regulate blood flow to the brain. People who =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ cannot stop drinking should talk with a doctor about treatment for alcohol use disorder, which is a serious but treatable condition.
What is A Hangover?
- In fact, in one large survey on cluster headaches, beer was the most common culprit of all alcoholic drinks.
- If they trigger migraines look for an alternative without alcohol.
- This small human clinical trial, funded by the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation, will be led by UCSF.
A high risk of bias was reported when a cross-sectional study received five or fewer “yes” responses, a case–control fewer than six and a cohort study below seven. A moderate risk of bias was assigned when the paper received positive answers between mentioned ranges. The assessments were conducted by three researchers (BB, PN and MS1) separately, then the fourth author (MWP) compared this data and made a final decision. In the Alcohol Use Disorder USA, 51% of adults consumed alcohol in the last year; additionally, 11% of those over 50 years old and 6% over 65 age reported the symptoms of alcohol abuse or dependence 21. In Europe, 60% of adults over 60 years of age are current drinkers, and 20% of these had higher levels of consumption than the general population 22.
What are Your Treatment Options?
- If you frequently experience headaches after consuming alcohol, it might be worth considering whether the food you consumed alongside the alcoholic beverage could be a contributing factor.
- Drinking too much can trigger migraines, and possibly other types of headaches—such as cluster headaches and tension headaches—in people who are already susceptible to these issues.
- It is also important to have open discussions about your alcohol consumption with your health care team.
- This can lead to foodborne illnesses, such as food poisoning, which can trigger headache symptoms.
- In fact, prospective studies report a limited importance of ADs as migraine trigger.
- Most alcoholic beverages contain smaller amounts of other biologically active compounds, however, including other alcohols.
Alcohol interferes with other biological rhythms as well, and these effects persist into the hangover period. For example, alcohol disrupts the normal 24-hour (i.e., circadian) rhythm in body temperature, inducing a body temperature that is abnormally low during intoxication and abnormally high during a hangover. Alcohol intoxication also interferes with the circadian nighttime secretion of growth hormone, which is important in bone growth and protein synthesis. Overall, alcohol’s disruption of circadian rhythms induces a “jet lag” that is hypothesized to account for some of the deleterious effects of a hangover (Gauvin et al. 1997). Although gaps clearly remain in scientific knowledge about hangovers, research has elucidated several aspects. This article describes what is known about the hangover condition, the possible physiological factors contributing to it, and treatment options.
What Types of Alcoholic Drinks Are Most Likely to Cause Migraines?
Opting for top-shelf brands, sticking to one type of alcohol, 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 and sleep can be helpful. While there is no magical alcohol that doesn’t cause headaches when consumed in excess, alcohol does vary tremendously from manufacturer to manufacturer. Top-shelf brands not only taste better but may also be less likely to prove a migraine trigger.
