One of the best ways to find your migraine triggers is to keep a diary or use a migraine tracking app. Drinking any type of alcohol in excess, including beer, wine, or liquor, can cause headaches. The UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines are designed to help all adults keep the health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level. A 2018 study that followed 9,087 participants for 23 years found that people who did not drink alcohol in midlife were more likely to develop dementia. Dementia risk was lowest among those who consumed 14 or fewer units of alcohol per week. Excessive alcohol consumption can have long-lasting effects on neurotransmitters in the brain, decreasing their effectiveness or even mimicking them.
- This includes being careful about the amount of alcohol you consume and paying attention to how and when your migraine symptoms flare up in relation to drinking.
- A migraine is headache with other symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, aura and more.
- Other types of headaches, including severe headaches, can occur as a result of alcohol consumption.
- Because everyone’s migraine triggers are unique to them, there’s no easy answer to this question.
- If there is misleading data in questionnaires or during medical interviews, their overall subsequent analysis is also distorted.
Long-term effects
Any list of triggers of migraine must include alcohol, which is probably the most frequently mentioned. Certain types of alcohol contain chemicals that can either directly affect blood vessels or provoke the release of other chemicals in the body that are thought to be involved in migraine. What’s curious about caffeine (as in coffee and some teas and sodas), is that it can serve as a migraine trigger in some, while helping relieve attacks in others. Fluctuations in caffeine levels affect the dilation of blood vessels, which can cause headaches. More research is needed about the exact associations between diet and migraines. However, the current consensus is that they increase the chances of attacks.
How to avoid or treat alcohol-related headaches
By learning how migraine and mental health impact one another and ways to manage both, you can improve your quality of life. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and mental health in this AMF webinar. Migraine is a disabling disease that no one should have to go through alone. It’s essential to build a support network of understanding people who can not only check in on you during an attack but also empathize with your experience. Then consider joining the Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine.
- If alcohol only occasionally causes you a headache, then moderation or striking that balance (as opposed to abstinence), may be a more reasonable approach.
- In Europe, alcohol consumption is higher than in Asian countries, but in Europe alcohol as a trigger is reported more frequently than it is in Asia 87.
- Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can damage both the brain and liver, causing lasting damage.
- Some people find that inpatient rehab or support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, are helpful.
Prevent migraine by learning to identify – and eliminate – common triggers
While there is some research on each possible reason why alcohol causes headaches, study authors have not definitively proven the link between the two. Meanwhile, 2020 research showed that 95% of participants experienced alcohol-induced headaches. This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article. Brandy, red wine, and rum have the highest levels of congeners, while gin and vodka contain fewer of these chemicals. We recommend exploring complementary treatments such as biofeedback, green light therapy and aerobic exercise.
Can Alcohol Detox Cause Headaches?
However, if the role of ADs in triggering MA and TH will be confirmed, a common trigger site should be considered. In this case, a direct action at the vascular system is hardly compatible with TH or MA. More plausible is an action at subcortical pain modulatory circuits, which in some way stimulate the neural generator of CH (hypothalamus?) and of migraine aura (cortex?, thalamus?). Research shows that people with migraine may also experience related symptoms during a hangover. Reducing or eliminating alcohol may reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.
People should talk to a healthcare professional about their can alcohol cause migraines drinking history and personal risk factors to get tailored advice on safe alcohol consumption. We also examine the types of headache alcohol can trigger and the types of alcohol likely to cause more headaches. In the 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.
How long will a cocktail headache last?
These individuals commonly cite wine, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger. While anyone can experience DAIH, people with migraine are more susceptible. Even a modest amount of alcohol can cause people with migraine to develop a delayed headache or trigger an attack. Many people have experienced a headache after drinking alcohol — especially after drinking too much.
Some people with a history of excessive alcohol use develop nutritional deficiencies that further damage brain function. Some odors may activate certain nerve receptors in the nasal passages that may trigger a migraine attack or make worse one that already started. If you know a migraine is likely to come on and plan to drink anyway, triptans can help. Also, follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding alcohol consumption. Over the years, research has shown that moderate alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ consumption may provide health benefits over total abstinence. In spite of this, there are some people for whom combining alcohol with a tendency toward migraines.
Managing and Alleviating Headaches After the First Week of Withdrawal
Science hasn’t been able to prove the exact cause of red wine-induced migraine, but alcohol in general and certain compounds in red wine are linked to causing migraine attacks and headaches. A 2008 review compared red wine consumption to vodka consumption in people with migraine who are sensitive to wine. They found that vodka did not act as a migraine trigger in people who reported sensitivity to red wine. For instance, studies show that many people with migraine report they cannot drink red wine.
Tools & Resources
- For some people, it could be the amount of alcohol consumed that triggers an attack.
- In severe situations, dehydration will contribute to irregular heartbeat and other serious health complications.
- If you know a migraine is likely to come on and plan to drink anyway, triptans can help.
- The information provided in this factsheet does not constitute any form of legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for specific legal advice.
- If migraine headaches continue to cause you grief, look beyond home remedies.
- Certain types of alcohol contain chemicals that can either directly affect blood vessels or provoke the release of other chemicals in the body that are thought to be involved in migraine.
- Additionally, patients and physicians should consider the latest medical data, in order to avoid the myths about alcohol consumption and primary headaches.
Similarly, if you have an early evening meal and wake with an attack, try a snack before you go to bed. First, try to deal with the triggers that you have some control over. Cut out suspected triggers one at a time – if you try to deal with them all at once you will not know which are most relevant to you.