For instance, alcohol byproducts called congeners have been linked to headaches. Dark-colored alcohols like red wine, brandy, and whiskey may contain more of them. The alcohol in beer is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production and makes you need to pee more often. Going to the toilet frequently in a short period can make you dehydrated. Additionally, you may forget to drink enough water while drinking alcohol, causing you to become more dehydrated. Dehydration is a common migraine trigger, making this a likely culprit for alcohol-induced migraine.
Whether or not alcohol is a common migraine headache trigger is debatable. While some people may experience migraine headaches after drinking alcohol, others may not. 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. 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.
Not exactly, as various strategies exist for mitigating the headache-inducing effects. 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. However, more recent research indicates no relationship between tension type headaches and alcohol consumption. Learn more about the link between exercise and migraine and learn how to combat migraine attacks after exercise. Lower alcohol content might reduce the risk, but individual sensitivities to specific compounds in the beverage still play a significant role.
Remember, your health care providers want to work with you to make your symptoms as manageable as possible. The best way to find out what triggers your migraine is to keep a journal. Track what you eat and drink, how much sleep you get, and other potential triggers (such as stress).
When humans consume quercetin-containing food or drink, it must first be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and undergo first-pass metabolism by the liver before reaching circulation. There are also the side effects of drinking that might be to blame. If you're susceptible to attacks after consuming these types of foods and drinks, you have an increased likelihood of experiencing alcohol-induced headaches. This can vary depending on the brand of alcohol; some migraine warriors find that certain brands trigger attacks more than others.
In this article, we’ll consider research on the potential effects of alcohol on your migraine symptoms and treatment. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to consume alcoholic drinks is up to you. However, knowing the effects alcohol may have on your body and migraine attacks could help you make up migraine after drinking alcohol your mind.
The AMF reports that alcohol can trigger a migraine headache in people who are sensitive to it in as little as 30 minutes. People without migraine who consume greater quantities of alcohol often report immediate headaches. Then again, according to a 2023 review of research, studies have found that alcohol appears to be less likely to cause migraine headaches.
It may also help eliminate triggers that tend to co-occur with drinking, such as dehydration and sleep deprivation. If you love drinking beer, but regular migraine attacks or headaches are a fact of your life, it's worth weighing the pros and cons. Analyze your personal risk carefully, remembering that triggers are often additive. You can still have fun with everyone else, whether you decide to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or not. Although any type of alcohol can trigger a migraine, people who experience regular migraine attacks cite red wine as the most frequent culprit. Most importantly, monitor how you feel when you drink alcohol and be willing to have open and honest conversations about drinking with your doctor and other important people in your life.
A 2022 study in people with migraine, however, found that drinking alcohol didn’t affect the probability of a migraine attack 24 hours after drinking. The questionnaires were filled without the presence of an interviewer, and did not include any recognizable data to assure full anonymity of the collected data. The questionnaires included demographics, headache history and characteristics, health-related habits (smoking and alcohol consumption), and hangover symptoms. Migraine sufferers consume less alcohol, especially beer and liquors, and are more vulnerable to migraine-like hangover symptoms than nonsufferers. The finding that the tendency to develop migraine attacks affects the hangover symptomatology may suggest a similarity in pathophysiology, and possibly in treatment options. Preventing migraine begins with identifying and reducing or eliminating common migraine triggers such as alcohol, dehydration, and certain foods.
If you suffer from migraines, you may find that drinking alcohol can trigger an episode. Find out why alcoholic drinks can cause problems for migraine sufferers and what you can do to prevent alcohol-related migraines. Dehydration often accompanies alcohol consumption and may worsen migraine symptoms. Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body and help ease migraine pain. Electrolyte-rich beverages or sports drinks can replenish lost minerals.
They should talk to a medical provider about these triggers in order to minimize their headaches. Red wine is the type of alcohol most often reported as a headache trigger. In a study published in 2018, 77.8% of patients reported red wine as a trigger in general, with 8.8% of patients noting it as a consistent trigger. While a hangover headache can happen to anyone (usually the morning after drinking too much alcohol), people who experience migraines are more susceptible. Around 30% of people who experience recurrent migraines report alcohol as a trigger, and 10% of patients cite it as a frequent or consistent trigger.
One or two drinks with food and water over time might be safe for you, but three or more will produce a hangover headache for many people. Mocktails are easier to find these days; you can always lean on them. This dilutes the effect of alcohol in your system and reduces the chance of an alcohol-induced headache or triggering a migraine attack.
People who cannot stop drinking should talk with a doctor about treatment for alcohol use disorder, which is a serious but treatable condition. Relaxation techniques may help ease stress-related migraine episodes, and they may make migraine episodes feel less severe when they do happen. Brandy, red wine, and rum have the highest levels of congeners, while gin and vodka contain fewer of these chemicals.
