Dehydration caused by alcohol consumption is considered a potential factor that may trigger migraines in susceptible individuals. Chemical imbalances, Alcoholics Anonymous the presence of other ingredients in alcoholic beverages (such as histamine), and individual sensitivities can also play a role. It is important to note that not everyone who experiences migraines will have them triggered by alcohol. In light of the varying effects that different types of alcohol can have on migraine sufferers, it is crucial to remain mindful of the choices we make when it comes to consuming alcoholic beverages.
- People prone to headaches may have a higher risk of experiencing alcohol-related headaches.
- It is also possible that retrospective recall biases cause higher correlation between HSS scores across time periods.
- Subjects were classified as suffering from migraine with or without aura and nonsufferers according the International Classification of Headache Disorders 2nd Edition (ICHD-II).
- They wore Actiwatch-Spectrum® actigraphs (Philips Respironics, Inc.) on their non-dominant wrist.
- A total of 739 questionnaires were handed to students; 47 of them met the exclusion criteria, therefore 692 questionnaires were studied.
Types of Alcohol-Related Headaches
Our objective was to compare alcohol hangover symptoms in migraine sufferers and nonsufferers. Variable alcohol intake had 10.6% missing values on day‐1 and 11.6% on day‐2; https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/methadone-withdrawal-symptoms-and-treatment/ migraine on day‐2 was missing in 7.4%. Same‐day alcohol intake (Yes/No), and quantity of each type of alcoholic drink had 4.7% missing values.
Can Alcohol Cause Migraine Headaches? Clear Insights
Any relief experienced from red wine likely comes from resveratrol, a potentially alcohol and migraines health-boosting plant compound. Since the research on alcohol as a migraine trigger is limited, and everyone’s body metabolizes foods and drinks differently, it can be helpful to tune into what yours is telling you. “Someone may feel a slight relief from a migraine attack after drinking due to the sedative effects alcohol has, but this is only for a short amount of time and will not last,” said neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez, PhD. Primary care physician Monica Kalra, DO, explained that alcohol can cause histamine release, and histamine can cause the widening of blood cells in the brain, which may trigger a migraine attack.
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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. In a 2007 study, Austrian researchers examined a number of factors related to migraine, specifically considering consumption of alcohol and other nutritional factors the day before the onset of a headache. They found limited importance of nutrition, including alcohol intake, in the triggering of migraine. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, leading to increased fluid loss and dehydration. Dehydration is a well-known migraine trigger that can heighten the frequency and severity of attacks.
- There’s no proof that drinking raw eggs or downing hot sauce will get rid of your morning-after migraine faster.
- The embedded missing days, as well as incomplete entries during tracked days, resulted in 7254 day‐cases with missing values (7254/40,165, 18.1%) in one or more of the independent variables, which were further removed from the analysis.
- While many individuals report alcohol as a trigger for their migraine episodes, the exact cause remains uncertain.
- Alternative migraine therapies can work alongside traditional treatments to reduce migraine attack frequency and lessen the impact of symptoms.
Here is the advice of one wine expert
Whether you have lived with migraine for a few months or a few decades, you know migraine can be a challenging experience. You should continue to seek proper medical attention and access information to help alleviate the burden. Finding a community of people who understand exactly what you’re going through is like being welcomed home after a long, tiring day. Our Move Against Migraine support group is a place for you to connect with others (via Facebook) who live with migraine to exchange stories and find community and support.
Types of Alcohol That Trigger Migraines
But other drinks like sparkling wine, beer, and hard liquor may be just as likely, if not more, to cause problems. While migraine is a common disease that affects 39 million Americans, no two migraine experiences are the same. Symptoms can vary from light sensitivity and dizziness to food cravings or body chills. Explore these Frequently Asked Questions about migraine symptoms to see if you might be experiencing migraine.
- Pontinen said triptans are commonly used to treat migraine once symptoms start.
- Without a consistent cause-and-effect situation, though, a number of factors — not just alcohol — could be triggering your migraine headache.
- Red wine is often cited as a potential culprit due to its higher histamine content.
What’s the Connection Between Alcohol and Migraines?
A 2023 review of studies concluded that alcohol consumption increases the risk of headaches, particularly migraine and tension-type headaches. This is especially true for people prone to headaches or migraine without alcohol. If, after keeping track, you become convinced alcohol is the problem, then it’s now time to identify the symptoms. A common misconception is that overconsumption of alcohol is what triggers headaches. As many migraine sufferers can attest to, sometimes it just takes one glass of wine or even a sip.
Some studies show that patients in whom alcohol or wine/beer acts as a trigger factor also had significantly more other foods as a trigger 19,73. 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). However, a few negative experiences cannot justify the media and scientific information on alcohol as a major headache trigger and the suggestion of abstinence. In fact, to deny the beneficial effect of a low dose of alcohol in a wide number of people, who can also have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease like migraine patients 74, 75, is not medically appropriate. By comparing alcohol consumption with the risk of headache on the following day rather than the same day, we eliminated concerns of reverse causation whereby migraine symptoms impact subsequent alcohol intake. In primary analyses, we included any type of headache, and in sensitivity analyses, we restricted to headaches classified as likely to be a migraine headache.
What Types of Alcoholic Drinks Are Most Likely to Cause Migraines?
- Staying hydrated before, during, and after drinking alcohol is vital for reducing the risk of developing a headache afterward.
- For example, a European study found that 11 percent of migraine sufferers pointed to red wine as the most common culprit.
- It may be that people have individual differences in brain receptors that influence the brain’s reaction to alcohol.
- Staying hydrated and drinking in moderation can decrease the chance of experiencing a headache.
- Eligible individuals were aged ≥18 years with EM who consumed alcohol and had tracked their headache symptoms and alcohol intake for ≥90 days.
- Alcohol-induced headaches generally resolve within 72 hours of onset, although they can and many do last for a shorter time period.
Once it gets into your system, it is converted into a chemical that triggers migraine. It may be worth considering some treatment options to help you manage your symptoms. This Diagnosis & Treatment page walks you through next steps after a diagnosis.
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Finally, 22 articles 26, 27, 36, 44–62 were retrieved for further analysis. While the link between alcohol and migraines is not definitive, certain types of alcoholic drinks have been reported to be more likely to trigger migraines in some individuals. Red wine is often cited as a potential culprit due to its higher histamine content. Histamine is a compound that can dilate blood vessels and contribute to headache and migraine symptoms. However, it is crucial to recognise that triggers for migraines can vary greatly from person to person, and what causes a migraine in one individual may not affect another. Various retrospective studies show that a high percentage (about one-third) of migraine patients refer alcohol as a trigger factor.