Alcohol And Headaches: What’s The Safest Drink?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question as different people have different triggers. However, some general recommendations to reduce the chances of a headache include drinking in moderation, avoiding sugary and caffeinated beverages, and opting for drinks with a lower alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage. Red wine contains tannins, which can cause problems for people with migraines.

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• The exact mechanism behind this observation may indicate that migraine leads to alcohol-avoidance, rather than alcohol having any protective role against migraine.
• Firstly, individual sensitivity to alcohol or specific ingredients in alcoholic drinks may play a role in triggering migraines.
• Just like food triggers, alcohol headache triggers are individual, varying from person to person.
• Besides cultural differences, the estimated prevalence of this factor as a migraine trigger varies significantly depending on the research approach and the population studied 5.

Caffeine, in small amounts, can sometimes help alleviate migraine pain in its early stages and can enhance the effectiveness of some pain relievers. However, excessive or inconsistent caffeine intake can lead to withdrawal headaches or worsen migraine frequency. Beyond triggering an attack, alcohol can also exacerbate migraine symptoms through several physiological pathways. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing urine production and leading to dehydration. Dehydration is a recognized migraine aggravator, as it can cause brain tissues to temporarily shrink, pulling away from the skull and putting pressure on pain-sensitive nerves.

What the Community Says About Alcohol-Induced Headache

People with migraine who have frequent attacks consume AD less frequently than control can alcohol cause migraines patients and those with less frequent attacks. Therefore, the uncritical recommendation to abstain from alcohol in all migraineurs is under discussion. In a single study by Panconesi et al., involving 47 patients with TTH, a history of alcohol consumption revealed that 46.8% were abstainers, 36.1% consumed alcohol occasionally, and 17% used it regularly.

Drink With a Meal

In contrast, an alcohol-triggered migraine often manifests more quickly, sometimes within 30 minutes to three hours of consumption. Migraines are characterized by intense, throbbing pain, frequently on one side of the head, and can include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Some individuals may also experience an aura, involving visual disturbances or drug addiction treatment other sensory changes, prior to the headache phase. While alcohol can cause both, their severity, accompanying symptoms, and underlying neurological mechanisms distinguish a migraine from a simple headache.

How Often People With Migraine Drink

However, most people are able to overcome most symptoms within a week of their last drink. If migraine headaches continue to cause you grief, look beyond home remedies. At the National Headache Institute, we investigate to find the underlying causes of migraine and headaches.

• Patients sometimes have a tendency not to admit their drinking habits 90.
• Are you tired of waking up with a throbbing headache or a migraine attack after a night of drinking?
• Patients with high-frequency migraine and suspected histamine intolerance should be advised to discontinue alcohol consumption.

Migraine Again follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions. Pontinen said triptans are commonly used to treat migraine once symptoms start. Taking one before drinking isn’t recommended or known to be effective.

One of the six case–control studies was assessed as having a high risk of bias 49, two a low risk of bias 50, 62 and three a moderate bias risk 53, 54, 61. Analysis of the 22 included studies revealed 5 cohort studies 36, 45, 52, 55, 58, 11 cross-sectional 26, 27, 44, 46–48, 51, 56, 57, 59, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 60 and six case-controls 49, 50, 53, 54, 61, 62. In cross-sectional studies, six out of the 11 had a high risk of bias 46–48, 51, 56, 60, because they received fewer than 6 positive answers.

Tips for management when the attack is already happening

• After you stop drinking alcohol, withdrawal symptoms can appear quickly.
• Applying cold compresses or ice packs to the head or neck can offer a numbing effect, constrict blood vessels, and reduce inflammation, while warm compresses may help relax tense muscles.
• Histamine can activate TRPV1 and also promote the expression of TLR4 receptors, triggering a neuroinflammatory response that promotes the manifestation of AIH, as previously mentioned 69.
• Migraine is a common neurological disease with a chronic course and unclear pathogenesis.

Are equal co-authors, collected supplementary literature, analyzed data from these publications, and participated in the creation of the text and graphics of the article. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Typical ranges of the discussed ingredients for individual beverages are summarized in Table 2. This will be helpful in guiding conversations with your doctor about your symptoms.

Why does alcohol trigger migraine attacks?

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.