Uncategorized

Alcohol and Migraine: Relationship, Triggers, Treatment & More

why does alcohol cause headaches

Your liver is often an unsung hero, fulfilling over 500 jobs without complaint — follow these five tips to avoid liver disease and keep yours running at maximum efficiency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest females limit their number of drinks to one or less a day and males to two or less a day. Sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea are also symptoms of a hangover and can lead to further dehydration. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), there is no scientific evidence to prove that hangover remedies work. The organization says the only way to cure a hangover is to wait until the toxic byproducts have cleared from the body.

  • According to studies, these chemicals affect the immune system.
  • Stop drinking completely when you’ve reached your limit (or before then).
  • Alcohol is a diuretic, causing the body to lose vital salts and minerals which help it to function.
  • Meanwhile, 2020 research showed that 95% of participants experienced alcohol-induced headaches.
  • Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

Risk factors

  • For example, wine may be a trigger for some but whiskey may not have an influence.
  • For help finding a healthcare provider, check out our Find a Doctor tool.
  • If it does, you’ll need to drink less or stay away from all alcohol.
  • However, when combined with alcohol they might increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
  • If alcohol is a confirmed trigger for your migraine, then avoiding alcohol is the best solution.
  • But drinking too much alcohol of any color can still make you feel bad the next morning.

Much like food triggers for migraine, people may have a higher sensitivity to certain organic components commonly found in alcoholic drinks. Alcohol seems to trigger both migraine and cluster headaches. However, the type of alcoholic beverage that triggers these headaches is not clear. Many people have experienced a headache after drinking alcohol — especially after drinking too much. While headaches are generally recognized as a side effect of alcohol in many people, its reputation as a migraine headache trigger may be overestimated.

why does alcohol cause headaches

Tips to ease the pain

why does alcohol cause headaches

The American Migraine Foundation Resource Library provides a wealth of articles designed to assist you in understanding your symptoms and treatment options. If a doctor has prescribed medication for your chronic migraine and you choose to move forward with that line of treatment, follow instructions carefully. It is crucial to take medications at the recommended times to ensure maximum effectiveness. Additionally, it is important to communicate with your doctor if you experience any adverse effects or if the medication does not seem to be working as expected.

Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!

We recommend a look at our patient guides, which include useful information including how to talk to your doctor about migraine. Receiving a formal migraine diagnosis is the first milestone when working with your doctor to identify a personalized and effective treatment plan. Continuing to talk with your doctor throughout the course of your treatment is important for determining the strategies that prove beneficial and those that may not be as effective. Did you know that 20% of women say they avoid pregnancy because of migraine?

Risk of bias

  • Additionally, it is important to communicate with your doctor if you experience any adverse effects or if the medication does not seem to be working as expected.
  • The effects of alcohol intoxication are relatively predictable based on measured blood alcohol content.
  • Alcohol can trigger headaches, including migraines, cluster headaches, and tension-type headaches.
  • Three studies were evaluated as moderate risk, with 6 “yes” answers [44, 57, 59].
  • Always drink responsibly—which includes minimizing the chances that alcohol will affect your migraine.

Any liquid (except alcohol!) that you find palatable is acceptable, such as boullion, chicken soup, sports drinks, or water. This article explains why hangover headaches occur, especially in people with underlying migraine disorders. It presents some home remedies to treat your headache until the hangover passes. These include hydrating, eating carbohydrates, and taking certain painkillers. A person should avoid acetaminophen as it can worsen the effects of alcohol on the liver. A person should take ibuprofen or aspirin with caution as they could irritate the lining of the stomach.

why does alcohol cause headaches

Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions. Try to eat some fruits, herbs, and vegetables that are helpful for alcohol-induced headache recovery. Mango, thyme, ginger, and asparagus are known to contain helpful properties for this purpose. Generally, these episodes resolve within a few hours but can last up to a whole day.

Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers

why does alcohol cause headaches

Dark-colored alcohols like red wine, brandy, and whiskey may contain more of them. As we have discovered from looking at the types of alcohol-induced headaches, you may experience one from as little as three hours after drinking alcohol. There alcohol causes migraines are a variety of compounds in alcohol that can cause post-alcohol related headaches. According to studies, these chemicals affect the immune system. These chemicals include tryptamines, flavonoids, acetaldehydes, and congeners among others.

Other remedies for avoiding migraine

For this reason, it is important to see a doctor about migraine symptoms or chronic headaches, with or without drinking. Headaches, including migraine, are treatable with the right combination of medication and lifestyle adjustments. People who get hangovers that trigger a migraine may wish to avoid alcohol with high levels of congeners. These are substances that the alcohol manufacturing process produces. Some research suggests that congeners play a role in hangovers, although factors such as inflammation also contribute. For a hangover headache, also called a delayed alcohol-induced headache, experts believe that nerve chemicals involved in central pain control, like serotonin, are likely responsible.

How Soon After Drinking Can A Headache Begin?

Leave a Reply