However, if you find that small amounts of alcohol don’t seem to trigger your attacks, be sure to stick to small amounts when you drink. If drinking alcohol appears to be a potent headache trigger for you, why does alcohol give me a migraine then, by all means, abstain from it. But if a cocktail with friends once in a while or a glass of wine with your dinner on Saturday night does not seem to trigger a bad headache, then it’s probably OK.
Aura is the term that we use for these temporary reversible neurologic symptoms. They’re usually visual, but they can include other neurologic symptoms as well. They typically built up over several minutes and they can last for up to an hour.
How to Avoid Caffeine Headaches
In fact, one Dutch study found that 25% of people who suffered from migraines had stopped drinking because it was either an actual or potential trigger. Over the years, research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption may provide health benefits https://ecosoberhouse.com/ over total abstinence. In spite of this, there are some people for whom combining alcohol with a tendency toward migraines. Patients often make this decision after experiencing a strong connection between alcohol and migraines firsthand.
Those diagnosed with a specific type of headache may be more prone to develop a specific type of headache after consuming alcohol. 2020 research shows that females are more likely to experience hangovers, memory problems, and liver disease from consuming alcohol. Hangovers are mostly caused by alcohol’s dehydrating properties. Hangover headaches also happen due to the buildup of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct your body makes when it metabolizes ethanol. This buildup also leads to a throbbing head and flip-flopping stomach.
Types of Alcohol-Related Headaches
However, darker liquors may still contain a high level of headache-causing congeners. One of the more interesting migraine facts is that triggers are additive. If you wake up after a night of drinking with an attack, it doesn’t necessarily mean the beer is to blame.
If you’re unsure whether alcohol is triggering your migraine, keep a detailed migraine journal that includes any foods and alcohol consumed throughout the week. This will be a valuable resource for you and your doctor to start identifying more specific migraine triggers. Studies show that many people with migraine choose not to drink alcohol for fear that it may trigger a migraine attack. However, researchers aren’t clear on exactly how or why alcohol can impact migraine. There is even some debate about whether alcohol itself or another chemical component in alcoholic drinks acts as the trigger.
What to know about alcohol and migraine
The researchers concluded that there’s no correlation between wine sensitivity/intolerance and the drink’s histamine content. Feel like the initial joy of sipping red wine always ends in a migraine attack? While you might be kicking yourself for drinking that glass of pinot noir, the exact cause of red wine-induced headache and migraine is unknown. If either or both of these things are migraine triggers for you, gin could trigger a migraine attack.
And if your red wine headache is sudden, intense, or accompanied by symptoms you’ve never experienced before like fainting, fever, or stiff neck, see a doctor ASAP. It may also be helpful to keep a food journal to help narrow the list down of food and drink triggers. Since wines are made from a variety of grapes, preservatives, and other ingredients, there are many potential culprits. Talking to a doctor and allergist may also help you pinpoint the food or drink giving you a headache.
Are there red wines that don’t cause headaches?
Avoiding drinking is the best way to prevent an alcohol-related headache. Males should aim to drink two or fewer drinks daily, and females should aim to drink one or fewer. Migraine typically begins slowly and may increase in severity if left untreated. They involve throbbing pain that generally occurs on one side of the head. More research will help to determine the effects of specific alcohol content on a person’s headaches.
- Aura is the term that we use for these temporary reversible neurologic symptoms.
- Migraine is very common, affecting one in five women, one in 16 men, and even one in 11 children.
- June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month (MHAM), which is a great opportunity for communities to spread awareness about suffering from headaches and migraine.
- Since white wine is made without grape skin, it has lower histamine content than red wine (which contains the whole grape).
- If alcohol is a trigger for you, it may be best to not drink at all.
