When you don’t get enough fluids or expel fluids too quickly, you can become dehydrated. If you find yourself struggling to stop drinking or recognize Drug rehabilitation that you have symptoms of alcohol use disorder, it’s important to reach out for help. Dr. Moore advises talking to your loved ones as a first step.
Alcohol as a Migraine Trigger
If you’re sensitive to one or more of these, you may get a pounding headache after only a small amount of beer. If you are sensitive to one or more of the ingredients in beer, you may get an instant headache from consuming it. For example, your genetic makeup may be such that you just can’t tolerate why does alcohol give me migraines a lot of alcohol, or you may have a naturally-low body weight.
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This indicates that people with migraine and other headache diseases may be more likely to give up alcohol because they perceive it as a possible migraine trigger. Drinking too much can trigger migraines, and possibly other types of headaches—such as cluster headaches and tension headaches—in people who are already susceptible to these issues. Such headaches can occur while you are drinking, or a few hours after—even if you’ve had as little as one drink. Dr. Crystal said she finds that many of her patients have a sensitivity to alcohol. Others find that it is more likely to trigger migraine attacks during vulnerable periods—hormonal changes, stress, and weather changes, for example.
What alcohol to drink to avoid migraine attacks
- Remember, part of the reason why alcohol gives me (and you) a headache is that it dehydrates you.
- The type of alcohol does not seem to affect whether a person gets a headache.
- It’s important to work with your obstetrician and your headache doctor when you have migraine to establish a safe treatment plan.
- 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.
- As mentioned above, B vitamins such as B6 and B12 can also be helpful after drinking, and pain medication should be used sparingly and with caution.
Alcohol is embedded in our society, and it is difficult to be in a public space without seeing a reference to alcohol or being offered a drink. Alcohol is broken down in the liver by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. People with a variant in this enzyme have issues with metabolizing alcohol and can develop total body flushing or reddening of the skin. 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. It may be worth considering some treatment options to help you manage your symptoms.
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. Early effects of alcohol can dull sensations and have an analgesic effect, but as alcohol leaves the body it can have the opposite effect and actually increase sensitivity to pain.
PATIENTS
There’s no proof that drinking raw eggs or downing hot sauce will get rid of your morning-after migraine faster. Downing more alcohol (the “hair of the dog” theory) won’t help either. Alcohol can cause two different types of migraine headaches. Once it gets into your system, it is converted into a chemical that triggers migraine. Research still needs to determine which remedy is most effective. However, a headache after drinking will usually resolve itself over time.
Health Conditions
As you may recall, any kind of alcohol will eventually dehydrate you. Dehydration is one of the reasons why you get a headache after drinking. If your body already lacks the optimal amount of fluids for your body, the headache will come on a lot faster. Hangover headaches can be explained through dehydration, says Williams. About 50 to 75 percent of your body weight comes from water.
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Alcohol seems to trigger both migraine and cluster headaches. However, the type of alcoholic beverage that triggers these headaches is not clear. Many of the same tips for preventing a headache after drinking also work for treating one. Hydration and electrolyte replacement is one of the best things you can do to help recover from an alcohol-induced headache.
- There are several ways a glass or two of wine could trigger or contribute to a headache.
- Some medical professionals believe it is a chemical sensitivity to the compounds in alcohol that trigger cluster headaches.
- Drinking water helps replenish your fluids and flush the alcohol out of your system.
- Such headaches can occur while you are drinking, or a few hours after—even if you’ve had as little as one drink.
This compound might inhibit the body’s ability to break down alcohol, leading to the buildup of a substance called acetaldehyde, which could result in headaches. Most studies point to red wine as a common headache culprit, particularly in people with migraine. These individuals commonly cite wine, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger. But if you’re prone to migraine headaches, you’ll need to be careful about how much you drink. A 5-ounce glass of wine (or 12 ounces of beer or a 1.5-fluid-ounce shot) may be OK every now and then, so long as it doesn’t bring on a headache. If it does, you’ll need to drink less or stay away from all alcohol.