The short answer is that while it’s possible for alcohol to cause a migraine attack, it’s often a bit more complicated. In some studies, about one-third of people living with migraine reported alcohol as a migraine trigger (at least occasionally). In these retrospective studies, only 10% reported a frequent link. Whether or not alcohol is a migraine headache trigger is debatable.
Is there a safe amount of alcohol to consume without triggering a migraine?
For help finding a healthcare provider, check out our Find a Doctor tool. Alcohol has different effects on the body depending on when you drink it. These are called immediate and delayed alcohol-induced headaches. There has been some research into the effect alcohol has in increasing blood flow to certain parts of the brain, but whether this causes or relieves headache symptoms depends largely on the type of headache.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Understanding personal tolerance levels, including factors like age, metabolism, body weight and composition, genetics, and health conditions and medications, is crucial in managing alcohol-induced headaches. By implementing these strategies, individuals can enjoy alcohol responsibly and minimize the risk of experiencing headaches. Figure 1A shows the individual probabilities of migraine attack, when no alcohol was consumed on either day‐1 or day‐2. Red dots represent the median individual probability, and vertical lines represent the individual 95% CI. These probabilities (red dots) serve as reference for the other three panels. When there was alcohol intake on day‐2 (regardless of intake on day‐1, Figure 1C,D) the probability of migraine attack was lower compared to when there was no alcohol intake in both day‐1 and day‐2 (red dots).
General Health
It can’t prevent a migraine, but it can help stop one after it starts. Triptans work best when you take them at the early signs of a migraine. 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. It may be worth considering some treatment options to help you manage your symptoms.
Understanding Hangovers
First of all, the existing studies present data in a heterogeneous way, which may have led to inaccurate results, and do not provide an exhaustive array of information. Information on the gender of participants was sober house unavailable for analysis. So, the question of who is drinking more with a primary headache is still to be addressed.
They should talk to a medical provider about these triggers in order to minimize their headaches. Red wine is the type of alcohol most often reported as a headache trigger. In a study published in 2018, 77.8% of patients reported red wine as a trigger in general, with 8.8% of patients noting it as a consistent trigger. When alcohol is a trigger for one’s usual primary headaches, the pain usually occurs within three hours of alcohol consumption. Alcohol’s exact role in triggering a migraine isn’t fully known. For instance, alcohol byproducts called congeners have been linked to headaches.
- A migraine each time you have a night out should be a good reason to abstain.
- For example, if a person drinks liquor before beer, they are likely to feel the effects of the alcohol sooner.
- Current medical opinions on alcohol consumption are evolving with research, so it’s important to educate yourself on the effects of alcohol on your health.
- For example, wine may be a trigger for some but whiskey may not have an influence.
- For example, nondrinkers may have had greater mortality simply because they were more likely to be poor or to have recently quit drinking for health reasons.
- Figure 2 shows data on two individuals selected at random among those who tracked more than 600 days.
Understanding the relationship between alcohol and headaches can empower individuals to make informed choices about their alcohol consumption. In the USA, 51% of adults consumed alcohol in the last year; additionally, 11% of those over 50 years old and 6% over 65 age reported the symptoms of alcohol abuse or dependence 21. In Europe, 60% of adults over 60 years of age are current drinkers, and 20% of these had higher levels of consumption than the general population 22. Statistically, males drink more alcohol than women and have more alcohol-related behavioral disorders 23.
It’s worth noting that current guidelines advise against drinking alcohol as a way to improve health. Drinking water alongside alcohol can help mitigate the dehydration effect and might reduce the likelihood of a migraine attack. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help ease migraine symptoms. If you have a prescription migraine medication, follow your doctor’s instructions. Be cautious with medication and avoid exceeding recommended dosages. Yes, you can still enjoy alcohol if you live with migraine, but moderation and mindfulness are key.
- However, a headache after drinking will usually resolve itself over time.
- When enjoying a night out on the town, there are several triggers you may expose yourself to including bright flashing lights, loud music, food and alcohol.
- Nineteen studies used questionnaire methods to assess drinking 36, 44–59, 61, 62.
- If you suffer from migraines, you may find that drinking alcohol can trigger an episode.
- This leads to excessive urination and dehydration, which may cause a headache after a small amount of alcohol.
Cluster headache
Dehydration triggers some migraine cases; therefore, drinking plenty of water can help, even after the fact. Drinking water helps replenish your fluids and flush the alcohol out of your system. If you tend to get migraines within three hours or less of drinking, this might work best for you.
In addition, alcohol may reduce the risk https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ of one condition (such as cardiovascular disease) while increasing the risk of another (such as cancer). So it’s hard to predict who might actually benefit and who may be harmed more than helped by alcohol consumption. And the balance of risk and benefit likely varies from person to person, based on individual factors such as genetics and lifestyle factors. In many cases, even moderate drinking (defined below) appears to increase risk. Despite this, less than half of the US public is aware of any alcohol-cancer connection.
These genes may affect the likelihood of experiencing symptoms such as headaches after drinking small amounts. This article will explore the relationship between alcohol and headache and consider why some people develop an alcohol headache after one drink. A tendency toward migraine may also play a role in hangovers, especially hangovers that cause migraine-like headaches. A 2014 survey of 692 students, 95 of whom had migraine, found that those with migraine were more likely to experience migraine-like symptoms during a hangover. Alcohol-induced headaches generally resolve within 72 hours of onset, although they can and many do last for a shorter time period.
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