Alcohol and Migraine: Relationship, Triggers, Treatment & More

People should generally avoid hangover cure myths, including “hair of the dog” and eating headache after drinking alcohol usually unpalatable food such as raw eggs. A person can learn more about the effects alcohol has on a person’s health here. A person should eat bland carbohydrates, such as toast, to minimize nausea, improve energy levels, and help return blood sugar to normal. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), there is no scientific evidence to prove that hangover remedies work.

• The single main reason that alcohol is the cause of a headache is that it is what is known as a diuretic.
• Many different factors can contribute to a hangover as a result of drinking.
• Furthermore, alcohol disrupts serotonin levels in the brain, which regulates pain sensitivity and mood.
• It’s also worth noting that alcohol-induced anxiety, or ‘hangxiety’, can worsen and even cause headaches in some cases.

Alcohol and Headaches: Why They Happen and What You Can Do

It also looks at ways to manage the other symptoms of a hangover and when to contact a doctor. Dr. Michael Yang is a board-certified neurologist and headache specialist at the Gundersen Health System in Wisconsin. He is an active member of the American Headache Society and the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Yang is currently actively involved in several research projects on migraine.

Second, get some sleep.

• Alcoholic neuropathy damages the nerves due to prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Motor pathways become overactive, and blood sugar is processed less efficiently in the brain.
• At Castle Craig, our evidence-based treatment program for alcohol addiction has helped over 10,000 people to overcome their addiction issues and feel control over their lives again.
• They can help identify potential triggers, recommend lifestyle changes and prescribe medications to manage pain.

Talk with a doctor about ways to identify your migraine triggers and what to do if you develop these headaches. According to the National Headaches Foundation, alcoholic beverages contain ethanol; when you drink alcohol, it makes your body to lose fluids which leads to dehydration. Severe cases of dehydration affect the fluids around the brain and decrease the blood pressure as well as the flow of blood to the brain. Reduced blood pressure in the brain can cause pain and sensitivity due to widening arteries to blood flow which in most cases results to headaches.

• As we discussed earlier, not everyone is prone to alcohol-related headaches.
• If you’ve ever had just one beer and got a headache not long after, you’re seeing the principles in the list above in action.
• Substances such as sulfites, histamine, and tyramines are found in alcohol and may contribute to headaches as well.
• If you develop a cocktail headache, take care to rest and nourish your body with water, electrolytes, and a healthy fruit or vegetable snack if possible.

Here is the advice of one wine expert

Both headache types can include severe headache pain and sensitivity to light. There are animal studies that suggest a potential link between alcohol’s inflammatory effects and headaches. To prevent a headache, it is recommended to drink plenty of water before, during, and after consuming alcohol. Eating honey before drinking may also help due to its high levels of vitamin B6. The best way to avoid developing a headache after consuming alcohol is to drink in moderation. However, if a person does develop a headache, there are ways to help manage the pain.

Ideally, go home, drink plenty of fluids and rest in a dark, quiet room. If you have to stay at an event, at the very least switch your alcoholic drinks for a soft drink. Be very careful about taking pain medication at this point, as you will still have alcohol in your system which could interact with it. With that in mind, here are a few steps you can https://ecosoberhouse.com/ take that may help limit the risk of headaches while you are consuming alcohol.

Alcohol: A Trigger for Headaches and Migraines

Alcohol-induced headaches are more common when there is a history of alcohol addiction. With over two decades of experience, The Providence Projects has emerged as a beacon of hope for those seeking to break free from the shackles of alcohol addiction. Keep in mind that it is important to minimize the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) when drinking alcohol (or recovering from a hangover), as the combination can harm the liver. 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.

How long does it take to develop alcoholic neuropathy?

Drinks containing more alcohol and congeners may worsen the chance of developing a headache. However, the type of alcoholic beverage that triggers these headaches is not clear. As a result, a female’s blood alcohol concentration tends to be higher, making it more likely for females to experience headaches and hangovers. Vasodilation may trigger migraine attacks in certain individuals. This is especially true for people prone to headaches or migraine without alcohol.

Migraines are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and visual changes such as seeing spots and flashing lights. Drinking alcohol could create more of a risk factor for tension headaches in some people, but truth be told, people who don’t drink alcohol at all can still get tension headaches. However, it’s possible to have a migraine headache without having had a beer or a glass Sobriety of wine. This information is helpful to know if you have chronic headaches. Granted, some headaches, like migraine, can be triggered or exacerbated by drinking alcohol, but the throughline is blurry. If you’re up and moving around a lot, you may exacerbate a cocktail headache.