Study participants reported whether they had consumed alcohol each day, and if so, how many alcoholic beverages they drank. The investigators then defined a migraine attack as one migraine day or a series of consecutive migraine days. People with migraine often report trigger factors – particular substances or circumstances that provoke a migraine attack. Alcohol is often reported as a trigger among individuals with migraine or other kinds of headaches. However, findings on the association between alcohol intake and migraine are inconclusive for a number of reasons, including cultural, regional, and individual differences in the consumption of alcohol. The authors noted that a likely explanation for their findings is that people with migraine may avoid drinking alcohol, while those who don’t experience migraine partake with less hesitation.
- A recall bias may be present regarding hangover symptomatology during the last year.
- If you feel a migraine coming on or notice the onset of symptoms after drinking, stop drinking immediately.
- Avoid alcoholic and sugary drinks when you have migraine, especially during an attack.
- Learn more about the relationship between migraine and family planning.
- The research found that 21% of people with migraine say that alcohol is a tension headache trigger, compared with just 2% of people without migraine.
What Can You Do to Prevent an Alcohol Induced Headache?
However, in some countries, the occurrence of alcohol as headache trigger is negligible, perhaps determined by alcohol habits. The frequency estimates vary widely based on the study approach and population. In fact, prospective studies report a limited importance of ADs as migraine trigger. If ADs are capable migraine after alcohol of triggering practically all primary headaches, they should act at a common pathogenetic level. The mechanisms of alcohol-provoking headache were discussed in relationship to the principal pathogenetic theories of primary headaches.
Data collection and measures
It is also possible that retrospective recall biases cause higher correlation between HSS scores across time periods. Alcohol hangover is a poorly understood cluster of symptoms occurring following a heavy consumption of alcohol. The term “delayed alcohol-induced headache” is often used synonymously. Our objective was to compare alcohol hangover symptoms in migraine sufferers and nonsufferers. Innovative medical devices such as CEFALY Connected offer drug-free migraine relief. This FDA-cleared device uses external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) technology to target migraine pain.
Associated Data
As long as you don’t eat meals containing other triggers, this is one of the best things you can do. Try to stick to just a glass or two and eat enough for the food to soak up some of that alcohol. We recommend taking a look at our patient guides, which include useful information like how to talk to your doctor about migraine. We recommend exploring complementary treatments such as biofeedback, green light therapy and aerobic exercise. Whether you have lived with migraine for a few months or a few decades, you know migraine can be a challenging experience.
No convergence issues were identified in Model 3 (neither in the full nor in the simplified, final model). Table 3 shows the distribution of daily alcoholic beverage consumption. Substances such as sulfites, histamine, and tyramines are found in alcohol and may contribute to headaches as well. It has also been proposed that alcohol triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to a headache.
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. A 2019 study recognized alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger factor for people with migraine. To prevent an alcohol-related migraine headache, try sipping your drink slowly or avoiding triggers.
In addition to red wine, other alcoholic beverages, including beer, white wine, and liqueur, have also been reported as headache triggers. Quantity is definitely a factor in whether drinking alcohol will trigger a headache, and the quality of alcohol probably plays a role as well. We do not know for sure, though, how any specific type of alcoholic beverage will affect people with migraine. Thirty-nine percent of the sample were from the US, and 35% from Great Britain. Together, study participants contributed data on 43,830 diary days; migraine was reported on 9,578 (22%) of those days.
As dehydration can cause headaches, staying hydrated when consuming alcohol is key. Aim to drink plenty of water before, after, and during alcohol consumption. A person may experience migraine after drinking if they are susceptible to it. Some people may experience an alcohol-related migraine between 30 minutes and 3 hours after drinking. If you aren’t sure that alcohol is to blame for your headaches, try keeping a diary. Each time you drink, write down the type of alcohol you have, the amount, and if and when you had a migraine.
PATIENTS
The best way to find out what triggers your migraine is to keep a journal. Track what you eat and drink, how much sleep you get, and other potential triggers (such as stress). You may find that alcohol triggers your migraine, or you may see that alcohol has no effect on your symptoms. Once you know what effect alcohol has on your body, you can make decisions about whether to drink at all — and, if so, how much to drink and when.
When you take a drug such as Tylenol while drinking, there is a potential for severe side effects, including liver damage. Additionally, alcohol consumption decreases the level of B vitamins in the body, which can make headaches worse. Supplementing with Vitamin B12 or B6 before or after drinking may improve symptoms. Your trusted professionals are your best resource for getting medical advice when it comes to limiting the negative effects alcohol has on you, your life, and your migraine.
- These are called immediate and delayed alcohol-induced headaches.
- At one end of the spectrum, you have mild to moderate cognitive impairment.
- Rosen said some people he treats report being triggered by simply smelling alcohol.
- And for about one-third of people who have migraines, alcohol is also a trigger.
- The type of alcohol that contributes to migraine varies by the person, which is why journaling can be helpful.
This type of headache can happen to anyone, but people with migraines are more likely to get one. It can happen even if you drink less than people who don’t get migraine headaches. If you notice consistent patterns, then chances are it’s the alcohol that’s causing your migraine headache.
Do you think you might react to certain alcoholic beverages more than others? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a discussion on MyMigraineTeam. If you really want to drink, you may want to find out if any types of alcohol are unlikely to cause symptoms.
And many people are surprised to find out that it doesn’t take much alcohol to trigger them. Headaches and migraines can be extremely uncomfortable, and even debilitating at times. Learning more about exactly what causes alcohol-induced headaches can provide motivation for building healthier habits and feeling better. Let’s look at why alcohol makes your head hurt, what you can do to remedy it, and how to avoid headaches down the road. Does alcohol seem to affect your migraine attacks and symptoms?
They go through distinct stages and last anywhere from several hours to several days. However, much depends on the type of migraine and individual case. A wide range of factors—from poor sleep and stress to certain foods—trigger migraines and make them worse. The similarity between the symptomatology of these two common disorders, migraine and hangover, has led us to compare alcohol hangover symptoms in migraine sufferers and nonsufferers.
Staying hydrated and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum can decrease the chance of experiencing a headache. Individuals who experience severe headaches after drinking alcohol may also avoid alcohol altogether. Alcohol’s exact role in triggering a migraine isn’t fully known. For instance, alcohol byproducts called congeners have been linked to headaches. Dark-colored alcohols like red wine, brandy, and whiskey may contain more of them. In this cross-sectional study, university students were asked to fill structured questionnaires assessing headache history, alcoholic consumption, and hangover symptoms (using the Hangover Symptom Scale (HSS)).
Among these, 787 were ≥18 years old who tracked ≥90 days with ≥75% adherence. Of these, 651 met the criterion for EM retrospectively, and 493 reported drinking alcohol. Another 6 individuals were excluded because they never tracked alcohol consumption. The final sample size was 487 individuals, who collectively contributed data on 43,830 diary days, of which 9578 were migraine days and 5913 were the first days of a migraine attack.
How to Avoid a Headache After Drinking, According to a Headache Doctor
It’s important to note that alcohol use disorder is a serious illness that can have life-threatening consequences. It’s important to see your healthcare provider if you are concerned about your alcohol use. There have been several proposed explanations for how alcohol causes headaches.