It has also been proposed that alcohol triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to a headache. Once it gets into your system, it is converted into a chemical that triggers migraine. Adjusting your diet to include more fruits and vegetables, less saturated fat, and fewer processed foods can help manage weight.

Causes of a Headache After Consuming Alcohol

This might include a history of chronic migraines, personal sensitivity to changes in brain chemistry, or a series of other pre-existing conditions that will vary from person to person. Understanding these interconnected physiological and neurological mechanisms provides insights into why headaches are a prevalent symptom during alcohol withdrawal. Headaches will often develop during alcohol withdrawal as a result of neurochemical changes. When alcohol intake suddenly stops, there is a sharp rebound effect, which leads to increased excitability in the brain. This change in balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters triggers headaches. Understanding the relationship between alcohol and headaches can empower individuals to make informed choices about their alcohol consumption.

Helpful Information

People who experienced migraine with alcohol were more likely to have migraine with aura and to experience more migraine days and more frequent attacks. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about your «cocktail headache» plan. Avoiding alcohol isn’t the only way to avoid an alcohol-related migraine headache. There are some health benefits to moderate alcohol consumption, but the key is knowing what types of alcohol cause your headaches, in what amounts, and what other factors might be involved.

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Lower-quality wines contain molecules known as phenolic flavonoid radicals, which may interfere with serotonin, a signaling molecule in the brain involved in migraine attacks. Red wine often gets the most blame, but beer can also have a significant impact. In fact, in one large survey on cluster headaches, beer was the most common culprit of all alcoholic drinks. As dehydration can cause headaches, staying hydrated when consuming alcohol is key. Aim to drink plenty of water before, after, and during alcohol consumption. Migraine is complex, and other neurological conditions may cause migraine-like symptoms.

• Again it depends on how much was consumed, how dehydrated you became, nutritional status, ethnicity, gender, the state of your liver, medications, etc.
• In this stage, your heart rate slows down and your blood pressure drops, which allows your heart to relax.
• Treatment options vary, from acute treatment to relieve symptoms to preventive treatment to reduce the number of attacks you experience.

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For this reason, it is important to see a doctor about migraine symptoms or chronic headaches, with or without drinking. Headaches, including migraine, are treatable with the right combination of medication and lifestyle adjustments. People who experience a headache after drinking should not assume that it is a migraine, especially why does alcohol cause headaches if they have symptoms consistent with other types of headaches. For example, a tension headache may cause pain in the neck or shoulders. Several studies suggest that alcohol, especially red wine, may trigger migraine attacks. In other words, the best treatment for a cocktail headache is actually preventing one in the first place.

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You could get a headache within 30 minutes to 3 hours of drinking. Some people only sip a glass or two of wine before their head starts to throb. Your healthcare provider will also take a detailed personal and family medical history and ask you about any known health conditions. Taking too many OTC drugs and other kinds of pain medication can cause or worsen headaches (a condition called medication overuse headache (MOH)).

They occur due to various factors such as dehydration, changes in blood flow to the brain, and alcohol’s impact on serotonin levels. People prone to migraines tend to have more problems with hangovers. Conversely, there are many medications that interfere with the breakdown of alcohol and acetaldehyde, worsening the consequences of drinking. A thin, Japanese teetotaling woman taking prescription painkillers will clearly have more problems with a few drinks than a 250 pound linebacker who regularly drinks four beers a night. 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.

More than a third of the participants said that alcohol had this effect, with about 78% naming red wine as the most common alcohol trigger. Many people with migraine find that certain factors trigger their symptoms. Although any type of alcohol can trigger a migraine, people who experience regular migraine attacks cite red wine as the most frequent culprit. In addition to drinking plenty of water, you also need to ensure you are eating a healthy diet.

Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers