If you notice consistent patterns, then chances are it’s the alcohol that’s causing your migraine headache. You may try avoiding those drinks in the future to prevent migraine attacks. Chemicals called congeners are also a component of alcoholic drinks. These chemicals may also trigger migraine headaches in certain people. Always drink responsibly—which includes minimizing the chances that alcohol will affect your migraine.
They’re found in both red and white wine, but they’re more concentrated in reds. Tannins give wine its astringent taste, and they can also contribute to headaches. Tannins can be found in other drinks including, tea, coffee and chocolate. The astringency from the tannins is what causes the dry feeling in the mouth when you drink these beverages or eat food high in tannins like unripe fruit. If, after keeping track, you become convinced alcohol is the problem, then it’s now time to identify the symptoms.
- Reviewed for accuracy by the American Migraine Foundation’s subject matter experts, headache specialists and medical advisers with deep knowledge and training in headache medicine.
- Menstruation was found to increase the likelihood that food and drinks would be more likely to trigger an attack.
- For example, due to religious requirements, people in Iran consume considerably less alcohol than Europeans 22, 84; nevertheless, migraine prevalence in Iran is 15.1% 85 while in Europe it is 35% 86.
- She is a co-founder of digital content agency Lemonseed Creative and is a graduate of Syracuse University.
Alcohol intake behavior
They should talk to a medical provider about these triggers in order to minimize their headaches. When alcohol is a trigger for one’s usual primary headaches, the pain usually occurs within three hours of alcohol consumption. Hangovers or withdrawal from alcohol can worsen anxiety symptoms, especially among people who drink heavily or those with alcohol use disorder. Anxiety occurs in addition to the typical health risks, which range from risky behaviors to weight gain, liver damage, and other physical effects. It’s common for people who drink alcohol to wake up the next day with a distinct sense of worry, panic, unease, or fear. Along with headache and nausea, anxiety can be a symptom of alcohol withdrawal or hangover.
They registered to use the platform between October 2014 and March 2018, and subsequently tracked their symptoms and risk factors for at least 90 of 120 days after registration. Those who met the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition diagnostic criteria for chronic migraine were excluded, as were people who stated they drank alcohol but did not track their consumption. Turning to technology Study design may also play a role in the inconclusive findings on the relationship between alcohol intake and migraine. For instance, recall biases are a common limitation of retrospective studies. In contrast, prospective studies don’t face those limitations, and tend to report a lower prevalence of alcohol as a trigger.
Foods That Can Trigger Migraines
Around 30% of people who experience recurrent migraines report alcohol as a trigger, and 10% of patients cite it as a frequent or consistent trigger. The HSS also allows us to assess the hangover symptoms following early drinking experiences. The interpretation of this data should be cautious, since recall bias is a major concern. It is also possible that retrospective recall biases cause higher correlation between HSS scores across time periods.
You might have heard that red wine is most likely to cause problems. But other drinks like sparkling wine, beer, and hard liquor may be just as likely, if not more, to cause problems. It has been suggested that a tendency to experience alcohol-induced headaches could be genetic.
If you’re interested in connecting with more people in the migraine community, we recommend joining our Facebook support group, Move Against Migraine. There, you will find a wonderful community of people who are ready to listen and lift each other up. Migraine is a disabling disease that no one should have to go through alone. It’s essential to build a support network of understanding people who can not only check in on you during an attack but also empathize with your experience. Then consider joining the Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine. The content on this website is provided for educational purposes only.
Some studies suggest that artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, may trigger migraines. These sweeteners are commonly found in sugar-free foods and beverages, making it important for migraine sufferers to read labels carefully. Alcohol may trigger migraine attacks, and it’s very unlikely to ease them. Alcohol-induced migraine is different than a hangover, which is caused by overconsuming alcohol. We asked these experts what a person who struggles with migraine would expect if they stopped drinking, and the answers were varied.
The review also suggests that having migraine leads people to avoid alcohol, rather than alcohol having any protective role against migraine. The number of drinks you have, what you’re drinking, and what’s going on in your life may be the primary culprits rather than alcohol itself. While headache is generally recognized as a side effect of alcohol in many people, its reputation as a migraine headache trigger may be overestimated. Figure 2 shows data on two individuals selected at random among those who tracked more than 600 days. Migraine typically begins slowly and may increase in severity if left untreated. They involve throbbing pain that generally occurs on one side of the head.
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- Any remaining articles were screened by title or abstract randomly by the authors (BB, PN and MS1) with the below presented inclusion/exclusion criteria and PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
- “Alcohol consumption is one of the most common dietary triggers for migraine sufferers,” says Dr. Sara Crystal, Cove Medical Director, noting that alcohol causes two specific types of headaches.
- Tannin, a component in red wine, has been long considered the culprit.
- These symptoms may begin within minutes or hours of drinking and vary widely in severity.
- However, they can still contain other triggers like histamine or tannins.
- Some research suggests that congeners play a role in hangovers, although factors such as inflammation also contribute.
Red wine contains 20 to 200 times the amount of histamine than white wine. Women are more likely to have migraines triggered by red wine than men. The exact mechanism behind this observation may indicate that migraine leads to alcohol-avoidance rather than alcohol having a protective role against migraine. However, there is a need to conduct further studies related to primary headaches and alcohol consumption with low risk of bias. Additionally, patients and physicians should consider the latest medical knowledge to avoid perpetuating the myths about alcohol triggers migraines alcohol consumption and primary headaches.
I began having migraine attacks when I was a teenager, but was never properly diagnosed until I was an adult. This began 18 years where I was chronic and mostly intractable, resulting in a migrainous stroke in the summer of 2014. By implementing the protocols from the Heal Your Headache book by Dr. David Buchholz and the Migraine Strong Treatment Pie, I have been able to reduce my migraine frequency to episodic and maintain that since 2015. The end result of continuing to practice these tools is being able to actively participate in my life as a wife, mother, family member and friend. My goal as a migraine advocate, educator, and wellness coach is to help others gain more control over migraine. Understanding certain food components of some alcoholic beverages will help you understand your choices when it comes to selecting the best alcohol to avoid migraine.
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. Drinking problems occur in every age, but in the 25–49 age group, alcohol has the highest impact on mortality caused by cancer deaths and also life disability 24, 25.
Migraine and red wine
A moderate risk of bias was assigned when the paper received positive answers between mentioned ranges. The assessments were conducted by three researchers (BB, PN and MS1) separately, then the fourth author (MWP) compared this data and made a final decision. 2021 research also linked lifestyle factors with alcohol drinking and smoking to cluster headaches and their severity.
What Alcohol Causes the Most Headaches and/or Migraine Attacks?
These symptoms may begin within minutes or hours of drinking and vary widely in severity. Keep a record of any symptoms that occur after consuming alcohol and discuss them with your doctor. Identifying your specific food and drink triggers is a key part of any migraine prevention and treatment plan. 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.
Once it gets into your system, it is converted into a chemical that triggers migraine. 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. Other signs that can clue you in are increased thirst, dry mouth, decreased urination, dark-colored urine, fatigue, dizziness and confusion. Dr. Li also suggests incorporating magnesium-rich foods such as almonds, spinach and bananas into your daily diet.
When an Alcohol-Induced Headache Strikes
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. 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.
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. Include how you felt the prior 48 hours as well as any stress or anxiety you were under at the time. A migraine each time you have a night out should be a good reason to abstain. Alcohol’s exact role in triggering a migraine isn’t fully known. For instance, alcohol byproducts called congeners have been linked to headaches.