Headaches, including migraine, are treatable with the right combination of medication and lifestyle adjustments. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between migraine and alcohol. Poor sleep quality can make it difficult to function during the day. When startled, sleepwalkers act out in a fight-or-flight response. They may lash out or fall, which could injure them or the person waking them. Encourage or lead a sleepwalker back to bed and let them get on with their night’s rest.
Why Does Drinking Give Me a Migraine Headache?
It can lead to a better quality of life and slightly higher alcohol tolerance. Additives and preservatives are known migraine triggers, and they’re not only found in packaged foods. Sulfites are particularly bothersome for migraine sufferers, and they are almost universally used in wine.
Understanding whether alcohol is a migraine trigger and how to treat and prevent it can help you make the best choices about what and how much you drink. Early effects of alcohol may dull sensations and have an analgesic (pain-relieving) effect. But as alcohol leaves your body, it may have the opposite effect and increase pain sensitivity. Alcohol has different effects on your body depending on when you drink it.
One hypothesis is that red wine causes migraine due to high levels of certain compounds called flavonols, particularly quercetin. This compound might inhibit the body’s ability to break down alcohol, leading to the buildup of a substance called acetaldehyde, which could result in headaches. A 2019 study surveyed people with migraine who drank alcohol. Of the 1,547 participants, 783 said that alcohol was a trigger, and 195 were not sure. Although genetic factors influence the risk of having migraine, environmental triggers can cause episodes or increase their frequency.
Tips to Manage Your Migraine Headaches
- Other types of headaches, including severe headaches, can occur as a result of alcohol consumption.
- There are also the side effects of drinking that might be to blame.
- Are you tired of waking up with a throbbing headache or a migraine attack after a night of drinking?
- Whiskey and red wine are two of the most common migraine triggers.
Just bear in mind that not all alcoholic beverages are created equal and everyone reacts differently to alcohol. If you enjoy an occasional drink there are a few things you can do to mitigate the negative effects. Increased ROS actually impairs the powerhouses of our cells called mitochondria. In addition, while the liver is busy detoxifying alcohol, it cannot make new energy, which is one of its jobs. Energy deficiency is another one of the most potent migraine triggers.
- Some people may feel that they can’t control their drinking, have negative feelings when they don’t drink, or generally feel that their alcohol consumption is negatively impacting their life.
- One study found that alcohol contributes to migraine attacks in up to one-third of people diagnosed with the condition.
- Yawning and fatigue are typical symptoms of prodrome, the first phase of a migraine attack.
- You should not have to deal with migraine—or pregnancy—alone.
- The alcohols more likely to trigger a migraine attack are dark liquors like bourbon, whiskey or red wine.
- Individuals gave consent to their anonymized data being collected and analyzed for research purposes by agreeing to the Curelator Inc.
Recent studies show that migraine patients consume less alcohol than controls. Red wine was reported to be the principal trigger of migraine, but other studies show that white wine or other drinks are more involved. Then, the discussion based on the different composition of the various alcoholic beverages, in order to discover the content of alcoholic drinks responsible for migraine attack, reflects this uncertainty. Biogenic amines, sulphites, flavonoid phenols, does alcohol help a migraine 5-hydroxytryptamine mechanisms and vasodilating effects are discussed.
Migraine Again follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions. Keeping a record of what you drink and other trigger factors that make an attack more likely and talking to your doctor can help. This dehydration can in turn can contribute to triggering a migraine in susceptible individuals. Higher alcohol content generally increases the risk of triggering a migraine. Alcohol headaches usually happen after drinking and are often due to dehydration and some other factors.
However, the study author also cautions that no single factor causes all hangover headaches. 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. Sometimes, short-acting tranquilizers can help, but some of these same medicines can also cause sleepwalking.
Understanding Alcohol-Related Headaches vs. Migraines
But “cutting back” doesn’t necessarily have to mean cutting out. By tracking your attacks and your drinking and working with a doctor, you can figure out the relationship with alcohol that’s right for you (and your condition). According to Aurora, however, alcohol consumption isn’t just a question of what’s considered a safe amount. It also depends on whether or not you’re likely to develop headaches. “Some patients with migraine are particularly susceptible to dehydration,” she says. Keeping a migraine diary to track your symptoms and any alcohol consumption can help identify your specific triggers.
However, a 2019 study found higher rates of vodka consumption among drinkers with frequent migraine attacks. The response to alcohol varies from person to person, and there is no alcohol that absolutely will not cause a migraine or other headache. 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. The current evidence supports a role for magnesium in both the prevention and treatment of headache disorders, particularly migraines. We asked these experts what a person who struggles with migraine would expect if they stopped drinking, and the answers were varied.
Minimizing Migraine Attacks: What I Wish I Knew…
It’s important to stay updated on the latest migraine research and treatment strategies. The American Migraine Foundation Resource Library provides a wealth of articles designed to assist you in understanding your symptoms and treatment options. If a doctor has prescribed medication for your chronic migraine and you choose to move forward with that line of treatment, follow instructions carefully. It is crucial to take medications at the recommended times to ensure maximum effectiveness. Additionally, it is important to communicate with your doctor if you experience any adverse effects or if the medication does not seem to be working as expected.
For some people, it could be the amount of alcohol consumed that triggers an attack. For example, wine may be a trigger for some but whiskey may not have an influence. However, if you still experience a migraine attack after drinking any kind of alcohol, the best solution is to avoid alcohol altogether. This data suggests that there may be a misperception that drinks containing alcohol cause migraine attacks. Still, in population-based studies in various countries, including the U.S., Japan and Italy, researchers found that fewer people with migraine consume alcohol than those without migraine. This indicates that people with migraine and other headache diseases may be more likely to give up alcohol because they perceive it as a possible migraine trigger.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the human body and plays crucial roles in numerous physiological functions, including enzyme activity, neuromuscular excitability, and cell signaling pathways. Its deficiency can occur due to inadequate dietary intake or increased losses through gastrointestinal or renal pathways, potentially contributing to headache vulnerability. Sleepwalking is when a person looks and acts awake when sound asleep. This can happen when you’re sleep-deprived, sick, or stressed out.
If you’ve been diagnosed with migraine and you have questions about drinking alcohol or anything else related to the condition, it can help to talk to others who understand. People with migraine who treat their attacks with certain drugs should avoid drinking alcohol because it may interact poorly or dangerously with their medications. When mixed with alcohol, the common migraine medication Topamax (topiramate) can cause dizziness, problems with memory, sleepiness, and even depression. It’s not known how alcohol exactly causes migraine headaches. The American Migraine Foundation (AMF) suggests that alcohol as a trigger is more of a personal reaction — common in certain types of headaches — than a general effect. The majority were female (419/487, 86.0%), actively working (293/378, 77.5%).
When Does Sleepwalking Happen?
If you decide to avoid alcohol altogether, there are plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives that can still make your social gatherings enjoyable. While some research suggests they may contribute to attacks, other studies indicate that certain flavonoid fractions might actually have protective effects. Studies suggest that females with migraine may indeed be more susceptible to alcohol-induced attacks. They often include symptoms like nausea and light, noise or smell sensitivity.
People who get hangovers that trigger a migraine may also wish to avoid alcohol with high levels of congeners. These are substances that the alcohol manufacturing process produces. Some research suggests that congeners play a role in hangovers, although factors such as inflammation also contribute.